she’s an earlier model Spitfire – a converted Mk. III

My understanding was that BL628 was built as a Mk Vb and later had an arrestor hook added but was not fully converted to Seafire status. These aircraft are generally known as ‘hooked Spitfires’ so she remained a Mk Vb and still is today. Good luck with getting the dosh together to buy her. I have fond memories of working on the restoration of the original surviving components of this aircraft back in the summer of 1989.

how many hurricanes are airworthy?

LF363 – BBMF, RAF Coningsby, UK.
PZ865 – BBMF, RAF Coningsby, UK.
G-BKTH – Sea Hurricane – Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden, UK.
G-HURR – Spitfire Ltd, Duxford UK.
KZ321 – Michael Potter, Canada.
G-HURI – HAC, Duxford UK.
RCAF 5667 – Fighter Factory, Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.
AE977 – Tom Friedkin, Chino Ca, USA.
P3351 – Alpine Fighter Collection, Wanaka, NZ.
Former Mk XII G-ORGI, Ed Russell, Niagra, Canada.
C-GGAJ – Michael Potter, Canada (grounded pending restoration)
G-HUPW, R4118 – Mk 1 – Peter Vacher, Didcot ,UK.
G-KAMM – Flying Heritage Collection, Seattle, USA.
NX96RW – Lone Star Flight Museum, Texas , USA.

To answer your second question “How many more will be re-built” is a bit more difficult. Lots hopefully.

Amazing to see that the various Spitfire affectionardo’s don’t wish to air their views !

I have not read this article David, although if there is a suggestion that the ‘conversion’ took place in the US then the article is incorrect in that respect as it left Hampshire as a complete, but yet to be fitted out, fuselage. The aircraft was obviously completed and fitted out in Florida using wings also manufactured here and it seems they have done a superb job of it too.

originally for use in US-built Spitfires

One way to describe the Mustang :rolleyes:

I am not an expert but I was just wondering what the main driver was in building MKXVI was over the MKIX LF variant. Shortage of RR engines perhaps?

I was once told by a wise old sage that the continued production of the Mk XVI was more to do with a surplus, or rather a commitment to purchase American built engines, rather than a lack of the RR built variety. In effect we had a commitment to buy these motors so it was natural to continue to make something to put them in! I have not researched the validity of this statement though.

Ah, the mysteries of the different MKIX/XVI cowlings!

As in the case of MKVIII MV154/MT928.

Paul, I was trying to refer to the position of the access panel for the inter-cooler filler as being a feature that will tell you with 100% certainty if a Packard Merlin 266 is ‘under the bonnet’, not the shape of the top cowling as this seems not to be exclusive to this installation.

According to the CAA website Rob Lamplough’s mark 8 is showing a potential change of ownership in progress

This could simply be putting it under the banner of a different company but still owned by Robs. The Arial Museum Ltd, the N Weald based company that have neen the ‘owners’ for many years are no longer based there so all this may just be administrative. This would bring the Spitfire in to line with G-BIXL, the P-51, registered under his own name.