Brad Pitt buys WW2 Spitfire

[kalamazookid]

The only Spitfires I've seen on the market recently are SM969 and MJ730.

The price of 3.3 million reported in the article seems to match up with what they were asking for MJ730 if i recall correctly.

I hope it isn't this one. Id hate to see another MAM bird leave.

Well, since MAM sold the Rapide they have bought another one so maybe they will do the same with the Spitfire.

[littelfriend]

Maybe PV202

G-CCCA

http://www.asa-be.com/photogallery_EBAW_201205.htm

Found this link:

http://www.vol.at/brad-pitt-kauft-ein-z ... ug/3787701

[RandolphB]

Unfortunately Chris,
I suspect that MJ730 will have to be sold regardless. (Just my suspicion, not based on any other knowledge)

Something that sprung immediately to mind is the potential prospect, of a combat veteran, being operated by someone whos skill set may not be up to the task.
I don't like to spread negativity, however, we have all seen the results of high performance fighters being operated by people with insufficient skills.

I hope that I am wrong.

Andy Scott

I'm guessing he has the skills. Quite a number of years ago, a friend of mine ran into them both at a small airport diner, and had a conversation of almost two hours with them both. They were the only other people in the place....and had no idea who they were. He said she had an obvious passion for Aviation and Brad was growing into his own love of everything to do with it. All they talked about was flying the while time and he said they were some of the nicest and most intelligent folks he had chanced to meet. As they walked out to the ramp to the plane they flew in, my friend realized they had to be quite wealthy (I forget what they were flying) and asked, "Uhm....I get the feeling I should know who you guys are...are you somebody?" To which they laughed and explained who they were. I suspect he will be a good caretaker of the aircraft while he owns it.

[DaveG]

so is this one going to be known as the "Pitt-fire"?

[jtramo]

Could you imagine watching a Spit do the overhead, land, taxi in and out pops Angelna. I'm thinking that may be pretty neat.

[Cherrybomber13]

you would think with the size of their family he would want a C-47...

[marine air]

30 plus years ago, I got invited to Aspen, Colorado after Christmas with some college friends. One day while skiing, we saw Bill Greenwood flying his newly purchased Spitfire. It was truly a beautiful sight. Later that week while partying at a place called the Copper Kettle we saw a young Tom Cruise and his friends at the restaurant. This to say, many mega-millionaires have had their skiing interrupted by the sound of the Spitfire's Merlin over the years.
Any chance Bill sold his Spitfire to Brad?

[VaBeachEd]

MJ 730 from the Military Aviation Museum in Va Beach is no longer for sale, and neither are any of the other aircraft in the collection according to the Jerry. (His words to me) Also, as is noted on one of the other discussion threads..."Restorations in 2014".

"Fighter Factory / MAM`s Bf 109 G-4 with DB 605 shall fly in (spring) 2014. Jerry Yagen has been recently in Germany at MeierMotors to personally check progress."

Additionally, MAM has representatives at ICAS in Vegas this week to let the community know that MAM is "back in battery" and ready to start flying in 2014.

The obvious inferrence here is that those who reported the demise of the MAM in Va Beach were in error -- this is one time that it is nice to be wrong!

[Mike]

The obvious inferrence here is that those who reported the demise of the MAM in Va Beach were in error -- this is one time that it is nice to be wrong!

To be fair, the story originated from Jerry himself, who called all the magazines personally and announced that everything was being sold.

[VaBeachEd]

Certainly that is a possibility, and since I wasn't privy to the conversation, I don't know exactly what was said. But I'd be willing to wager that was what "the magazines" heard, rather than what was said. Our local fishwrapper, the Va Pilot, has gotten the story wrong on several occasions. All said though, things are definitely looking up at MAM.

[gary1954]

Angelina definitely a collection example

[corsair166b]

Bill Greenwood did NOT sell his Spitfire to Brad Pitt....latest update we have is Ray Middleton has finished the wings on TE308 and has them primed for paint and is now ready to move to the engine and get it back in shape.....no idea if this will be done in house or sent out....I'm betting it will be another year at least before we see her again, maybe longer. But BILL will be flying her.

[over/out]

so is this one going to be known as the "Pitt-fire"?

Perfect! At least he's not saying that making a movie is like being in a real war! Who would be stupid enough to say such a thing??

[DH82EH]

MJ 730 from the Military Aviation Museum in Va Beach is no longer for sale, and neither are any of the other aircraft in the collection according to the Jerry. (His words to me) Also, as is noted on one of the other discussion threads..."Restorations in 2014".

"Fighter Factory / MAM`s Bf 109 G-4 with DB 605 shall fly in (spring) 2014. Jerry Yagen has been recently in Germany at MeierMotors to personally check progress."

Additionally, MAM has representatives at ICAS in Vegas this week to let the community know that MAM is "back in battery" and ready to start flying in 2014.

The obvious inferrence here is that those who reported the demise of the MAM in Va Beach were in error -- this is one time that it is nice to be wrong!

Thanks Ed
If that is the case it's great news. I really wish you folks at V.Beach the best. I'd love to visit one day.

I just checked Courtesy Aircraft and they don't have any Spitfires listed.
Very interesting

Andy Scott

[Brad]

Certainly that is a possibility, and since I wasn't privy to the conversation, I don't know exactly what was said. But I'd be willing to wager that was what "the magazines" heard, rather than what was said.

I am very glad things are looking up but the fact is that Gerry did send emails to a lot of people in this game with the list of stuff for sale (everything) and what he had into them. He instituted a very odd system of bidding on everything, put a lot up for sale with a broker, sold a few and then did a 180. I've no doubt that the press had a lot of stuff wrong but the majority of the quotes and emails came from Gerry. The rumors that accompanied it all are, all too often, just part of this game when people who really aren't involved with the industry try to get involved from the sidelines.