Behind the Scenes at Duxford...

[letsgetrowdy]

Greetings,
This morning my father took me up to IWM duxford in Cambridgshire, for a "Spitfire themed" low-fuss display. I am sure that some of us Britains are aware of this airfield.
I am half familiar with some of Duxford's pilots, through my dad, who flies as a captain for BMI. Throughout the day I kept in contact with John Dodd, who is a ground mechanic for the ARCo Spitfire company, who were starring in the show. he promised me that he would let me at the Flight-line afterwards, and sit me in a spit...
But not just that, as later on I was given a full tour of the out-of-bounds ARCo restoration hangar that is normally closed to the public...
Enjoy...
"My" spit..... ( A two-seat Mk. IXT from the dutch Airforce. This was my second encounter with the spitfire as I had previously sat in MH434 )

John Dodd "briefs" me...

The complex rebuilding hangar of the ARCo...

Spitfre IXb SL366

Spitfire Ia P9374

Some of ARCo's Luftwaffe fighters...

 

[hewman100]

P9374? That's the one they dug out of the beach at Dunkirk isn't it?

 

[letsgetrowdy]

Yep sure is... They said that It'll be flying by 2010

 

[Snuffy]

Thanks for sharing! :ernae:

 

[TomSteber]

Looks like a great time. Thanks for posting the pics.

 

[mrogers]

That Luftwaffe fighter, it looks like a Bf109 F model, did they say anything about it?

 

[letsgetrowdy]

That 109 is actually a spanish built Bf109G with a Merlin engine, that was brought over to the UK last year from the US.
The full name is a "Hispano buchon".

There was also the BBMF's Spitfire IIa P7350 in the workshop, but I was asked not to photograph it

 

[Toastmaker]

Nice pics - thanks! Looks like an interesting place to nose around!

 

[Matt Wynn]

shame we can't have a proper 'schmitt, not this mongrel thing, for those unfamiliar with the Buchon look at this for an abomination:

anyone got a spare DB601/5 engine to strap to the front instead of a license built merlin? will sound right then and look right

great photos from Dux btw, not been there for a few years.

 

[Willy]

Love those Spitfires. :ernae:

 

[TeaSea]

Actually, the -109 started out with a Merlin engine, and ended up with a Merlin.

The design called for a German built Jumo engine, but they were not available. Hence the enhanced chin on the BF-109. The Jumo's were also flipped over so that the cylinders were on the bottom, streamlining the appearance.

 

[Bomber_12th]

Thank you for posting the photos! It is nice to see up-to-date photos of the Spitfire projects - will be great to see another Mk.Ia take flight. I believe that the Buchon must be the ex-Commemorative Air Force example, which was sold a while back, and brought to England. I didn't know that ARCo had it, and the restoration is really looking sharp, no matter what will be mounted up front!

 

[TeaSea]

Ooops, meant to tell you nice photo's there LGR!!

(I got kicked off the computer before I could finish)

 

[mrogers]

Forgot to say that the photos are nice! thanks for sharing.

 

[letsgetrowdy]

Thanks.
Yes the buchon was in the Spanish Aiir Force, and brought over to the UK to make the Battle of Britain movie in 1968. In 1970, it was brought over to the US, and was put into storage. In 2007, It began restoration in Ohio ( I think...) and was half way through when shipped to the UK in late 2008. It should be flying again by 2010, like the Spitfire (When the spit Ia returns to the sky, it will be the oldest Spit airworthy in the world).