WIX Archives

Re: MA793 and VP 441

Posted by Joe Scheil on Sun Nov 04, 2001 02:28:37 AM

In reply top Re: MA793 and VP 441 posted by david J burke on Sat Nov 03, 2001 10:58:27 AM

: Joe ; Yeovilton is also the home of the RN historic flight
Sorry, but would they actually fly her? Is this a good idea given the record? This is a Royal Navy operation and I remember their discarding of a Sea Fury due to a gear problem. They treat these aircraft like its a new Harrier 5 to be shoved off the deck. VP441 is a complex aircraft that was tough to tame anyway. I dont think she'd last there either.

: She is the last survivor of the type and as such they are
: going to be taking a hell of a risk flying her.
Static aircraft are temporarily preserved in as is condition, flying aircraft are preserved in the spirit that they were built. VP441 has survived this long to show the world what the last of her kind were like.(And because many had a vision and a saw a duty to care for, and spend money for her future. We will not reach agreement here. Build a Fibergass static but fly what you can..

: As to her worth she is exactly the same value of any
: similar Spitfire/Seafire project. The fact that she is the
: last one would I think actually put her slightly lower be
: cause after all who realistically is going to try the same
: flying that you can do in a MK.V or IX in a big heavy
: machine like her.

Collectability and rarity rears its head here. Yes she is worth what any similar project is. Just like the XP-51 is worth what another similar project is. But how many XP-51's are there? Well there are none. It is the last. As for the 47? There is a 46 project in rough shape but not avail for the asking. There is a Seafire 16 project in the US for sale about 1.2M. But its not the same. Surely you wouldn't trade it for a MkIX? Neither would I. It is a different aircraft to be sure, but to a collector and enthusiast it is the top and last Spit.
:
Out of interest do you think the would have been any
: more interest in MA793 in the U.S if she had flown in her
: original USAAF scheme at a few events????

It would have been great to put MA793 in her original colors, I am always for that. Even if it was a rather uninspired and boring scheme, original is my preference. However there is a fundamental difference between US and UK enthusiasts that is hard to explain. Most here are not scholars on the subject and don't have the reverence for the machine that you do. We also don't have 750 year old castles around either. We do adjust and our latest restorations show this, however we are still just a couple years past owners painting their initials on the side! Nothing would have kept that or any aircraft in the country as the SA buyers wanted a Spitfire IX and chose that one. The also have a -1 Corsair and a couple other neat planes. Its healthy. It creates further demand here as less aircraft are available and thus all projects become that much more viable. The USA is also very large. Our airshow crowds are huge, with few enthusiasts, your crowds are smaller, but nearly all enthusiasts. We are few and far between relativly I believe. But no less dedicated, can you tell? Think of the risk Delmar Benjamin took building and flying his R2 Gee Bee, the complexity of Fifi, the Zero at PoF..ect.. The 47 is in good hands. If Yeovilton really wanted to take her on strength, frankly they would have already written the check! Everything is For Sale.

Respectfully
Joe

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