WIX Archives
Re: Question for Peter A - Response
Posted by PeterA on Mon Nov 25, 2002 05:56:23 PM
In reply top Question for Peter A posted by Harm Jan Strating on Mon Nov 25, 2002 01:08:00 PM
Harm-Jan,
Over a period of thirty odd years I have owned, and in one case co-owned, six Spitfire and Seafire projects. These were Seafire 46s LA564 & LA546, Seafire XVIIs SX300 & SX336, Spitfire XII EN224 and my latest project Spitfire 22 PK519. All these projects were accumulated as parts gathering collections.
The Seafire XVIIs were exchanged in the early days and SX336 is well on track to fly with its current owner in the foreseable future. The fuselage of SX300 was involved in a fire after my ownership and is an identity waiting in the sidelines.
Some of the structure of the fuselage of LA546 was incorporated into the rebuild of SX336 but the firewall and identity remains with a Warbird collector for the future.
My principal projects have been LA564 and EN224. I have always considerd myself to be the custodian of these projects moving them along their path. As an engineer I have never been under any illusions as to just what it takes in time and money to get one of these machines in the air. It never could be within my budget but it was always my dream that eventually one or both would fly. I set out to collect all the parts necessary to aid the path to flying, always improving and upgrading parts and assemblies, rather than 'nailing' them together with non approved parts and process.
Last year, with retirement peeping ove the horizon, I was approached to consider parting with the two projects. This was out of the blue but after some consideration I decided
now was the the right time and they departed this past April.
Whilst there has been considerable speculation as to new owners I am contractually bound by a confidentiality clause in the contract as to 'who and where'. All I can say is that Warbird lovers should rejoice because I believe, at the very least, we will now see the Mk XII in the air in a reasonable time scale. I am very comfortable with the new ownership and will personally enjoy the progress and the process.
Ah! The Mk 22. Just a bit of fun. From the residue of the collection I have enough parts to create an 'intersting' exhibit with most of the front end from canopy/screen to the nose cone, including the firewall and spar and the all important dataplate provenance from the oversize wing bolt fit. Just a bit of fun but who knows, as I have said elsewhere on this board today - "yesterday's 'no hope' statics are tomorrow's flyers".
Peter
: u are restoring? The last pictures I have seen were publis
: hed in Flypast in 1986. I have read many articles that sta
: te that the aircraft are under restoration but have really
: no idea how far you have progressed. Are these restoratio
: ns to airworthiness or static.
:
: Thanks in advance,
:
: Harm-Jan Strating