Shhhhhhhhhh don’t tell everyone 😉 I suppose you could call it one of the first cut and shut’s as it seems that every part but the fuselage from the Firewall back is from different spits but that’s what happens when a spit’s in service at an OTU for all that time, I blame the students.

Tom

I’ll post a piccie of a bit of R7125 when I can find find one.

Piccie of the real thing

They don’t make ’em like they used to 😉 thanks for that Shorty, that really made my day.

Tom

First airshow would be Lakenheath in ’87 (I think). Saw the OFMC P-40 in her desert scheme, was suitably ‘rumbled’ by a TR-1/U-2 taking off rather close by and saw my own true love (shhhhh don’t tell the Mrs 😉 AR213 fly too. The weather was superb as was the Yank Coke, always tastes so much better. Since then I’ve never looked back as I was always interested in aircraft but this really kick started things.

Tom

(Thanks to my cousin Peter, he must’ve been fairly skint after that day!)

Here’s a pic froom Ben Roger’s Fly Vintage site http://www.flyvintage.com/images/news/2003/hurricane_20030710_01.jpg. She looks fantastic and I really can’t wait to see her in the flesh so to speak, well done to all at Hawker Restorations and TFC, now let’s hope that the CAA are ok with it all 😮 Might just have to have a look in tomorrow on my way home to Narfuk. Anyone know if there are any spare Vokes filters around anywhere as one would make it look perfect for the whole Western Desert scheme of things.

Tom.

Cheers mate, I’m quite looking forward to it as you can tell 😉 I’ve jotted down yer moby No so I’ll give you a ring when the time comes, I’ll be there on the day with the best weather:D If we didn’t have as much work on as we’ve got at the mo I’d take the day off but we’ve got a Jungmann in which the owner wants asap, you know what it’s like 😉 Have a beer on me anyway.

Tom.

Well it not a hobby for me, definitely an obsession 😉 Just like Ashley, when I met my Mrs she vaguely knew what a spitfire was but mention ‘Tempest’ or any other a/c name and all you get are blank looks. She does realise how important things plane like are to me though which is a real plus point. Use of my own time is usually taken up with research on various projects, certain German aircraft crash sites in certain North African countries being one 😉 I could never work in an office, paperwork and myself are not great friends, which is why I changed profession from agricultural engineer to work for PPS at Booker. My social circle mostly revolves around the aviation fraternity. Not really collected much stuff other than books and bills but there are a few things I’ve got my eye on 😉 I’ve really got into spitfire research after starting the MKI spit restoration at work, I can now say that I’ve improved my spit knowledge x 100 from what I previously knew, same with the Tempest for that matter. Dunno if my Mrs will let me visit ANY plane related places on our honeymoon when it happens though Ashley, so think yourself VERY lucky 😉 I do still have a fantasy of living in a nice house with attached restoration hangar and strategically positioned fishing lake (now you know I’m an anorak ;))

Tom.

Looks good but I can’t go even though I have two tickets, anyone want them for a fee?

Tom.