Old Warden, 1st October 2006

[C]

The last show of the season...

...and a wet one too!

Only statics from me, as I kept the camera dry!

Moody sky


Half naked Lizzie, in for the winter


Nice new Dr1, a new member of the Holloway stable


Stripped down SE5


I wonder how many forum members were born the last time it looked like this?

[61_OTU]

I missed all these, where were they in relation to the horse drawn vehicle collection?

I was hoping to see the Lysander as well, but family duties intervened  ::)

[Craig.]

That first shot pretty much makes me feel better about not going.
Well done with what ya got though:)

[ozzy72]

Some nice shots there Charlie. What are they doing with their poor Spit? She only went in for an engine swap....

[Craig.]

I thought it was a major overhaul

[xFLAMESx]

Nice set of shots there Charlie

I was down at OW a few months back and saw the Lizzie when they were beginning to strip her, never realised she was so big!

Gotta go back next time I'm up that way

Cheers,
Carl

[C]

Some nice shots there Charlie. What are they doing with their poor Spit? She only went in for an engine swap....

The Spit is still sitting at the back of hangar three, although the cowls and prop are off at the moment. I wouldn't be surprised if it goes into hangar one (where the Lizzie and SE5 are) when they are done when the engine is ready - I think it's planned to have a major overhaul (and please, a wingtip removal!).

I missed all these, where were they in relation to the horse drawn vehicle collection?

These were in hangar one - the one seperate from the other hangars. You get to it through the shop. If you saw the Dr1, they are in that hangar, behind the partition. There's a Percival Prentice being restored in there too.

[F3Hadlow]

I think it's planned to have a major overhaul (and please, a wingtip removal!).

Please, no! Keep a Spitfire complete, original and, if you ask me, better looking IMHO

[C]

Please, no! Keep a Spitfire complete, original and, if you ask me, better looking IMHO

Old Wardens Spitfire is a proper "clipped (wing), cropped (supercharger) and clapped (middle aged!)" Lf Mk Vc. For most of living memory until the film "Pearl Harbour" it was clipped, and when you see it at OW (particularly in my memory being flown by John Lewis and Andy Septhon) it really is something else.

We can't have every Spitfire going round looking the same, particularly considering the modern "production line". Clipped wings, stubby spinner, weathered paint - all add to AR501's character.

[Hagar]

Old Wardens Spitfire is a proper "clipped (wing), cropped (supercharger) and clapped (middle aged!)" Lf Mk Vc. For most of living memory until the film "Pearl Harbour" it was clipped, and when you see it at OW (particularly in my memory being flown by John Lewis and Andy Sephton) it really is something else...

I'm with Steven & prefer it as it is now. It's not a proper Spitfire without those elliptical wingtips to my idea.

I wonder if they will change the engine or overhaul the old one.

[C]

I'm with Steven & prefer it as it is now. It's not a proper Spitfire without those elliptical wingtips to my idea.

I wonder if they will change the engine or overhaul the old one.

But it isn't AR501 with the wingtips... There are plenty of other "less historic" Spitfires that can be dressed up as people want them.

[61_OTU]

Some nice shots there Charlie. What are they doing with their poor Spit? She only went in for an engine swap....

Sorry to hijack Charlie's thread, but it does seem relevant





However, will look much better once airborne again.......and here I agree with Charlie, hopefully back with clipped wings.

There's something exciting about a spitfire with clipped wings, it's a recognition that purpose can overcome beauty. The elliptical wing is the perfect combination of aesthetics and aerodynamics, the clipped wing a brutal solution to a low-level problem.

It has a charm and functional cheeriness, it may not be as pretty as it's high level counterparts, but it does it's job well. It's a design which should be commemorated and celebrated, a further demonstration of the flexibility of the original concept.  8)

Ok.....now that's off my chest......

[Hagar]

But it isn't AR501 with the wingtips... There are plenty of other "less historic" Spitfires that can be dressed up as people want them.

From the horse's mouth as posted on the Shuttleworth Collection website. http://www.shuttleworth.org/shuttleworth/air11.htm
[quote]The Collection's Mark Vc AR501 was built by Westland Aircraft at Yeovil and was issued to No. 310 (Czech) Squadron at Duxford in 1942. AR501 is painted today in the markings it wore during this time. While serving with No. 310 Squadron, AR501 escorted many USAAF B17 and B24 bombers, indeed AR501 may well have escorted the famous B17 'Memphis Belle'.

[C]

Indeed, and I'm well aware of that...

However, from 1944 to 2000 it operated sans wingtips, and I think the main reason it operates with them now (other than the fitting for Pearl Harbour) is that the current Chief Pilot prefers them on.

What a lovely picture at the bottom of that page! with the clipped wingtips it makes for nice lines when going round the corner at an unfeasibly low altitude!

Height:        9ft 11in
Length:      29ft 11in
Wingspan:      32ft 2in
Engine:      one 1440hp Rolls-Royce Merlin V12
Armament:      four 0.303in Browning machine guns
two 20mm cannon

Looks like whoever wrote that wants the wingtips lopped off too!

[Hagar]

However, from 1944 to 2000 it operated sans wingtips, and I think the main reason it operates with them now (other than the fitting for Pearl Harbour) is that the current Chief Pilot prefers them on.

I'm with him then. Sorry.

This shows how difficult it is to do an 'authentic' restoration. Hence my earlier point about the engine. It all depends on what you consider original, how it was from delivery up to 1944 when it was on active service or languishing in a hangar as an instructional airframe.