20 Spitfires found in Burma could be made airworthy

[kallend 2,026]

www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/14/david-cameron-spitfires-buried-burma

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[JohnMitchell 16]

Wow, still in the crates! I doubt if it's stayed dry in there, but if it has, those would be like pristine time capsules, original wiring, radios, avionics, even camouflage paint. Just wow!

Here's a quote from the article:"The Spitfire is arguably the most important plane in the history of aviation, playing a crucial role in world war two."

Once again the Spitfire steals all the glory while the Hurricane does all the heavy lifting.

You know I'll argue for the P-51 Mustang, but that plane was a little late to the party.

[airtwardo 7]

WOW!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[ryoder 1,590]

Looking forward to the eBay ad: "Supermarine Spitfires - New Old Stock - In original packing".

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[jackwallace 3]

If they are in cosmoline they should be like new.
The question is, would you leave them in the box like a Barbie doll or put them together and fly them?

U only make 2 jumps: the first one for some weird reason and the last one that you lived through. The rest are just filler.
scr 316

[kallend 2,026]

Quote

If they are in cosmoline they should be like new.
The question is, would you leave them in the box like a Barbie doll or put them together and fly them?

I doubt that anyone will ask my opinion, but I'd fly 16 and leave 4 in boxes for future generations to research.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[kallend 2,026]

Quote

Wow, still in the crates! I doubt if it's stayed dry in there, but if it has, those would be like pristine time capsules, original wiring, radios, avionics, even camouflage paint. Just wow!

Here's a quote from the article:"The Spitfire is arguably the most important plane in the history of aviation, playing a crucial role in world war two."

Once again the Spitfire steals all the glory while the Hurricane does all the heavy lifting.

You know I'll argue for the P-51 Mustang, but that plane was a little late to the party.

P51s are fine - the good models also had Merlin engines

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Born2Late 0]

Totally awesome !! If they were sealed in those crates? They could still be in excellent condition. Talk about finding that old sleeper in a barn...

Thanks for posting this. I look forward to seeing what they find.

[JohnMitchell 16]

Quote

If they are in cosmoline they should be like new.
The question is, would you leave them in the box like a Barbie doll or put them together and fly them?

I think they're like Star Wars action figures. They lose a lot of value when you take them out of the box and play with them.

[splat123 0]

That's going to devalue a few (very) rich boys toys

[dthames 0]

Aviation history is filled with planes that delivered the required duty at the right moment of need. It is somewhat silly to me to single one out and say IT was THE one of greatest importance. I would concede the Wright Flier might be an exception, as it set the stage for aviation to be considered possible.

I love combat aircraft but the DC-3 might be one of the most important aircraft ever, but in rarely gets special notice.

How many planes have been in service for decades as some we see today. To me that is pretty impressive for something to fly 40 or 50 years and still be relied on.

Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

[obelixtim 150]

Daks are great jumpships.

I'd give anything to go for a fang in a Spitfire though....

My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

[JohnMitchell 16]

Vskydiver's mom and dad have a good friend who just happens to own a few warbirds. My mother-in-law got me a free ride in his P-51 Mustang a few years ago, twenty minutes of low level aerobatics.

V and I went up in another plane after that to make a skydive, but I was like "Oh, what ever" about jumping after that ride.

[airtwardo 7]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyTNARnEIek

Sorry 'bout that

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[shropshire 0]

Quote

Aviation history is filled with planes that delivered the required duty at the right moment of need. It is somewhat silly to me to single one out and say IT was THE one of greatest importance. I would concede the Wright Flier might be an exception, as it set the stage for aviation to be considered possible.
.

The hyping of the Spit fire was a war time public relation exercise, to help fire up the Population of the U.K during our 'Darkest Hour'.

There were far more Hurricanes fighting during the battle of Britain, but the Spitfire was used as the 'Poster Boy'. It's an amazing aeroplane - looks wonderful and that Merlin engine SOUNDS fantastic.

This is a cracking find. I look forward to seeing the documentary that they will HAVE to make.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[kallend 2,026]

Quote

Spitfires...well, Heinkels and Stukas never stood much of a chance against their speed and those 60 round cannon drums, or the four Browning 303 machine guns... (My personal favorite of the weapons variations available)

Tough stuff. But then the Brits have always been a tough bunch, haven't they?

Fascinating that Michael Caine was in both of those battles!

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[JohnMitchell 16]

Quote

Fascinating that Michael Caine was in both of those battles!

There was a time when Michael Caine was in just about everything (with no regard to quality).

[JohnMitchell 16]

Quote

Spitfires...well, Heinkels and Stukas never stood much of a chance against their speed and those 60 round cannon drums, or the four Browning 303 machine guns... (My personal favorite of the weapons variations available)

My favorite was the 6 Browning .50 caliber machine guns most American planes carried. The P-47 carried 8 of those bad boys.

[obelixtim 150]

Quote

My favorite was the 6 Browning .50 caliber machine guns most American planes carried. The P-47 carried 8 of those bad boys.

A bit like a chainsaw thru balsa wood....

My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

[BobMoore 0]

Quote

There was a time when Michael Caine was in just about everything (with no regard to quality).

My favorite is "Blame it on Rio".

"For you see, an airplane is an airplane. A landing area is a landing area. But a dropzone... a dropzone is the people."

[Krip 2]

Quote

Aviation history is filled with planes that delivered the required duty at the right moment of need. It is somewhat silly to me to single one out and say IT was THE one of greatest importance. I would concede the Wright Flier might be an exception, as it set the stage for aviation to be considered possible.

I love combat aircraft but the DC-3 might be one of the most important aircraft ever, but in rarely gets special notice.

How many planes have been in service for decades as some we see today. To me that is pretty impressive for something to fly 40 or 50 years and still be relied on.

B-52's and C-130's to name a few.
Thanks fpr the link Prof.

R

[shropshire 0]

Quote

Quote

Spitfires...well, Heinkels and Stukas never stood much of a chance against their speed and those 60 round cannon drums, or the four Browning 303 machine guns... (My personal favorite of the weapons variations available)

Tough stuff. But then the Brits have always been a tough bunch, haven't they?

Fascinating that Michael Caine was in both of those battles!

"Not a lot of people know that"

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[dpreguy 14]

I've been reading about this bunch of crated Spitfires in a cave somewhere for quite a while. "Locals remember crates going into a cave......" stories, etc.

I hope it is not like the stories of the hopes of treasures many expected to find in the Pharoh's pyramids; only to find the "grave robbers" have already been there and looted the goodies. Seems illogical to think the "locals" didn't burrow into the cave after 1945 when the 'coast was clear' and grab some of the stuff. I hope I'm wrong.

[obelixtim 150]

They were prolly completely recycled by 1947

My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

[ShcShc11 0]

Quote

Aviation history is filled with planes that delivered the required duty at the right moment of need. It is somewhat silly to me to single one out and say IT was THE one of greatest importance. I would concede the Wright Flier might be an exception, as it set the stage for aviation to be considered possible.

I love combat aircraft but the DC-3 might be one of the most important aircraft ever, but in rarely gets special notice.

How many planes have been in service for decades as some we see today. To me that is pretty impressive for something to fly 40 or 50 years and still be relied on.

There are also times where a crucial piece of aviation could have turned around an entire battle.

Had there been an efficient and precise French bomber with escorted Dewoitine-520, they could have blocked the (2) main Ardennes roads and prevent 7th Pz Div from crossing the Meuse.

Bitter positional warfare would have been ensued...

If only ...


Cheers!
Shc