The old saying ” every cloud has a silver lining” and “out of all things bad may come some good” may apply here…albeit some way down a convoluted track.

…Now that this unfortunate event has occurred the absolute imperative is to have Dennis Copping’s fate fully investigated, and literally “laid to rest”. Then, and only then, can the ultimate fate of the airframe be discussed for any potential and mutually agreed flying or non-flying restoration. A carefully constructed diorama displaying an “as found” replica could be constructed, and the idea of a first class and correct fibreglass “ready for flight” replica for the Egyptian museum (to me) might very much appeal to them. At that point negotiations for the purchase of what’s left as we see it today could pave the way for this unexpectedly pleasing outcome.

…This possible outcome then sees a very bad situation turned on its head, whereby we could have an invaluable potential flyer honouring Dennis Copping, while other parties have been duly recompensed, and their displays existing in a most correct fashion…..FWIW.

Just wondering about the QV-V code on the second Spitfire, would the Q be rearwards towards the tail ?…there seems to be (slanted) straight lines otherwise, and too spaced out to be another V ?

Maybe a new sub title for the “restoration” of our beloved Spitfires might read…”continuous thread of near airworthy provenance”….

…It sorts the poppies from the weeds….and eliminates the “Loaves and Fishes” squabble that always invades these discussions.

Patrouille Tricore de Meknes.

Mark

…might the second word “Tricore” possibly read as “Tricolore” as used by the French in their armed forces ?……just askin’.

Might the splitting up of the codes (FC-WG compared to F-CRB) be from a neccessity to keep the fuselage band to roundel location correct up to a certain era… ??

Great pic…Thanks Mark12. The wings appear to be comprehensively “filled over” with no rivet lines, bulges or panel joins ??….it’s almost as if they were made of fibreglass (or something similar) in appearance. Is/was this standard practice in the IAF ?

I guess to a seasoned Spitfire Griffon jockey, all that buzzing noise up front wouldn’t amount to much in regards to forward traction that late in the piece