Warbird Information Exchange

Spitfire IX BR601 has flown following restoration:

https://www.facebook.com/collings.found ... 6041409130

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Cheers

Daz

Thanks for the heads up!

Wasn't expecting this to happen quite so soon!

Congrats again to all at BHHH and the Collings Foundation.

And at last we have an airworthy MKIX restored to an early modification state!

Cheers

Paul

Surprised to see that they chose not to make it a two- seater. Given that they use fighters for their ride program. Happy to see a single- seater getting airborne though.

T J

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Make my day, punk!

There was too much history in this airframe, BR601, to turn it into a T.9. She is considered the second production Spitfire IX built and the oldest survivor of the group, if I remember correctly. She started life as a I, was converted to a V, and then again to a IX. She has been restored to match exactly as she would've been from the factory. That includes early style cowlings, elevators, gear legs, wheels, and cannon bumps among other things. It's hard to believe she was the bare fuselage shoved into the corner at Lone Star many years ago.

Besides the history, while the FAA is allowing new airframes into the exemption program again, they are still not allowing foreign built aircraft. While one could make the argument that the Spitfire has significant U.S. ties, no one has tried yet. T.9's are more valuable that ever in the UK since rides are now allowed.

They can't. Aircraft built outside the US don't qualify under the FAA's ride exemption program. The local CAF Wing had to sell their Canadian Built Harvard and buy an SNJ just so it would qualify for the ride program...

So that would mean the Greenwood Spit Tr.9 as well?

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Cheers

Daz

ANY foreign built aircraft. Replicas are also not included. This knocks out any Spitfire T.9, the newly flown Bf109G-12, any Sea Fury T.20, the Me262's, etc.

The only route to go here in the US for a T.9 would be to get a Letter of Authorization to do flight training in an experimental aircraft. We have done it with the F-4, TA-4 and Me-262. I think several people have done with with experimental P-51's as well. Typically allows a bit more flexibility during the flight (like the person in the back can manipulate the flight controls), but has restrictions as well on who qualifies to be able to do it. Usually requires the students to hold at least a private pilots license and a current medical. It can be done, but takes a lot of potential students/passengers out of the running.