Warbird Information Exchange

B.C. volunteers rankled as Spitfire sold for $1


By David Pugliese, Canwest News ServiceMay 18, 2009

The Canadian Forces’ decision to sell a rare Second World War Spitfire to a private foundation in Gatineau, Que., for $1 has upset a group of volunteers on Vancouver Island who worked thousands of hours rebuilding the plane funded by tax dollars and donations.


At the centre of the sale is the Y2K Spitfire, estimated to be worth around $700,000 and now being rebuilt at the air force museum at Comox, B.C. The project to get the plane flying again was financed by a $250,000 federal grant as well as $325,000 in donations collected from British Columbia residents, various organizations and museum visitors.


But several months ago the military approved selling the Spitfire for $1 to Vintage Wings of Canada, a private organization founded by Ottawa businessman Michael Potter.


The deal has left a sour taste in the mouths of a small group of volunteers who spent thousands of hours, and in some cases thousands of dollars of their own money, rebuilding the Spitfire. They question how a valuable aircraft being restored with taxpayer’s money and public donations can then be sold for a pittance to a private organization.


“We would like to know just what went on,” said Tom Quibell, 79, an aircraft engineer and one of the main volunteers rebuilding the Spitfire over the last seven years. “Every time we asked, we were told it had nothing to do with us. It was like the work we did means nothing.”


The air force noted in an e-mail that “after eight years of work, paid for by donations and grants from the public, the project to restore and maintain the aircraft in the long term was not feasible.”


Other Canadian Forces museums declined to take over the project so the military decided to transfer ownership of the Spitfire to Vintage Wings “in order to see the project actually come to fruition,” according to the e-mail.


Vintage Wings has a number of rare aircraft, including a Spitfire, and operates those at various air shows and military events as a tribute to Canada’s veterans and aviation pioneers.


Potter and Vintage Wings vice-president Tim Leslie say those raising concerns are in the minority.


“There have been a few people who have been relentless in their negative spin on this where there is no negative spin that we can see,” said Leslie.


The restoration of the Y2K Spitfire began in 2000 and soon became the centrepiece of the Comox museum, with an estimated 50,000 people visiting to watch the rebuilding of the plane.


But Potter says the volunteers would have never got the aircraft airborne and, although they had rebuilt much of the fuselage, that’s only a small amount of what still has to be done. Vintage Wings, he noted, recently signed a deal to have Spitfire wings fabricated at a cost of around $750,000.


Air force spokesman Captain Paul Finnemore notes it will cost Vintage Wings about $1.5 million to rebuild the Spitfire.


Leslie says Vintage Wings became involved after senior air force officers informed him the project was going to be scrapped as interest in it was dwindling.


Ottawa Citizen

Sounds similar to what happened with the B-36 now at Pima. A succession of volunteer groups in Texas did a huge amount of work on the aircraft over several decades, but just could not muster the resources to completely restore the aircraft and display it. So, the USAF gave it to Pima.

Sounds similar to what happened with the B-36 now at Pima. A succession of volunteer groups in Texas did a huge amount of work on the aircraft over several decades, but just could not muster the resources to completely restore the aircraft and display it. So, the USAF gave it to Pima.

Sounds similar to what happened with the B-36 now at Pima.

It has been a while since we last updated progress on the restoration and there have been significant developments in the project. Before I bring you up to speed on what has been happening let me fill you in on the work that has been going on at the hangar.

Work has been continuing on the fuselage side panels and side entry door.


The windscreen has been fitted less the armored glass front panel. Getting the proper shape on the windscreen side panels was an interesting project that started with a piece of wood.

The jig for the engine bearers has been brought into the hangar and work has commenced on the tubular members and U-frame.

So work has been carrying on in the hangar while we wait to find out what the future of the project will be.

Now for an update on our future. The Y2K Spitfire Restoration Project is moving towards a new phase, necessitated by a diminished amount of funding and volunteer help. In order that the tremendous work that has been accomplished over the past eight years not be wasted, the Department Of National Defence (DND) and Vintage Wings of Canada (VWoC) are working together to establish a partnership that has the intention of restoring TE 294 to flying condition within the next three years. Contractual negotiations are still underway, but basically VWoC has offered to provide funding to finish the aircraft, and to provide a venue for its continued operation upon completion. The plan will see the construction, test-flying and certification procedures completed here in Comox and then Y2K will stay for a period displaying her colours to the citizens of the Comox Valley and BC. All the volunteers and donors to this great project will be acknowledged and honoured for their contributions.

Upon completion of this phase the Y2K Spitfire will be relocated to Gatineau, Quebec where it will become part of Vintage Wings of Canada's fleet of heritage aircraft. There it will continue to be part of a flight that honours the memories of Canadian service men and women who have given their lives for our freedom and to teach our young the history of aviation and service in Canada.

B.C. volunteers irate over air force's decision to sell vintage aircraft to Gatineau group for $1

By David Pugliese, The Ottawa CitizenMay 19, 2009


The Canadian Forces' decision to sell a rare Second World War Spitfire to a private foundation in Gatineau for $1 has upset a group of volunteers who worked thousands of hours rebuilding the plane, funded by tax dollars and donations.

At the centre of the sale is the Y2K Spitfire, estimated to be worth around $700,000 and now being rebuilt at the air force museum at Comox, B.C. The project to get the plane flying again was financed by a $250,000 federal grant as well as $325,000 in donations collected from British Columbia residents, various organizations and museum visitors.

But several months ago the military approved selling the Spitfire for $1 to Vintage Wings of Canada, a private organization founded by Ottawa businessman Michael Potter.

The deal has left a sour taste in the mouths of a small group of volunteers who spent thousands of hours, and in some cases thousands of dollars of their own money, rebuilding the Spitfire. They question how a valuable aircraft being restored with taxpayers' money and public donations can then be sold off for a pittance to a private organization.

Other B.C. residents, who thought the plane was supposed to remain in the province to honour a B.C.-based squadron, have voiced their displeasure on the Comox museum website, which was promoting the Y2K Spitfire. Some have even asked for their donations back.
"We would like to know just what went on," said Tom Quibell, a 79-year-old aircraft engineer and one of the main volunteers rebuilding the Spitfire over the last seven years. "Every time we asked, we were told it had nothing to do with us. It was like the work we did means nothing."
The air force noted in an e-mail that "after eight years of work, paid for by donations and grants from the public, the project to restore and maintain the aircraft in the long term was not feasible."

Other Canadian Forces museums declined to take over the project so the military decided to transfer ownership of the Spitfire to Vintage Wings "in order to see the project actually come to fruition," according to the e-mail.

Vintage Wings has a number of rare aircraft, including a Spitfire, and operates those at various air shows and military events as a tribute to Canada's veterans and aviation pioneers. It is not open to the public on a daily basis, but tours can be arranged for groups.
Potter and Vintage Wings vice-president Tim Leslie say those raising concerns are in the minority.

"There have been a few people who have been relentless in their negative spin on this where there is no negative spin that we can see," said Leslie.
The restoration of the Y2K Spitfire began in 2000 and soon became the centrepiece of the Comox museum, with an estimated 50,000 people visiting to watch the rebuilding of the plane.

Quibell, an air force veteran, did much of the work along with an aircraft restoration specialist whose salary was funded by the donations. Volunteer Dave McLeod, a machinist, also worked on rebuilding parts and doing restoration. Pat Murphy handled fundraising. Family members and friends often pitched in and the plane went from wreckage strewn about the floor of the workroom to a nearly completed fuselage.
Even though an estimated $325,000 was raised, funding was an ongoing issue and, on a number of occasions, McLeod, Murphy and Quibell say they provided their own money to keep the project going.

According to Murphy, there was still money in the kitty to continue the restoration for another four months. In addition, more money would have been raised through the annual fundraising drive allowing the project to continue, albeit at a slow rate, he adds.

But Potter says the volunteers would never have gotten the aircraft airborne and, although they had rebuilt much of the fuselage, that's only a small amount of what still has to be done. Vintage Wings, he noted, recently signed a deal to have Spitfire wings fabricated at a cost of around $750,000.
Air force spokesman Captain Paul Finnemore notes it will cost Vintage Wings about $1.5 million to rebuild the Spitfire.

Leslie says Vintage Wings became involved after senior air force officers informed him the project was going to be scrapped as interest in it was dwindling.

Vintage Wings has a close relationship with the air force and, recently, the service sent a C-17 aircraft to New Zealand at no cost to pick up one of the organization's planes. That angered Defence Minister Peter MacKay, who said the move was not a proper use of tax dollars or military resources.
Leslie claims intense infighting among the volunteers scuttled the Spitfire project and says he made several trips to Comox to attempt to clear the air and deal with their concerns.

But Quibell and McLeod point out they've never met Leslie. Murphy said he met the Vintage Wings official once. The volunteers say Leslie's claims about infighting are wrong; they have gotten along well with each other over the years and still remain friends.
Quibell, who helped refurbish a number of the planes sent to the Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa, says the Y2K project could have continued. The plane would have been flying in about 15 years, he says, not uncommon for such restoration projects.
McLeod, Quibell and Murphy point out they want nothing for themselves, but would like to see Vintage Wings contribute something substantial to the Comox museum in return for getting the prized Spitfire. "The way it stands, the money that was raised locally won't benefit anyone locally," adds McLeod, who put about $10,000 of his own money into the Spitfire.

"Once that plane leaves (British Columbia) it will never return," adds Quibell.
Leslie says Vintage Wings only has the best interests of veterans at heart and he questioned the men's concept of volunteerism.
"When I volunteer my time, I have no expectation that I'm going to get something back," he noted.

Potter says he isn't going to show up at the Comox museum with a cheque. He noted Vintage Wings is spending a lot of money on restoring the Spitfire. Vintage Wings will rebuild the plane in Comox, fly it there for at least a season, and then transfer it to its facilities in Gatineau. The project could take between 24 and 30 months.

"Our commitment to what they're doing out there is far greater, but it's not in the form of cash," says Potter.
He noted Vintage Wings recently sent a restored Sabre jet out to Comox. It eventually hopes to send other planes out to B.C. to educate the public about aviation history, he adds.

Leslie says those raising concerns about the aircraft leaving B.C. have the wrong attitude. He notes that if the plane is going to get national attention it has to be flown in the Ottawa area.

"Are they going to take a provincial attitude to this or are they going to take a national attitude to this?" Leslie asks. "That's to me where the question is; Is Y2K a provincial treasure or is it a national treasure?"

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

The VW of C people hit the nail on the head.
While I have sympathy for the Y2K volunteers, they seem slightly misguided about what volunteering is.
I spent many years of my teen years volunteering to restore vintage a/c and never once expected a reward , an airplane ride etc. ( and yea I put some of my own money into volunteering ie membership fees, paint , tools etc)
My reward ? the chance and honor to actually work on some rare and interesting a/c.
The reality is the volunteers were working on an a/c owned by the military not them. There were no contacts or agreements made about it's future that I heard of.
While I am sure their work was excellent, funding and the rate at which the restoration was going were definitely against them.
The Spitfire being Military owned is a National treasure not provincial.
We should be thankful that an organization has come along that will keep the a/c in Canada and see this restoration thru both quickly and with much better resources and quality of workmanship.
Whether or not the price paid was one dollar or 1 million is unimportant as V W of C will spend huge amounts of it's own money putting the a/c back in the air so that Canadians can enjoy it. Not to mention many veterans out west that will hopefully get to see a Spitfire one more time in their twilight years once it tours the area as promised.
The positives of this deal far outweigh the negatives being brought up by a small handfull of volunteers. if they are really dedicated to returning this a/c to the air , then they should be thankful for the help this a/c restoration is receiving.
Afterall many of them complained about the lack of funding for years and now the funding has arrived.
So lets all look forward to the day the Canadian people get a chance to see another Spitfire fly over our country as a tribute to the men and woman that maintained and flew them.
The complaining and bickering does nothing but belittle their contributions.

Keep'em Flying

Fleet16b

My issue with this situation is the price the airframe was sold to VW of C for. $1 is not an appropriate price for that airplane, even before any work was done on the airframe it was worth far more that $1.

there any documentation as to how it could be sold for nothing? Sounds like total and absolute corruption if you ask me.

being said, I can definitely still sympathize with the volunteers who are irrate.

They had pictured this airplane remaining in Comox and being the jewel of their museum. In retrospect, if they were told, "Here, work on this airplane, donate your own time and money to it, and then we'll sell it away for less than the price of a bad cup of coffee" the volunteers would probably have just said "Scr*w You."

the military should have done is sold the Spitfire at market value, and maybe even given something back to the Comox museum as some kind of thank you. Whatever the amount, it would be a whole lot better than the cold shoulder they received. Heck, even if the military got $1,000,000 for the Spitfire and then spread that money out across all the military museums in Canada, that would be great for everyone!

fact that the project was slowing down and not being restored at the pace that a fully staffed and paid workshop would produce is a bad reason for taking it away. Restorations take time, some longer than others, but I think the length of a project should not determine its demise.

final note: VW of C is getting a ripper of a deal on this one. Imagine how happy you'd be to get a $3,000,000 airplane for half price!