Spitfire Restoration News – VFR Update

Warbirds Online visited Scone, NSW in October 2018 to view the progress on the restoration by Vintage Fighter Restorations (VFR), a division of Pay’s Air Service, on two Mk IX Supermarine Spitfires, MH603 and MH415. We last reported on these aircraft in March 2018 and in the last few months significant progress has been made. MH603 and MH415 are now fully painted and structurally complete with wings and empennages permanently fitted. Now sitting on stands they are undergoing final fit out including hydraulic, electrical and fuel systems.

Spitfire IX MH 603 is the more complete of the two, however MH415 is rapidly catching up. MH603 is undergoing the complex construction and fitting of its fuselage to wing fairings which is a meticulous process. The detail of the sheet metal work is of the highest quality – it’s a real work of art. MH 603 has also had a “mule” Rolls Royce Merlin fitted and all of the engine mounts and cowlings are in the process of fitting and fine tuning. The propellers of both aircraft have arrived and are ready for refitting, the engines are expected to arrive soon from the USA where they were fully overhauled.

MH415 has also had its engine mount fitted and is also undergoing fit out of the engine bay. All of the detail components required to complete the aircraft are on hand and as the rate of progress is so rapid it is hoped that both Spitfires will take to the air again by the end of the year.  This is however dependent on there being no last minute delays.

MH415 wears its original scheme as delivered to RAF No.129 (Mysore) Squadron at Hornchurch in August 1943, and wore the squadron codes” DV-G”. MH603 is finished in its original WWII scheme when it served with RAF 331 (Norwegian) Squadron, when it was flown on operations by Capt. Bjorn Bjornstad and was coded FN-B.

Warbirds Online will continue to monitor progress on these Spitfires and will be there on the day when they fly again for the first time in decades – doubling the Australian population of airworthy Spitfires.

Ross Pay and the team at VFR are very excited about the prospect of these two Spitfires being completed but are also turning their thoughts to the future and the next phases in the growth of the company.

Vintage Fighter Restorations invites those interested in entering the Warbird community to contact them to discuss their needs or participation in one of the planned VFR projects. VFR has now established themselves as a top level Warbird rebuilder, with a large staff of highly skilled workers who can carry out every aspect of a Warbird restoration, maintenance or rebuild.

VFR can be contacted via their Website.

Warbird News – Vintage Fighter Restorations

CAC Mustang A68-199 which was recently purchased by a NSW owner has arrived at the Vintage Fighter Restorations workshop at Scone to undergo some maintenance work and some cosmetic updates. The Mustang has undertaken a number of flights recently.

Hawker Hurricane C/N 60372, C-FDNL, Mk XII / IIB Serial No 5481 has participated in several airshows recently including a very memorable display at this year’s Warbirds Downunder 2018 at Temora where it flew several times including a great display with the two Temora based Spitfires.

Curtiss P-40E 41-25109 (RAF serial ET433) VH-KTY of the Pay’s fleet of Warbirds has participated in some air displays and flew at Temora in October and was a highlight of the Warbirds Downunder Airshow.

© John Parker 2018