Supermarine Spitfire MH603 First Engine Run

Warbirds Online can now report that Supermarine Spitfire F Mk. IX MH603 at Pay’s Air Service and Vintage Fighter Restorations (VFR) had her first engine run this week. Warbirds Online was on hand to view this exciting milestone in the restoration of the Spitfire at Pay’s Air Service and Vintage Fighter Restorations (VFR) at Scone NSW.

A large team of engineers, including Greg Johnson & John Keen have now completed the host of tasks necessary to fit the Rolls Royce Merlin engine, recently returned from the USA after its rebuild. To refit & connect the Merlin engine is a laborious task with many hydraulic, electrical and fuel systems to be commissioned & all the instrumentation connected & made functional.

With the assistance of VFR engine expert & “engine whisperer” Alf Morgan, the engine was deemed ready for its first run to confirm its functionality. A very brief start of the engine was undertaken on Friday 11 June 2021 to ensure all pressures were achieved and there were no apparent leaks occurring in the lead up to the main engine run. Wednesday 16th of June 2021 was deemed the “go” day for the full run of the engine. The Spitfire was moved from the hangar and followed in line behind other notable Warbirds in the Pays collection located in the same hangar..

Alf Morgan was in the cockpit after for the first full running of the aircraft in over 70 years.  Once all the pre start checks on systems were carried out the big moment arrived and the Merlin was fired up. Two short runs were completed prior to its first full run in many decades.  The liquid-cooled V-12 piston engine of 27-litres (1,650 cu in) capacity ran smoothly and completed all of its initial tests without incident.

This Spitfire, with construction number CBAF.IX.5589, was built in 1943 at Castle Bromwich UK. So it was a huge milestone for the VFR team and Ross Pay to see this engine run take place after years of work and this is the last significant hurdle before the Spitfires first flight although at this stage there is no definitive timing on the Spitfires’ first flight. The engine will now go through a lengthy series of ground runs whilst all the other systems on the Spitfire are rechecked and finalized. However with the passing of each day, the number of items to be completed grows smaller and smaller.

Warbirds Online will be on hand to witness and report on what will be Australia’s 4th currently flying Spitfire when it takes to the sky. Our thanks go to Ross Pay and the team at Vintage Fighter Restorations & Pay’s for assisting with this news item.

You can read more about the history & the progress of the restoration of Supermarine Spitfire F Mk. IX MH603 in our series of news articles here;

© John Parker 2021