One interesting feature of the RAAF Richmond Bi Centennial Air Show in 1988 was the presence of 3 replica WW11 Fighters, a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and 2 Spitfires. Externally the replicas were quite convincing and popular folklore has it that the Spitfires were cast from the real thing (supposedly Col Pays Spitfire).
The aircraft were created in fibre glass and displayed in simulated revetments on the flight line alongside real WW11 fighters such as Col Pay’s CAC Mustang and Spitfire. The only real giveaway from a distance was that the aircraft required a prop under the wings to stop them drooping. Otherwise the aircraft were very well received and probably most of the crowd was unaware that they weren’t the real thing.
The replicas were displayed by Ed Mathews of the Gold Coast. Following the Bi Centennial Airshow, the aircraft had a fairly rough life until they arrived at the Fighter World Museum at Williamtown RAAF where they were refurbished and remain today displayed finally under cover.
Warbirds Online is is sharing our photos from the 1988 Bi Centennial Airshow and more recently from our 2014 visit to Fighter World Museum at RAAF Base Williamtown, north of Newcastle, New South Wales.
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- Spitfire replicas 1988
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- Spitfire replica Williamtown
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- Spitfire replicas 1988
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- Spitfire replica Williamtown
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- Messerschmitt Bf 109 1988
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- Messerschmitt Bf 109 at Fighter World
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- Spitfire replica 1988
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- Col Pay Spitfire 1988
© John Parker 2015