MkVIII Spitfire Project in South Australia

[shelldrake]

Hello everyone.

I have been absent for some time due to some overseas committments but have hit the ground running on my return. Back in Adelaide this week I have been following up on a persistant rumour of a Spitfire project. This has been a difficult rumour to confirm but, I have had some recent updates from several reliable sources who wish to remain anonymous that this project does exist. It has been alleged this project was recovered from Nth Queensland quite some time ago and has been held in storage in Southern Queensland until about 12 to 18 months ago when it was traded, swapped, sold or whatever to a South Australian collector. My first suspect in all of this was Classic jets but I have been assured they are concentrating on their P-38, P-39 and a P-40 rebuild. The guys I spoke to at the museum seemed quite vague when I pushed them about a Spitfire project. This is not the Langdon Badgers aircraft. I am hoping this post may entice someone to come forward and add some detail to this rumour. I can appreciate the alleged owner wanting to keep this quiet and I am in no way suggesting any wrong doings by any party. I am aware of another collector in South Australia who has several Spitfire identities and is connected with the work being done in the past at Precision on Spitfire components and tail units. This again, is not the same party who is believed to be connected to this MkVIII project. I would like to interview the owner of this project and do some follow up research on the type as it was used in Australia in WWII.

The plot thickens

over to you.

Shelldrake

[Andy in West Oz]

Shelldrake

John (Setter) would most likely be your best bet. You could also try posting this request on Warbirdz.net as well, this is an Aussie Warbird forum.

Alec Wilson has had an VIII (regn VH-ZPY) under long term rebuild. I take it he is one of the "known" restorers that you mention?

Cheers

Andy

[Digger]

shelldrake

I try never to put anyone off identifying projects etc but I really do believe you are barking up the wrong tree here. My reasons for this are as follows. About 18 months ago I was transporting my Cobra project from one storage location to another. On the back of my ute I was also carrying a RR Merlin V12 engine which I also have. I was approached by several people during this trip and asked numerous questions about the origins of both the engine and the Cobra remains. Some weeks later I got a call from another collector who said he had been told of an extremely good looking fella..... ;>)....... transporting a "Spitfire" through the streets of Adelaide. I was given a reasonable description of this individual and the vehicle he was driving and can assure you, this "Spitfire" was in fact my Cobra and Merlin engine. ( I wasn't sure it was really me until I was told the driver was good looking, then I was convinced).

So, I believe there has been a total misunderstanding or a total lack of understanding on someone's part regarding the existence of a Spitfire project in South Australia. I will concede that, I could be the owner of a Spit-bra or a Cob-fire but I think that would be drawing a long bow. I dont wish to seem trvial but I really think this is the source of the rumours. Another explanation is that about a year ago, a well known Adelaide 'collector' of memorabilia came into possession of a large amount of Spitfire parts. many of these items ended up on ebay and have been sold to purchasers all over the world but mainly to the UK. These parts included Canopy, Front windscreens, undercarriage, Airframe panels, Seat and other more major parts. I could understand someone seeing or hearing about this could assume there was a Spitfire project but to the best of my knowledge this person is not collecting for a project.

finally, I would like to say this. If there is a Spitfire project out there and if the owner or owners wish to remain silent on the subject, I wouldn't blame them. I would respect this desire to remain private and await an opportunity at a later date to take pictures or further research if this is acceptable to the owners if they do in fact exist.

I hope this clears up this case at least in the short term.

feel free to PM me if you wish to discuss further.

Digger

[O.P.]

Bra-Fire!


I couldn't resist.

Sorry.

[Digger]

OP

I thought of that too but wasn't brave enough!


digger

[setter]

So Digger after the denial when do you start on the Spit - Don't hit me I'm just a small lad LOL!!

Regards
John P

[Digger]

No denials,

my past experiences with Spitfire has been limited to the recovery of MkV tail unit, outer wing, nose cone, exhaust stacks and numerous other bits and pieces which all went to a well known Spitfire collector builder in South Australia. The tail unit was featured in Classic Wings as a rebuild not that long ago.

I do have some leads on more Spitfires and one very good one which I would rate at a 90% probability. But hey I don't like the look, the sound or the performance of the Spitfire, thats why I have stuck to the classical nuts and bolts P-39. ;>)

I can say without any hesitation I do not have a spitfire stored at any secure location in a control environment or any other such facilty that may be needed in order to contain the corrosion to any parts that could be left on it if I was to have it.

Is that clear enough??

Digger

[Digger]

Shelldrake

PM me or drop me a line at woodley@adam.com.au

I have some interesting news for you regarding your Spitfire research


Digger