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By: 29th January 2015 at 16:27 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Did she already have the "ejector"-type exhausts fitted before the overhaul, or are they new too..... ?
There was a time when most (all?) of the then airworthy BBMF Merlin Spits had stub exhausts whether correct for the mark or not... good to see that they have progressively been made ever more representative of their "time" .
Looks lovely doesn't she, can't wait to see her back on the display circuit. Well done to all involved.
By: 29th January 2015 at 16:38 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-In the markings of F/Lt Tony Cooper, 64 Sqdn "Peter John I"?...
Had the pleasure of meeting Tony in Nov 2013. I was able to look at his Log Books, and in what can only be described as an extraordinary coincidence, I looked at a photograph of F/Lt Cooper, sat in front of a Spitfire, with several other pilots at 53 OTU Kirton-in-Lindsay in February 1945.
Sat next to Tony was a S/Ldr Niven (OC) - I peered at the photograph and recognised the face. A quick check of the Log Book of John Niven on my laptop, revealed it was indeed the one and the same.
John Niven is the father of a close family friend who also flew AB910 briefly - (Feb 19 1945 Spitfire VB AB910 Weather Test (15 mins) Operating from Hibaldstow) - and also flew ML407 (Aug 3 1944 Spitfire IXB ML407 Target Support Cover - 20000' Lille Ostend area covering 300 Halifaxes on Noball at Foret Le Nieppe. Very hazy. Bad for strafing. Little flak from St.Omer & Hesdin.).
To be able to sit down and actually talk with one of the pilots, whose footage was some of that which I have been watching over the last seven years, was a real privilege and honour.
By: 29th January 2015 at 17:03 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Three bladed prop.
By: 29th January 2015 at 17:21 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Nice!! Especially seeing her with the correct prop fitted! :)
By: 29th January 2015 at 17:30 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-does the change of prop improve the handling?
By: 29th January 2015 at 18:18 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Blimey that was quick work! I expected her to miss this season. She looks fantastic.
By: 29th January 2015 at 18:31 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Can it be test flown by ARC, or are only BBMF crew approved to operate it ?
By: 29th January 2015 at 18:38 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Looks good :)
By: 29th January 2015 at 18:46 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Blimey that was quick work! I expected her to miss this season. She looks fantastic.
It has been there for a couple of years. I think it was originally due to have been completed mid-summer last year (hence the invasion stripes) but the wait certainly seems to have been worth it, it looks superb!
By: 29th January 2015 at 18:51 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-I've only just noticed the other subtle change - the windscreen.
By: 29th January 2015 at 19:02 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Did MkVs have invasion stripes? I thought they were well out of front line service in the UK by 1944.
Regards
By: 29th January 2015 at 19:31 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-There were still a fair few on the front line on D-Day, including at least one other survivor (BL370).
A Spitfire V which started like as a Mk.Ia also shot down a Bf109G on D+2!
By: 29th January 2015 at 19:49 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Zooming in on the firewall suggests that this is much more than a skin deep restoration. I'd like to see more, but it looks pretty stock under the skin.
By: 29th January 2015 at 19:54 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Did MkVs have invasion stripes? I thought they were well out of front line service in the UK by 1944.Regards
Hi, Johnny Checketts was commanding a wing of 3 MKVb squadrons, British (130), Polish (303) and Canadian (402) over Caen behind the beachhead at first light on D-Day, in support of bombers and gliders carrying paratroops, according to his Biography (a good read).
By: 29th January 2015 at 20:01 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Mk vs certainly wore invasion stripes. AB910 shot down at least one a/c wearing them over Normandy...
By: 29th January 2015 at 21:04 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-And in a fitting coincidence Tony Cooper actually witnessed the occasion when AB910 landed at Hibaldstow with Margaret Horton draped over the tail.
By: 29th January 2015 at 21:12 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Zooming in on the firewall suggests that this is much more than a skin deep restoration. I'd like to see more, but it looks pretty stock under the skin.
Spot on Bruce !
By: 29th January 2015 at 21:16 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Can it be test flown by ARC, or are only BBMF crew approved to operate it ?
BBMF Personnel Only. It's a military aircraft and there's no authorisation or insurance for a civilian to operate them.
By: 29th January 2015 at 21:25 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-The livery is 100% faithful to images of Tony Cooper's personal Spitfire.
Tony has the most wonderful photographic record of his service life and I am privileged to have been able to copy it.
64 Squadron reverted to Mk V's before D-Day.
A magnificant restoration that vastly exceeded my expectation.
Mark
By: 29th January 2015 at 21:44 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Glorious :cool:
Posts: 1,537
By: Bradburger - 29th January 2015 at 16:19
Just seen a couple of pictures posted on the BBMF Facebook page of AB910 having engine runs after her overhaul with ARC at Duxford.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]234949[/ATTACH]
Looking good, and nice to see her fitted with a 3-bladed Rotol prop, and external armour windscreen! :)
Cheers
Paul