My wife and I went to the Bay of Islands (north of Auckland) for a wedding on Saturday and, as it happened, I needed to go to Avspecs on Friday to drop off something for a UK-based project. After dropping off the part with Warren Denholm's son Jaiden one of the engineers, Dylan Stace, kindly took me on a guided tour of the facilities. He explained that TB252's new American owner wants the aircraft at Oshkosh this year so the Spitfire is front-and-centre at Avspecs.
My helpful (and patient) guide explained the new owner wants the gun and cannon bays fitted out, so it should make for a sharp, detailed machine when complete. He said to make Oshkosh this year she needs to be on the water in May - exciting times!
* Goodall says she served in this role at Odiham, Acklington, Boulmer, Leuchars and finally Bentley Priory before being taken down as part of Tim Routsis' deal.
Posts: 1,135
By: K5054NZ - 11th February 2020 at 20:29 - Edited 11th February 2020 at 20:31
Hi all,
tb252-import-to-avspecs-clasic-wings-issue-38_49214164898_o by Zac Yates, on Flickr
tb252-progress-classic-wings-issue-43_49214189843_o by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Former gate guardian* Spitfire TB252 came to New Zealand some years ago for Avspecs to restore to airworthy for Tony Banta, as per these scans from Classic Wings issues 38 and 43 respectively:
My wife and I went to the Bay of Islands (north of Auckland) for a wedding on Saturday and, as it happened, I needed to go to Avspecs on Friday to drop off something for a UK-based project. After dropping off the part with Warren Denholm's son Jaiden one of the engineers, Dylan Stace, kindly took me on a guided tour of the facilities. He explained that TB252's new American owner wants the aircraft at Oshkosh this year so the Spitfire is front-and-centre at Avspecs.
My helpful (and patient) guide explained the new owner wants the gun and cannon bays fitted out, so it should make for a sharp, detailed machine when complete. He said to make Oshkosh this year she needs to be on the water in May - exciting times!
* Goodall says she served in this role at Odiham, Acklington, Boulmer, Leuchars and finally Bentley Priory before being taken down as part of Tim Routsis' deal.