Happy 90th Birthday Spitfire...

 

On 5th March 1936 the prototype Spitfire K5054 first took to the skies from Eastleigh, near Southampton.

That historic flight was piloted by Captain Joseph “Mutt” Summers, Chief Test Pilot for Vickers.

 

To mark the occasion Spitfire T9 BS410/G-TCHI has been painted in the lovely sky blue livery worn by K5054 at the time. It is intended to tour the UK to commemorate the anniversary and to fly alongside current RAF aircraft at the various stages of the tour.

More info:-

 

https://www.spitfires.com/spitfire90

20 Years on...

Hard to believe it is 20 years this week since I started my volunteer role at IWM Duxford in the Film & Video Archive (now Visual Resources Dept.) working on accessioning RAF Gun Camera film from WW2. 
Back in May 2014 I thought I'd watched my last film but in a case of 'foreshadowing' I posted "After almost eight years of watching gun camera film, I have watched my last reel (until they find some more!)."
Well, turned out they did find some more!... 

"Old Friend" visiting...

It was 10 years ago that I flew in MJ627 from Duxford and fittingly she was back here for a visit today...

PV202 was also in the sunshine and N3200 took off for a 'sortie'...

 

 

Spitfire T9 MH367 UK bound (and updated T9 list)...

Ultimate Warbird Flights have announced that they will be operating Spitfire T9 MH367 from Sywell alongside Spitfire T9 ML407. With the ceasing of operations by Warbird Adventure Rides in New Zealand, their fleet of aircraft have been sold, with MH367 returning to the UK.

All but one of the surviving Irish Air Corps T9 Spitfires are resident and operating in the UK.
MJ772/159 is resident in the Netherlands and is being operated by the "Spitfires Flying Vintage Everyday" foundation.

Airworthy

1. MT818 No Codes normally but wearing YO-D - operated by Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar 

2. MH367* FL⦿A- to Ultimate Warbird Flights at Sywell

3. MJ627 9G⦿Q 🇮🇪 158 - operated by Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar

4. MJ772 GW⦿A 🇮🇪159 - operated by SFVE foundation (NL)

5. ML407 OU⦿V 🇮🇪 162 - operated by Ultimate Warbird Flights

6. NH341 DB⦿E - operated by Aero Legends 

7. PT462 SW⦿A - operated by Aerial Collective

8. PV202  JW⦿ 🇮🇪 161 - operated by Aerial Collective

9. SM520 LO⦿G - operated by Spitfires.com

10. TE308 ZP⦿W 🇮🇪 163 - operated by Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar

11. ML295 DB⦿M - Airworthy at Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar

12. BS410 PK⦿A - Owned by Martin Philips/operated by Spitfires.com

13. EN570 FY⦿J - (G/M) Operated by Norwegian Flying Aces

14. MJ444 KH⦿D - Operated by Aero Legends 

15. BS548 GW⦿B - (G/M) First flight 28/1/26 - due to be shipped to Australia to Ross Pay

(🇮🇪 Former Irish Air Corps aircraft)

(*rear cockpit section from T9 ML417/HS543🇮🇳 used in rebuild.)

Under Restoration

16. TE566 - Being restored by Airframe Assemblies Ltd for Enstone.

17. RK858 - Being restored for Aerial Collective at ARCo. 

(G/M) = Grace/Melton type canopy

New Spitfire - BS548 - first flight post restoration....

Lucky to see the first flight of the Spitfire T9 BS548 after her restoration and to catch her before she departs for her new life in Australia...
Pay's Aviation have featured my photos on their Facebook page.

First 'on-site' photos of 2026

 Little too late to catch PT462 flying today - with PV202 resting in the chilly noon sun...

 

First sighting of 2026

 An overflight of the hoose by T9 PT462/GCTIX - back in her old scheme of SW•A...

 

To one and all....

 

Splash and dash for MT818

 Unexpected visitor this afternoon was MT818/G-AIDN for a top up - then off again...

Wednesday's Wildcat Wander...

FM-2 Wildcat AX733/G-KINL caught returning from a sortie round Norfolk...

MJ444 appeared to carry out some takeoff/landing practices...

 

Farewell WH725...

 Passing by on the A14 this morning...

 

Fairchild AN-N6 Gun Camera

After my visit to the Bottisham Airfield Museum at the weekend and spotting their AN-N6 camera, I had another internet search to see if I could find one at a reasonable price. 

I did, and it arrived today...

It appears to be in good condition and came with the screw in lens filter and a film cassette (trying to work out if it contains film!) and the serial number appears to match cameras produced by the Morse Instrument Co. Hudson, Ohio in 1944.  It also carries a service/overhaul label with a RCAF reference number dated 1957.
While the camera is roughly the same width and height of a G45 it is approximately half the length. I'll post a bit more on the two shortly. 

UPDATE: Opened the film magazine and no film - also some internal parts of the magazine are missing so might have to try and source a spare mag from somewhere...
Also, picked up some 'acorn' dome nuts to act as feet on the mounting bolts. 

UPDATE 2: Now have a complete (unopened) film magazine with expired film so have cracked it open to work out how the film was fed.

 

Chasing Mustangs...

Took a little drive out this morning to visit Bottisham Airfield Museum and catch replica P-51D Athelene/Lou IV that used to be on display in the American Air Museum at IWM Duxford marked up as WZ-S "Sherman Was Right!" of the 78th FG. Last time I saw this replica it was in pieces on the floor of Hangar 5 (N) after being replaced in the AAM by a genuine  P-51D "Etta Jeanne II".
The museum is only a handful of buildings on the edge of the old airfield but it is well laid out and full of exhibits and a small cafe is also available. We've lived in the area for all these years but never visited before. There is a lot packed in to take onboard so a revisit will be on the cards at some point!
The Tiger Moth "N6635" that used to be suspended from the rafters in Duxford's Airspace hanger has also found a new home at Bottisham.
Also got my hands on a Fairchild AN-N6 Gun Camera that was fitted to American aircraft - I was surprised at how compact it was when compared to the 16mm Williamson G45 Gun Camera in use by the RAF at the time. 

Replica P-51D "Sherman Was Right!" in H5