Probably depends on whether it’s a replica, like so many are these days, or one which contains at least a modicum of the aircraft it purports to be. Thus, “confirmed kills” don’t really apply to many of these replicas, whatever their creators might like to tell one!

It’s still interesting to think that you can buy ten or more Spitfires for the price of a Ferrari 250 GTO!

Sabrejet, this aircraft has a good deal of original parts. I know because i built some of it !

Steve”P”

I enjoyed it, though there was a couple of bits I wasn’t sure about, I admit I wasn’t really a fan of the narrator, he came over as a poor rendition of Fred Dibner with the looks of Wolverine, but that is personal choice and he was infectious with his keeness in the project. Though to sell the show abroad they are going to need subtitles or a voice over.
I have not watched it all the way through yet as I fell a sleep near the end, but I did feel that Airframe Assemblies got sold a bit short in the process, they hyped the engineers at ARCO up with the these are the only guys that can do this sort of stuff the world over, which is blatently wrong, they then proceeded to say well, clearly the airframe needs replacing, so we have bought a new fuselage and it felt like a “voil’a instant Spitfire” moment. That was a shame that it wasn’t covered, it felt a bit like a Blue Peter “and here is one someone else produced earlier” just add water and stir moment.

Bar that very good.

TonyT, we weren’t the only people sold a bit short, Retro Track & Air were “A company in Glostershire”, and no mention of other suppliers ie, Dunlop tyres, Radiator suppliers.

Steve”P”

Regarding rebuild remnants; TD248 appears in two places on the planet simultaneously. The pre-restoration fuselage skins adorn a fuselage section in Flixton, whereas the post restoration aircraft is based in Humberside and seen regularly at airshows. Perhaps as a consequence restorers don’t give much away now.

Peter Vacher has substantial remains of his Mk 1 Hurricane stored in the same hangar as the aircraft, but apart from small parts that make their way to museums many larger original parts sadly end up in the FOD bin.

Merlin70, At Airframe Assemblies no original bits go into the scrap bin no matter how bad a condition they are. All original parts are important relics if no good for patterns.

Steve”P”

Well they never came too Airframe Assemblies to do any filming when we were doing the fuselage, so they wont be showing the whole restoration !!

Steve”P”

Would be good to see in UK skies but dont think it will be based in UK.

Steve”P”

Hi all,
Qldspitty you have material thickness for Fr19 and Fr10 wrong. Fr19 is 18swg, best formed using “O” condition 2014 or 2024 material and then bathed to harden up. Fr10 is 20swg except for 14 swg doublers where the frame sits over the lower longeron, where the rear wing attachment fitting bolts on. Flange width on Fr10 is I think .75″ because it has to accept 2 rows of rivets , staggered. Flange width on other frames is .55.
Frame 10 webs are 1.5″ apart and Frame 11 webs are 1.25″ apart.

Steve”P”

Hi CarolineW, yes spitfire. The 08 denotes wing, the next number is of that particular part. You are right that there would be 300 prefix to the 08.

Steve”P”