2 seat 1944 spitfire for sale

[Guest scott fletcher]

so who,s up for putting in some $ for a 2 seat spitfire.

 

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/executive-lifestyle/london-auction-of-items-from-masterpiece-london-not-for-the-frugal/story-e6frg9zo-1226084969232

 

 

[willedoo]

so who,s up for putting in some $ for a 2 seat spitfire.http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/executive-lifestyle/london-auction-of-items-from-masterpiece-london-not-for-the-frugal/story-e6frg9zo-1226084969232

Scott, it looks like the one on TV a few weeks ago. It was on that show, I forget the name, where Australian descendants of war veterans get taken on a journey to discover their relative's war history. It was modified to a 2 seater in modern times, I think. Don't know if any were built that way as trainers, haven't heard of it. The lady who was the guest of the show was training for her private pilot's license & she got to take the controls & fly it for a while, would have been a great experience for anyone to do that, it's possibly the same plane. I think her Uncle flew them in Malta or somewhere.

 

Cheers, Willie.

 

 

[red750]

It was on that show, I forget the name, where Australian descendants of war veterans get taken on a journey to discover their relative's war history.

The show is "In Their Footsteps" .

 

Peter.

 

 

[Guest scott fletcher]

yes supermarine did develop a 2 seater variant.

 

Supermarine developed a two-seat variant known as the T Mk VIII to be used for [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_training]training[/ame], but none were ordered, and only one example was ever constructed (identified as N32/G-AIDN by Supermarine). In the absence of an official two-seater variant, a number of airframes were crudely converted in the field. These included a 4(SAAF) Squadron Mk VB in North Africa, where a second seat was fitted instead of the upper fuel tank in front of the cockpit, although it was not a dual-control aircraft and is thought to have been used as the squadron "run-about." The only unofficial two-seat conversions that were fitted with dual-controls were a small number of Russian lend/lease Mk IX aircraft. These were referred to as Mk IX UTI and differed from the Supermarine proposals by using an inline "greenhouse" style double canopy rather than the raised "bubble" type of the T Mk VIII.

 

In the postwar era, the idea was revived by Supermarine and a number of two-seat Spitfires were built by converting old Mk IX airframes with a second "raised" cockpit featuring a [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_canopy]bubble canopy[/ame]. Ten of these TR9 variants were then sold to the [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Air_Force]Indian Air Force[/ame] along with six to the [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Air_Corps]Irish Air Corps[/ame], three to the [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Dutch_Air_Force]Royal Dutch Air Force[/ame] and one for the [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Egyptian_Air_Force]Royal Egyptian Air Force[/ame].[127] Currently a handful of the trainers are known to exist, including both the T Mk VIII, a T Mk IX based in the U.S., and the "Grace Spitfire" ML407, a veteran flown operationally by 485(NZ) Squadron in 1944.

 

 

[Guest scott fletcher]

30/06/11 The Sixth Piece on the Masterpiece London Lust List

 

Lust List 6: MT818 - built in 1944 - it is the only Spitfire prototype surviving, in any condition, in the world

 

 

 

[Guest scott fletcher]

i have done some research and i belive this to be her.

 

Serial #: MT818

 

Construction #:

 

6S/729058

 

Civil Registration:

 

G-AIDN

 

N58JE

 

Model(s):

 

LF Mk. VIIIc

 

Tr. Mk. 8

 

Name: None

 

Status: Airworthy

 

Last info: 2002

 

History:

 

Vickers-Armstrong Ltd, Eastleigh, Jan. 7, 1947-1956.

 

- Registered as G-AIDN.

 

- Prototype 2-seat trainer, first flight Sept. 1946 as N32.

 

- Stored at Chilbolton, 1952-1956.

 

Vivian Bellamy, Eastleigh, Sept. 1956-1963.

 

John S. Fairey, Eastleigh (later Andover), Sept. 1963-1967.

 

John S. Fairey & Tim Davies, Andover, 1967-1976.

 

Mike S. Bayliss, Baginton, 1976-1978.

 

George F. Miller, Baginton (later Dinas Powis), 1978-1983.

 

- Damaged while landing, Feb. 6, 1978.

 

- Rebuilt started in 1982 and shipped to TX.

 

- Marked as MT818/G-M.

 

George F. Miller, Houston, TX, 1983-1986.

 

Jack A. Erickson/Erickson Aircrane Inc/Erickson Group, Medford, OR, July 1986-2002.

 

- Registered as N58JE.

 

- Restoration completed.

 

- First flight April 1987.

 

- Flown as MT818/G-M.

 

- Operated by Tillamook NAS Air Museum, Tillamook, OR, 1997-2002.

 

 

[Guest scott fletcher]

The Spitfire at Masterpiece London possesses unparalleled credentials including being the only surviving Spitfire which was used by the RAF for secret trials and developments during the Second World War and being the only Spitfire to win the 1950s London to Paris air race. The space either side of the RAF roundel on the fuselage was used for unique identifying code letters and presents the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to the potential buyer for the ultimate personalised number plate.

 

There are approximately 50 Spitfires still flying in the world but not all of these authentic. The MT818 possesses a complete documented service record from the 1940s and all its original parts including its Vickers workhorse Merlin 66 engine and has never been altered in any way, only maintained and preserved. It is unlike many other Spitfires which are re-creations comprising surprisingly little of the Spitfire whose identity they now use.

 

The MT818 also has the unique distinction of being the only original Spitfire that the owner can enjoy with another person, even if they themselves are not a qualified pilot.

 

As the current owner says, “Interestingly there is probably a close parallel with important historic cars. Take the fabled Ferrari 250 GTO, of which there about 40, and for which authenticity and history is everything. The best of these change hands for more than £12 million, but a top re-creation costs less than £1 million. So on that basis the authentic two-seater Spitfire on display at Masterpiece London, and said to be available for £8 million, seems cheap. £8 million for a Spitfire

 

 

[Guest scott fletcher]

Jack A. Erickson/Erickson Aircrane Inc/Erickson Group. the same company that supplyies the erickson aircrane

 

fire fighting helicopters to victoria and nsw each summer.

 

 

 

[willedoo]

I was wondering about the price tag, Scott, but that explains it to a T. Thanks Peter for the name of that show, I've watched a few, but the memory must be getting bad. Cheers, Wiledoo.