NZFF

A two seat Spitfire is on its way to NZ for its Auckland based owner - see this thread here on the Wings over Cambridge forum - hopefully I can catch it at the airshow in Hamilton (if it is on and I go) or Sportavex at Tauranga.

AWESOME! Can't wait to hear the drone of a merlin engine overhead Auckland again

Too bad it isn't in traditional RAF colours though:


Still, two seats means there is the slightest possibility that perhaps one day I could get a ride in it

Wow very cool news. How exciting

.. and here is a thread on a Spitfire being restored in Fielding - a Mark IX!

Awesome, suspect the paint scheme will catch a few people out, but it's certainly distinctive.

Hopefully we will see them both on the airshow circuit in the next few years then

Trolly wrote:

QUOTE (Trolly @ Dec 10 2007, 01:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

AWESOME! Can't wait to hear the drone of a merlin engine overhead Auckland again

There is still the Auckland based Mustang, Trolly which is also powered by a Merlin - although it is in Tauranga at the mo.

Hi all!

Amazing news - Doug Brooker, owner/pilot of the purple Giles G202 ZK-NUT, has sold it and has bought instead.....



Thats right, a two-seat Spitfire! How cool is that?!

Ok, she's actually a new-build incorporating original bits, but she's a full size, flyable, Merlin powered Spit for NZ! Apparently she's to be domiciled at Ardmore (lucky Trolly and others!) and will debut at Wanaka next year.....WOO!

Here's some info from the Key Publishing (FlyPast mag) forum:

Previously #DM008 with Dick Melton Aviation.
Restored for Peter Godfrey in Florida. Although substantially a new-build, the fuselage uses parts from ML417 and some structural components of the original MH367 (ex-F.IX) which were retrospectively incorporated into #DM008. This allowed the airframe to adopt the identity of MH367.

Painted to represent a Mk VB, ER570, flown by Major Robert Levine, USAAF, in Tunisia, June 1943.

First flight was at Bartow, Florida, in September 2006, with Eliot Cross on the stick.

How cool is this gonna be? No, I don't particularly like the scheme either, but perhaps we can persuade him to paint her up as a Kiwi RAF Spit IX with OU codes?

Hi Ya Zac - I already beat you to the news but thanks for the extra info - see this thread here.

Cheers

Paul

K5054NZ wrote:

QUOTE (K5054NZ @ Dec 16 2007, 10:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No, I don't particularly like the scheme either, but perhaps we can persuade him to paint her up as a Kiwi RAF Spit IX with OU codes?

It could be candy-striped pink for all I care...biggest question is: how to get into the spare seat?
I missed my chance at the MiG 29, would sell the dog for this one.

Charl wrote:

QUOTE (Charl @ Dec 20 2007, 11:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It could be candy-striped pink for all I care...biggest question is: how to get into the spare seat?
I missed my chance at the MiG 29, would sell the dog for this one.

Couldnt agree more Charl, Its a Spifire and thats all that matters.
Sometimes colour schemes dont tell the full story until you see the aircraft in the flesh, different but it will look good for the camera and I am on the list for a fly.
Was going to go to the UK in 2009 to see a few airshows but mainly to fly a Spitfire so may not bother going now.