Warbird Information Exchange

Does anybody know if there are any flyable Spitfires that may be in the Texas, Oklahoma or Arizona area for an airshow we are doing at Sheppard AFB in Witicha Falls, TX in September.

We are looking at trying to put together a British Heritage Flight with a Spitfire, Tornado and Eurofighter for the event. Any help and contact info would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

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Greg Witmer, V.P. of Operations
Airboss / Ground Boss / WWII Aircraft Coordinator
David Schultz Airshows LLC

There is a gentleman here in AZ with a full size, Allison powered Spitfire replica that may be an option if you can't find the real deal. His name is Bob DeFord and I'm not sure how you would contact him but maybe the EAA could help.

http://www.eaa.org/homebuilders/list/Sp ... DeFord.asp

Bill Greenwood (on this board) is out of CO but comes to TX for shows from time to time with his Spit. He will probably come up in the thread if he has internet access; he's in Corsicana now for a show.

Off the top of my head for Spits in the area:

-Mr. Raybourne Thompson has a Mk9 in TX
http://www.rv7a-factory.com/EAA_updateAug2505.htm

-Palm Springs Air Museum as an airworthy Mk14

-Bill Greenwood mentioned earlier has a Mk9 based in CO

-Friedkin Family based out of Chino (?) a Mk9

Pete

Lone Star have a Spit at Galveston TX, I think; and there are at least two in Florida, Kermit Weeks' XVI and the Stenger "Grace T9"...

Re the Heritage Flight idea, it'd surely be worth exploring the Hurricane situation, too. Lone Star have a Mk.XII, for starters.

S.

And a XIV...

A few LSFM pilots are Heritage and Legacy qualified which would help interacting with jet formations.

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Live to fly, Fly to live.....

Out of interest, where are you getting the Tornado & Typhoon from???

Martyn

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Here

Greg, I own a Spitifre, I don't base there in but have flown in Texas some, am there now. It would depend on several factors for me, most important would be the appearance fee, also if I have to go through the govt computer red tape to get paid? If you are interested you can send me a PM here.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Thanks everbody for your input.

After posting this I remembered that LSFM had a Spitfire.

Cavanaugh Flight Museum also has one I think.

Since LSFM has Heritage Flight qualified pilots, I think I'll start there.

Bill Greenwood - Thanks for the info, I may be in touch.

Also,

Sheppard AFB is home to the 80th Flying Training Wing. The 80th FTW is the home of the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) Program. The ENJJPT, established in the spirit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), is the world's only multi-nationally manned and managed flying training program chartered to produce combat pilots for NATO. The 80th FTW mission is to provide combat airpower by producing top quality fighter pilots for the NATO alliance.

That being the case we plan on having both a Tornado and a Eurofighter in attendance for the Airshow.

Greg

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Greg Witmer, V.P. of Operations
Airboss / Ground Boss / WWII Aircraft Coordinator
David Schultz Airshows LLC

Also, I originally said that the show was in September.

The shows date is actually October 20, 2007. Sorry for the mixup.

Greg

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Greg Witmer, V.P. of Operations
Airboss / Ground Boss / WWII Aircraft Coordinator
David Schultz Airshows LLC

Greg, I won't try to save the date then. I'm sure LSFM has qualified pilots, I know Tom is. I was just there, their Spitfire has been down quite some time and don't think there are any plans to get it going ths season. Maybe a big sponsor donation would help. I am hoping they will have the Hurricane for Oskosh, but there is some doubt. I think they are are concentrating on the bombers which may be able to earn more money and they can carry lots of members with them to the shows. Rayborne Thompson in Houston has a very nice single seat Mk IX Spitfire, don't know if he is formation rated. We did fly a couple of passes together at the last show.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Bill,

Do you know if Cavanaugh's Spitire is flying?

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Greg Witmer, V.P. of Operations
Airboss / Ground Boss / WWII Aircraft Coordinator
David Schultz Airshows LLC

Greg, don't think Cavanaugh has flown their Spitfire in the last few years, believe it is an VIII. Steve. a XII is a fairly rare low altitude model wth the single stage Griffon, don't think there are any flying, LSFM has a XVI, like a IX except with the American engineand 2 .50 cal machine guns instead of 4 .30 cal.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK