Scone Spitfire Mk V Restorations-July 2022

With the recent completion and first flight of Mk IX Supermarine Spitfire MH603 by Vintage Fighter Restorations (VFR), a division of Pay’s Aviation at Scone NSW, attention has now turned to increasing the pace on the previously reported restoration of two Mk Vc (Trop) Supermarine Spitfires at Scone.

Recently all the stored, recovered components from the two aircraft and other holdings of parts were unpacked and laid out on the VFR restoration hangar floor to enable the identification of reusable components for use in the restorations. Surprisingly, there is a large amount of material which was recovered from both aircraft, being BS164 Ex RAAF A58-63 & MA353 Ex RAAF A58-232, including most of the aircrafts structure, albeit in a very damaged condition given the circumstances of their crashes.

There are a quite large number of parts which will find their way into the final restoration of the two aircraft and the process of identifying each one is a time-consuming task, but vital to ensure as much originality as possible in the final restorations.

As previously reported, the first of the MK Vs, A58-63 Supermarine Spitfire F.VC RAF serial BS164 the aircraft of Squadron Leader E M “Bill” Gibbs will be the first fuselage to be mounted in the jig for rebuilding. From here the rebuilding of the fuselage follows the well-travelled pathway of previous Spitfire rebuilds at Scone with the initial installation of all the fuselage frames in the jig, then stringers and other structural components. This process must be done to exacting standards to ensure the fuselage is straight and structurally sound.

Mk 1 to Mk V Spitfires are very similar, broadly speaking, to other Spitfires although the early Mk 1, 11 and V are known as the “short nose” due to the early model of Merlin fitted and it also means that the fuselage jigs previously used for the Mk IIIV and Mk IX restorations at Scone are able to be used again for these Mk Vc aircraft.

From now the fuselage of Spitfire A58-63 F.VC / BS164 will start to emerge in the jig as the frame structure is assembled, then all the skins and finally the fit out of all the systems including hydraulic, electrical and fuel. Once this construction has occurred the cockpit fit out takes place with the instrument panel, controls, gunsight, seat and finally canopy and windscreen.

The wings and tail group will be rebuilt over time to complete the aircraft and although timeframes are difficult to estimate with precision a timescale of around 4 years seems feasible based on previous Spitfire restorations at Scone.

Warbirds Online will continue to monitor the work on both of these highly significant Australian service Mk Vc Spitfires, which will be extremely rare and significant Warbirds once they are on the Australian Warbird scene.

Vintage Fighter Restorations (VFR) is also moving to the later stages of restoring the 2 seat Mk IX Spitfire to flight before it joins the Pays Aviation/ VFR fleet of active Warbirds at Scone.  There is no completion date for this aircraft to fly, but it should be in the not-too-distant future. It will be a very exciting addition to Warbird scene in Australia in that it will allow enthusiasts the opportunity to fly in a Spitfire for the first time in Australia.

Work has also commenced on the very special project for Hunter Fighter Collection Inc. being the airworthy restoration of Australian Battle of Britain Ace, Pat Hughes Mk I Spitfire X4009. Initial work has commenced at Airframe Assemblies on the Isle of Wight after which she will be moved to Scone Australia. This Spitfire will serve as a flying memorial to Pat Hughes and all the Australian pilots who flew in the Battle of Britain. Warbirds Online will be presenting a separate article on this fantastic project soon, so stay tuned!

Warbirds Online would like to thank Ross Pay and the team at Pays Aviation and Vintage Fighter Restorations for their help and for allowing us to access to these fantastic Spitfire restorations in Scone.

© John Parker 2022