Spitfire Restorations June 2020

Warbirds Online has finally been able to travel again in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic and we decided to make our first trip back to Scone NSW for an update on activity at Pay’s Air Service and Vintage Fighter Restorations on their Warbird fleet.

Following completion and shipping of Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IX MH415 to the UK recently, attention has now turned to the completion of Spitfire F Mk. IX MH603, with many of the systems and details now in the final phases of installation including the hydraulic systems. On the day of our visit the main undercarriage retraction system was being tested – a milestone in any Spitfire restoration.

The Spitfire was also having a host of other electrical, hydraulic and fuel system items finalized. Many of the fairings have now been completed as well as the cowlings ready for final fitting when the aircraft is completed. The Rolls Royce Merlin engine for the Spitfire is believed to be almost ready for shipping from the USA and will be air freighted to Australia and fitted to the airframe as soon as possible.

The fitting of the engine to the airframe is a pivotal time in any restoration as the engine is connected to all of the aircrafts systems and allows for refitting of a host of items and fitting of all of the cowlings and fairings prior to final completion.  All being well it should not be long before MH603 is complete and ready to commence engine runs building to its first flight, hopefully before the end of the year, an event we all look forward to with great anticipation.

Speaking of Supermarine Spitfires, progress is reported to be excellent on the restoration of what will be a Scone resident Spitfire Mk.IX BS548 as a “two seater” Tr 9 in the UK.  The fuselage is now largely structurally complete. Once finished the fuselage will be shipped to Australia and new wings will be completed at Scone in the wing jigs already in place with the restoration taking its place in the queue of Spitfires as with MH415 and MH603. The aircraft will be fitted with the “Grace Spitfire” type of canopy configuration rather than the original bubble canopy. Once complete and added to the fleet the two seat Spitfire will allow for Warbird experience flights and advanced Warbird pilot training and will form a fantastic addition to the growing Vintage Fighter Restoration fleet.

It was great to get back to Pay’s Air Service and Vintage Fighter Restorations Scone to view the progress on the Spitfire collection and it will be an exciting time in the next 12 months for these Warbirds, with much to look forward to.

© John Parker 2020