What does it take to restore a World War Two Spitfire?

_Tombstone_

A rare example of one of the world's most iconic aircraft, a Mark 1 Spitfire that was painstakingly restored after being shot down during World War Two will be sold at Christie's.

While 22,500 Spitfires were originally built, just 56 are still airworthy, and most of these are later versions of the aircraft. There are only four Mark 1s still flying.
Christie's Nic McElhatton says interest in the aircraft has been incredible: "The plane we're selling is very special."

The aircraft is expected to fetch up to £2.5m ($3.9m) but could easily go for more. "We've had a number of clients who've expressed serious interest. Anything is possible," says Nic.

The sale on 9 July has thrown the spotlight on Britain's burgeoning vintage aviation restoration scene. Air displays are increasingly popular - the demand to see examples of rare and often unique aircraft seems never to have been higher.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-32935757

arubex

A rare example of one of the world's most iconic aircraft

It's only iconic because the press keeps telling us it is!

Someday, I pray, an article will open with the words 'The Spitfire, an average short-range interceptor pressed into service as a fighter-bomber until better aircraft became available...'

Tenger

arubex wrote: »

It's only iconic because the press keeps telling us it is!

Someday, I pray, an article will open with the words 'The Spitfire, an average short-range interceptor pressed into service as a fighter-bomber until better aircraft became available...'

I disagree. It is an icon on the dark days of 1940 when Britain was up against a wall. (Propaganda is great!!) The only viable military force it had was the Royal Navy (mostly scattered across the globe) and the squadrons of Fighter Command.(Who weren't really outnumbered btw) The Hurricane and the Spitfire are the icons of that time.

It is "iconic" in the same way that the MP40 or coal scuttle helmet is of the German infantryman. Or the T-34 of the Soviets, the Sherman and the Jeep for the US.

My beef is that the Hurricane was the better bomber killer so did all the hard work, the Spitfire went after the Luftwaffe fighters, thus most of the glory. The mass media has reinforced the idea that it was the Spitfire and only the Spitfire that won the Battle of Britain.
The Spitfire may have been a short ranged interceptor, but that was what the Brits needed at the time.

There is also the theory that the large loss of escort ships in the Norway campaign made Operation Sealion a non starter regardless of the RAF and "their finest hour".

martinsvi

I guess I just can't appreciate "art", forking out 2.5 mil for something that's gonna sit in the shed and is not practical at all.. I mean I would have opted for something like Piper Meridian or Pilatus PC12 and would still have money left over for servicing and gas but I guess each to their own..

Balf

Tenger wrote: »

<...>It is "iconic" in the same way that the MP40 or coal scuttle helmet is of the German infantryman. Or the T-34 of the Soviets, the Sherman and the Jeep for the US.<...>

I'd agree. There's a book on the Battle of Britain called "The Most Dangerous Enemy" by Stephen Bungay which I felt covers the gap between the technical deficiencies of the RAF aircraft (like the engine cutting out if they went into a dive) and the simple fact that the British held off the Luftwaffe by organising and applying their resources efficiently.

Without getting too anorak about it, he even got into things like (which I didn't know) the Germans actually did have radar, and technically better than the British kit, but they just didn't use it.

Whether its the legend or not, I have to admit I've always though the Spitfire is both an attractive and an evocative aircraft. Or iconic, for short.

Ever since the end of WWII we have had countless documentaries and historians telling XY and Z event was the turning point of the war, in my view a combination of everything turned the war. No one single factor did it.

Anyway back on track, the spitfire is iconic, it may to some be the British Icon of the war but to others it could be many different things, a particular rifle or the Lancaster or the flotilla of boats at Dunkirk. I wouldn't get bent out of shape by someone saying to them it was the spitfire even if it wasn't the best aircraft for its role.

Balf

Although, if they said they thought the Boulton-Paul Defiant was iconic, that would be just weird.

Tenger

Balf wrote: »

Although, if they said they thought the Boulton-Paul Defiant was iconic, that would be just weird.

There's always one who out anoraks us all!! :rolleyes: