Spitfire T.9 TE308 Flying Again - New Markings

Hooligan2 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 16, 2020 3:30 am

Rob.Brindley wrote:

I think ML417 was converted to a 2 seater post war and was then restored back as a single seater for TFC.

That's correct.

Sopwith · **Joined:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 2:49 pm **Posts:** 551

If memory serves me correctly Personal Plane Sevices did the conversion back to single seat of ML417 back in the 80’s

FuryFB11 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 29, 2017 10:33 am **Posts:** 95

Indeed ML417 was converted back to a single seater at PPS. Though it retains the gun bay wing fuel tanks as per the two seat modification.

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Mon Aug 17, 2020 1:45 pm

Lon Moer wrote:

Was a two-seat, then it was a one seat and then back to a two-seat .
:spit

It was never converted to a single seat, all that was done was the rear canopy and windscreen were removed and the opening had a removable cover installed.

C VEICH · **Joined:** Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:40 pm **Posts:** 1473

Matt Gunsch wrote:

It was never converted to a single seat, all that was done was the rear canopy and windscreen were removed and the opening had a removable cover installed.

+1

Lon Moer · **Posted:** Mon Aug 17, 2020 5:10 pm

Matt Gunsch wrote:

Lon Moer wrote:

Was a two-seat, then it was a one seat and then back to a two-seat .
:spit

It was never converted to a single seat, all that was done was the rear canopy and windscreen were removed and the opening had a removable cover installed.

It was little more than that.
There are controls that are rear cockpit specific that had to be modified to the front cockpit.
:spit

Archer · **Joined:** Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:13 pm **Posts:** 446

Matt Gunsch wrote:

It was never converted to a single seat, all that was done was the rear canopy and windscreen were removed and the opening had a removable cover installed.

Leaving it more of a 1.5 seater.... :wink:

To me it didn't quite look right, as you can tell that the (front) cockpit is not where it should be, see here: https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/code-numbe ... xSx%20RA-F

More about the mod in this thread: viewtopic.php?p=125480

DH82EH · **Posted:** Wed Aug 19, 2020 12:29 pm

TE308 is unique as it was originally built as a low back Mk IX.
It got converted to two seat configuration.
It did fly for a while with the rear canopy removed and a cover over that cockpit.
It lays claim to being the only low back, high back and two seat Spitfire.

I was really sorry when I heard that Bill Greenwood had to sell it.
Obviously she is in good hands and does look very sharp in her current scheme.

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Fri Aug 21, 2020 1:24 pm

Lon Moer wrote:

Matt Gunsch wrote:

Lon Moer wrote:

Was a two-seat, then it was a one seat and then back to a two-seat .
:spit

It was never converted to a single seat, all that was done was the rear canopy and windscreen were removed and the opening had a removable cover installed.

It was little more than that.
There are controls that are rear cockpit specific that had to be modified to the front cockpit.
:spit

Such as ? to fly from the front, you don't need anyone in the back, and there are no controls in the back that are needed in the front.
In the T-6, you can control everything from the front, in the back you do have flight and engine controls, and you can lower the gear and operate the flaps, but you have no radios other than to transmit on what ever radio the front seater has it set to.

Lon Moer · **Posted:** Fri Aug 21, 2020 11:57 pm

Matt Gunsch wrote:

<>
Such as ? to fly from the front, you don't need anyone in the back, and there are no controls in the back that are needed in the front.
In the T-6, you can control everything from the front, in the back you do have flight and engine controls, and you can lower the gear and operate the flaps, but you have no radios other than to transmit on what ever radio the front seater has it set to.

Archer wrote:

More about the mod in this thread: http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.o ... p?p=125480

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Sat Aug 22, 2020 12:07 am

Lon Moer wrote:

Matt Gunsch wrote:

<>
Such as ? to fly from the front, you don't need anyone in the back, and there are no controls in the back that are needed in the front.
In the T-6, you can control everything from the front, in the back you do have flight and engine controls, and you can lower the gear and operate the flaps, but you have no radios other than to transmit on what ever radio the front seater has it set to.

Archer wrote:

More about the mod in this thread: http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.o ... p?p=125480

I am wondering where you got your information, I got mine from as close to the source as possible. All they did was take the roll over structure out, and rear canopies and installed a cover over the rear pit, all the controls were left in place.

Archer · **Joined:** Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:13 pm **Posts:** 446

Have a look at post #3 and #4 in the thread I linked to.

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Sat Aug 22, 2020 10:03 am

Archer wrote:

Have a look at post #3 and #4 in the thread I linked to.

I got the information from Bill, you know, he owned it for a few decades

Kyleb · **Posted:** Sat Aug 22, 2020 12:39 pm

Matt Gunsch wrote:

Archer wrote:

Have a look at post #3 and #4 in the thread I linked to.

I got the information from Bill, you know, he owned it for a few decades

Speaking of Bill, he suddenly went radio silent last spring on a couple of other forums. Anyone know if he's OK?

Lon Moer · **Posted:** Sat Aug 22, 2020 12:59 pm

Matt Gunsch wrote:

Archer wrote:

Have a look at post #3 and #4 in the thread I linked to.

I got the information from Bill, you know, he owned it for a few decades

If posts from Peter Arnold and Bill Greenwood are not enough info for you, well......

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Spitfire T.9 TE308 Flying Again - New Markings

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