Mark,
Did you happen to take any of MV293 and NV799 at Duxford in 1988. The reason I keep asking particularly for 1988 photos, is because I visited Duxford on 3rd July that year. Didn’t make any detailed notes back in those days and the only surviving photos I have are of photos of the outside exhibits that year.
Im trying to see whether they were full aircraft or just fuselage’s with either any markings or no markings. Looking at Rob’s and C Whiteman’s photos above from 1989 and 1991. I vaguely remember this is what they may of looked like, but from previous experience the memory does cheat and I could be wrong. 1988 photos would nail it.

Albert

Thanks Guys for the fantastic photos all at Duxford. What I am also interested to know is, what condition were they in just before the restoration started.
I have found a photo of NH799 in a disassembled state on its arrival in UK, not sure where the photo is taken at either Duxford or Bitteswell. Can anyone make out where in the link below under NH799.

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Aircraft/Spitfire.html

Looks to be stored in an area, probably not accessed by the general public. hence why no photos taken in there natural state.
I suppose I had a romantic picture in my mind that they where full spitfires and just need a lick of paint and internal parts replacing, not in the state the photo shows of NH799 major surgery needed.

Albert

BINGO! Garry and Guys,

Garry found your photo in Aircraft illustrated July 1982 Airview column, there is a photo of an aerial view from high up at the Duxford Airshow May 1982. It shows G-AKNB in civil colours, white colour scheme parked up.

Then later than I thought in Aircraft Illustrated printed in Nov 1985 page 526 there it is a photo of G-AKNB as FD789 in DD Day colour scheme. Painted up for the motion picture “The Dirty Dozen The next mission.” Had gone back and looked at the history of this aircraft and found this statement, to lead me to this later date.
“In 1982, it returned to the UK registered G-AKNB and passed through several owners. At one point, it was painted as an RAF Dakota marked FD789 and appeared in an unknown film”.
Just to add to the above, also found information on G-DAKS. This was also painted up in RAF colours from January 1983 after its Ruskin Air colour scheme was removed. Used in the TV series Airline for Yorkshire television.
I have a feeling I didn’t see G-AKNB in military colours after all in Aug 1982 as she was probably still in her civil colours. Well it is a long time ago and the memory plays tricks with what we actual remember from the past.

regards
Albert

New forest,

Try this link, this will answer your question.

http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/376756-1974-ba-cambrian-viscounts-photos.html

regards
Albert

Martin, PM?

Albert

Garry,
Can you at a guess pick what year in Aircraft Illustrated. As I have 1980-1989, bar 1985 or 84 they are in the attic. I have already scanned through them the other day and didn’t notice her. She is in Air extra but in intra colors.

Albert

Thanks Badger,
Also just got confirmation off RAF Cosford today as well, never thought to ask the horses mouth, but there you go. Apparently it got painted into Heavylift colour scheme in 1982 and cost £18,000 to paint it back into RAF colours in 1988. So to answers my underlining question that I must of saw her in Heavylift colours in 1986 on an Autumn visit to Cosford back then. Thanks to Brians photo there what’s she looked like back then. Pure nostalgia!
So thanks to everyone for their great imput.

Much appreciated
Albert

Nice pics, just love Airliners.net. It’s a fantastic photo sight. Seen some great memories on this site from the late 70’s and 80’s.

Albert