It was Spitfire F.21 LA226, on display outside Vickers Millbank HQ between 1976 – 77 to mark the 40th anniversary of the first flight of the Spitfire. Its normal home at that time was the South Marston works where it remained until early 1984.

Saab 94 estate, arctic grey, registration RJM 624F, owned by Mr J Smith, 22 Woolston Close, Abingdon :p

hi John and welcome to the board. Your picture was taken at the same Duxford show as mine (on the previous page). That was 10 July 1988, fifty years after the entry of the Spitfire in to RAF service with 19 squadron at Duxford.

PS: you avatar pic was taken at Legends this year was it not?

Strictly speaking the sky/grey scheme is camouflage, but designed for use at sea and it is authentic too. This would be less difficult to market than, say, a bright red Spitfire.

Yes Yak11fan, but variety is the spice of life and a Seafire would add interest to any airshow flightline, particularly if in the attractive grey/sky FAA scheme. Folding wings (a feat usually accomplished by matelots with ropes!) can only add to the spectacle.

If I may interject. Yes you are right, the front cockpit is moved forwards 13.5 inches. There are two additional fuselage frames introduced in intermediate positions, frames 10A and 13A and these have the two seats mounted on them. About 6 inches above the original datum longeron a second reinforced and braced longeron sytem is introduced which connects the two new cockpit areas and stiffens this area which is weakened due to the removal of full height frames.

The fuselage fuel tank capacity is reduced because of the ommision of the lower tank and the reduction in size of the upper tank and additional wing tanks were installed to make up the shortfall. The original frame 13A and seat mounting position was higher than on several current trainer Spitfires to allow the instructer some forward view. 1980’s restoration/conversions such as ML407 and PT462 omitted the original pattern rear bubble canopy and substituted a lower seat position and new canopy similar to the forward one to improve the aesthetics. This resulted in a curious high rear control column. The relative methods of this modification have been debated. The latest T9 restoration PV202 at HFLwill revert back to the original canopy pattern.

This should make it obvious, but who is that getting out of the cockpit?……