Spitfire #3 for Vintage Wings of Canada

[Dave Hadfield]

Davey,

I can't speak for the outfit, but I'm pretty sure that once the Y2K Spitfire flies in Comox, it'll stay on the west coast for a while, honouring its commitments, before it goes east. Don't worry, you'll get to see it.

BTW, I was told it's a Mk IX.

Dave

[rcaf_100]

BTW, I was told it's a Mk IX.

Sorry 'bout that. Someone told me once that it was a XVI, and I didn't take the time to verify that.
(that's what I had originally thought as well, but they were persisting it was a Mk XVI)

Lesson for the day: don't believe what anyone tells you...

[daveymac82c]

That's true Dave,

I had forgotten that Y2K will be sticking around for a little bit. I'm going to try and soak up as much of her as I can before she moves away.

When I think about it, I haven't seen a 'real' Spitfire fly in person since 1988 or 1992 (Whenever we had the Lancaster, Spitfire, and Hurricane out from Ontario for a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight). However long it's been, it's been too long.

A couple of years ago there was that replica Spitfire that came to Abbotsford. Really nice, but not the real thing.

Peace,

David

[Warbird Kid]

Anyone have a pic of this bird?

[rcaf_100]

Anyone have a pic of this bird?

There's some in this thread: http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=33669

HTH

[mrhenniger]

BTW, I was told it's a Mk IX.

Sorry 'bout that. Someone told me once that it was a XVI, and I didn't take the time to verify that.
(that's what I had originally thought as well, but they were persisting it was a Mk XVI)

Lesson for the day: don't believe what anyone tells you...

Spitfire #1 (SL721) is a Mk XVI and Spitfire #2 (Comox) is a Mk IX.

Here is my list of the Vintage Wings inventory at Gatineau (near Ottawa)...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Vintage Wings of Canada

Mike

[Bill Greenwood]

SL 721 is the sister ship of my plane and they were side by side in Carefree Arizona when Woodie Woods owned them. His Son later flew it. It is a Mk XVI.

If you are looking at a Spit, usually, NOT ALWAYS, the IX has the standard fighter canopy with the high back fuselage behind the pilot and the small rear side windows. The canopy is on rails and slides by hand. It originally used a Rolls Royce Merlin, no Ford products here. The exhaust stacks were usually the fluted or fish tail type. The tail wheel is not retractable on either of these as it is on VIII or the Griffon ones. Standard guns were 2 20 mm cannons and 4 .303 machine guns.

The XVI came with a Packard Merlin, a bubble canopy that is opened and closed by a crank on the right side of the cockpit like a Mustang, and with the low back fuselage, and the exhaust are the round type. Guns were usually the 2 cannons and only 2 machine guns, these being the American type .50 cal.

I have flown both, and they are both sweet as heck. The XVI had a really neat type of fuel gauge. I think I like the Rolls engine a little better, but I might not know the difference if it was a blind test. They are both fine airplanes. I do definitely prefer the more classic look of the IX canopy and the high back fuselage has some minor advantages in slow flight and at stall, being more stable.

The XVI had clipped wings when I flew it, and it really does handle well and is maneuverable as heck as a fighter. I do prefer the full wing tips for looks and a little slower stall and landing speed, and the old style exhaust. I think the newer style round stacks may? , not sure, stain the side of the fuselage less. They may have also just switched because they were easier to make.
darn, I miss flying them.

Griffon engine Spitfires have the larger diameter round exhaust stacks, and retract tailwheels.

[Al Moore]

The Mk XIV is in need of a lot of work and parts, but its in the best place in the world to be
rebuilt.

Bwb.

Did a set of wings and an engine come with this project? If not, will a new set of wings need to be manufactured?

TIA

[RMAllnutt]

BTW, I was told it's a Mk IX.

Sorry 'bout that. Someone told me once that it was a XVI, and I didn't take the time to verify that.
(that's what I had originally thought as well, but they were persisting it was a Mk XVI)

Lesson for the day: don't believe what anyone tells you...

You shouldn't worry too much about that. The only difference between a Mk.XVI and a Mk.IX is that the IX had a Rolls-Royce built Merlin, and the XVI hhad a Packard built version. There were both high and low back versions of each model.

Cheers,
Richard

[bentwingbomber]

The Mk XIV is in need of a lot of work and parts, but its in the best place in the world to be
rebuilt.

Bwb.

Did a set of wings and an engine come with this project? If not, will a new set of wings need to be manufactured?

TIA

Saw both Spitfires today.

The Mk XIV has no wings or engine.

The Mk IX is having cowlings cut and fitted,followed by the fillet panels so is a little way off flying yet.

It does look stunning though.

[Al Moore]

Thanks very much for the information BWB.

Al.