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Post by billsamuels on Dec 19, 2016 21:22:46 GMT
Hi Guys,
Last Friday I booked to go to Biggin so as to do the hangar tour to see the Spitfire's... Wow, was I in for a surprise!!
Well, there were quite a lot of Spitfire's to be seen but, what came as a huge surprise, was the first aircraft that came into sight, none other than a Messerschmidt Bf109, practically ready to go... I'll apologise now because being a techno-freak I can no longer post photos via photobucket... I need some new equipment and that may be a few month off...
Anyhow, here's the list of aircraft I noted;
RM297/SG.25 Spitfire FR.14 (pending rebuild) (pot)
MJ772 Spitfire T9
MK912 Spitfire LF.9c (wreckage)
TE184/G-MXVI Spitfire LF.16e
FE788/G-CTKL Harvard 2
WP901/G-BWNT Chipmunk
G-OMJA PA-28
329854/G-BMKC Cub
TA805/G-PMNF Spitfire Mk.9
EE602 Spitfire Vc
D-FMKN Spitfire T.9 (wreckage) (scrape)
P9372 Spitfire Mk.1 (wreckage displayed on hangar wall)
P2921/AE977 Sea Hurricane X
MJ627 Spitfire Mk.9
TB885 Spitfire Mk.16 (being rebuilt) (pot)
LZ842/G-CGZU Spitfire Mk.9 (being rebuilt) (pot)
EP122 Spitfire Mk.vb. (trop) (pot)
BR601/G-CIYF Spitfire Mk.9 (pot)
RW382/G-PBIX Spitfire Mk.16e
MT818/G-AIDN Spitfire Mk.8 (scrape)
BS410 Spitfire Mk.9 (being rebuilt) (pot)
Wr Nr 3579 Bf109 (White 14) (pot)
The beauty of going on the hangar tour is that the hangars are actually over in the centre of the field which means you can take in stuff over there together with great views back across to the main hangar complex... So although it was getting dark we were able to see the following....
OE-FCP Ce510 (pot)
G-ZVIP Beech 200
M-FINK Bae125
N171WM Aztec (scrape)
OY-DMM Twin Star
EC-KPB Citation
D-FNAH PC-12
9G-AEL Wessex (pot)
G-ILZZ Navajo
N324JC Citation
So the couple of hours or so on the tour are well worth the effort if you like Spitfire's - the guide (Paul) knows just about everything about every frame housed and relates stories about practically every aircraft.
The fee of £38.00 isn't cheap but, in my opinion, is well worth if you want to see Spitfires. Photography is not a problem nor is access - we were up close for every airframe. You can also get to sit inside a Spitfire if you pay an additional fee of £36.00. I had this privilege many years ago at Duxford...
The last thing I would like to mention is the new cafe - as you go through the entrance near the signature hangar (not the tower side) take an immediate left and park in the car park. The cafe has really good views of the GA plus you can see everything landing/taking off plus there are pretty good views of the executive jet park over by the tower... They serve hot/cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes and hot food... Toilets are available and clean and the ladies serving are very friendly.... This will certainly be on my ports of call from now on....
If you want/need any further information just ping me a PM.
Cheers lads.
Bill
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Post by dave on Dec 20, 2016 17:41:31 GMT
hi Bill,
good report, I went in June and as you say very enjoyable the café is nice and friendly (also toilets are useful), and very spotable going to and from...can I ask if you remember the order of the Spits under rebuild was, I remember I think BS410 in the corner opposite the entry door, then LZ842, then would TB885 be nearest the apron at the front of the hangar?.
regards,
dave...
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Post by Nigel Burch on Dec 25, 2016 19:42:06 GMT
Bill
Great report and agree well worth the fee if Spitfires are you thing. Some additional notes you may find useful:- RM297/SG.25 Spitfire FR.14 (pending rebuild) (pot) - This is registered G-JGCA/RM927
MJ772 Spitfire T9 & D-FMKN Spitfire T.9 (wreckage) (scrape) - This was restored as G-AVAV pending rebuild
MK912 Spitfire LF.9c (wreckage) - This is registered G-BRRA
EE602 Spitfire Vc - This is registered G-IBSY
P2921/AE977 Sea Hurricane X - This is registered G-CHTK
MJ627 Spitfire Mk.9 - This is registered G-BMSB
EP122 Spitfire Mk.vb. (trop) (pot) - This is registered G-CISV
BS410 Spitfire Mk.9 (being rebuilt) (pot) - This is registered G-TCHI
Wr Nr 3579 Bf109 (White 14) (pot) - This is registered G-CIPB
OE-FCP Ce510 (pot) - It was OE-FCB that was here
OY-DMM Twin Star - Mispole for semi based OY-OMM
Dave
Whilst I cannot confirm the current order of those under rebuild when I went in July there were 3 fuselages in the first hangar opposite the BF109 which were BS410 Spitfire T9 coded PK-A LZ842 Spitfire IX coded EF-F and painted in desert colour scheme BR601 Spitfire IX
TB885 only arrived within the past couple of months so cannot confirm the location of this within the complex.
Nigel
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Post by dave on Dec 25, 2016 21:54:40 GMT
hi Nigel,
thanks those must be the 3 when I visited...
regards,
dave...
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Post by Jeff on Dec 26, 2016 12:35:12 GMT
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Post by Jeff on Dec 26, 2016 12:45:13 GMT
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Post by Jeff on Dec 26, 2016 13:40:53 GMT
Last one, BR601  |
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Post by billsamuels on Dec 26, 2016 13:43:15 GMT
Hi Dave,
Apologies for the late response - time of year I'm afraid...
Anyway, Jeff has just loaded my photos for me... The three under rebuild were BS410, TB885 (all natural silver - very little paint applied) then LZ842 (desert scheme). They were in this order from where the various Merlin engines are on stands nearest the hangar entrance from main reception area, opposite the Bf109. None of these three had wings attached...
BR601 is complete and operational - see photo (code F-SH).
Hi Nigel,
Appreciate the correction to the Austrian and the Danish. Much obliged.
Hope the photos and additional info above is of help.
Hope you had a great Christmas and Happy New Year.
Bill
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Post by rugbyref on Dec 26, 2016 21:09:34 GMT
....and in the café if you find yourself talking to Pauline behind the counter, mention Cliff Richard and you will have a friend for life!
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Post by alfred on Dec 27, 2016 8:36:18 GMT
Great report and photos, not really into Spitfires but what is the story behind Central Uruquayan Railway Staff please?
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Post by dave on Dec 27, 2016 10:58:25 GMT
hi,
thanks Bill, I did not see TB885 arrived after my visit, Alfred the basics with named Spitfires was that anyone, company, or community could donate money to build a a/c, a Spitfire was 20,000-50,000 pounds I think, and have your name on it, there were City of ..., company names etc. Their was a Stirling MacRoberts reply I think it was in memoury of a killed son, and a dig recently of a Spitfire which should have been named after Watermans the US pen makers but turned out to be a different one. Hope this explains it and not a case of teaching your grandma how to suck eggs...
regards,
dave...
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Post by billsamuels on Dec 27, 2016 11:32:03 GMT
Hi Alfred,
According to our guide (Paul) the bank in question paid a handsome £5,000 (WW2 level) in order to help the war effort. Lots of individuals, towns, Corporates and Societies participated in this practice and their reward, apart from the obvious, was to get a name check on the side of a Spitfire...
Bill
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Post by gtf4j2m on Dec 27, 2016 12:27:15 GMT
Brilliant report & photo's Bill. Do they do these tours on a regular basis ?. Really fancy looking around that hangar.
Graham
GT4J2M
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Post by dave on Dec 28, 2016 9:56:44 GMT
hi,
I went in June, just phone and book no going on spec, and i'm sure its only weekdays but they will confirm. It would seem a little pricey but if you want to go to see the Spitfires, Hurricane and a real Bf.109 etc. up close and enjoy a couple of hours what the hell...one point contents depend on what's on the ops board
regards,
dave...
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Post by denwil189 on Dec 28, 2016 15:15:35 GMT
Hi Jeff
Great to see all your pic's, the ME109 has special memories for me, I was involved in recovering this aircraft from northern Russia, back to Sussex with a very good friend of mine, the aircraft was then sold to David Price in Santa Monica, we were then invited to go and see it there when it had been restored to flying condition. Really looking forward to seeing it flying in the UK.
Great pic's
Den
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Post by Jeff on Dec 29, 2016 3:10:30 GMT
Hi Den,
The pics are Bills but his PC is about to die so I uploaded them for him....... :-)
I, like im sure many others on here, would like to hear more of your exploits in recovering the 109 so please feel free to tell the story :-)
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Post by denwil189 on Dec 29, 2016 17:39:36 GMT
Hi Jeff
It's part of a very long story, starting back in 1991 involving recovering from Russia ME110's,ME109's FW 189, FW190, JU87, Hurricane's, P40's, P39. Some of these aircraft have been restored and are now flying or now in Museum's around the world.
When more time is available will give more details, have been tied up with renovating are new property for the past 6 months, hopefully now nearing the end.
Den
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