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Discussion Topics? 2 of 2

Posted by Paul McMillan on Sat Feb 16, 2002 09:21:40 AM

Having just read 'Spitfire on the Wing' by Peter Arnold in Flypast (I keep the best bits to last!) And the 'then and now' pictures are wonderful. Especially seeing a picture and finding out that RR263 of Musee de L'Air did a 'hop' before she was laid up.. That was news to me! Thanks Again!


However, there is a little discussion on the fact that of the list of losses of Spitfires that involved a fatality (7 in 20 years), At least 2 could be deemed to be 'airworthy/under repair'. Now Peter tries to discuss this topic with some care as you would expect.. It is a bit of a 'hot potato' not helped by the fact that we all know that one of the aircraft is PV202 and we all know that Historic Flying are involved. Though they or the Mags NEVER state this aircraft ID in anything. It is known just as a 'two seat Spitfire'. Leaving us all to read through the lines and work it out for ourselves.

Personally, I think this is like the 'dataplate arguments' very emotive and a potential minefield in the future.

However, by sweeping the details up 'under the carpet' it is becoming 'the love that dare not speak its name' of the warbird world (sorry Mr Wilde). What does everybody else think?.. BTW Mr Arnold says of this issue and I want to quote the passage in full here (sorry Peter, but I think it puts the whole thing in and your thoughts in context- I hope you do not mind)

'Although I am sure there will be a time in the future, some few years yet, when the grief is but healed and all parties are comfortable with the situation, that one or two of these aircraft will re-emerge to fly again. I believe it will be honourable, and I believe it will be the right decision, but it will be a close call'


Finally, what do everybody esle think is the other one?? It could either be the Ex Rolls Royce machine: RM689 or the one that sadly killed Charles Church EE606. The remains of both of which are I have heard are around somewhere..

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