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Re: Confused.

Posted by PeterA on Sat Aug 31, 2002 06:51:05 AM

In reply top History's already getting confused !!!!! posted by david j burke on Sat Aug 31, 2002 03:34:09 AM


Definitions - Define 'Brand New'.
100% all new with no original parts such as engine,oleos, instruments, windscreen, wheels, brakes fittings, etc?
100% all new sheet metal structure with no original metal?
'MH367' is one of about a dozen Spitfires that are basically all new sheetmetal that have been constructed over recent years incorporating the provenance and identity of donor structure. The amount of donor material incorporated has varied but the overiding factor has to be suitability for flight.
'MH367' is slightly different in so far as the Dick Melton 'DM' fuselage was basically complete, though not the wings, before the marriage with the MH367 donor parts. The donor parts from MH367 were substantial comprising a full frame 5 firewall and a short few inches of fuselage that had been 'gas axed' removed. The stencil serial of MH367 was clearly visible on the firewall spar fireproofing panel and the data plate CBAF 5487 was still attached. It is doubtful that the sale to Peter Godrey would have gone through without the availability of this donor section. He has instructed Harry Stenger to incorporate every usable part from the donor into the 'DM' fuselage, de-rivetting where required.
This is an honest and open project that meets all of the currently excepted criteria for provenance. It is not pretending to be 100% factory sheetmetel MH367 but then there are few if any flying Spitfires that are 100%. Indeed you would probably be surprised just how low the percentage is in some of your cherished flying Spitfires.

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