Another Spitfire Mk.1 Back in the Air

[Bomber_12th]

Spitfire Mk.1 X4650 recently took flight for the first time following the completion of its restoration. Some early images/discussion can be found here: <!-- m -->http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showth ... p?t=115420 (http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=115420)<!-- m -->

This brings the total of flying Mk.1's to three, and that doesn't include the BBMF's Mk.II. The aircraft is currently based at Biggin Hill, owned (or at least in the care of, for the time being) by Peter Monk. And this is far from the last Mk.1 that will be increasing the number of airworthy examples in the years to come.

For those wondering, she's finished in the same colors she wore in 1940, the last time she flew. More information on this specific aircraft can be found here: <!-- m -->http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/batt ... ation.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/battle-of-britain/7908245/Forgotten-Spitfire-will-fly-again-after-major-restoration.html)<!-- m -->

(Al Deere's Mk.1, X4276, also mentioned in the article above, is said to be under restoration to airworthy condition too)

Here are some images from the last year or so, showing the restoration work in progress at that time:
<!-- m -->http://vmiengineering.com/Spitfire-Mk-1-X4650<!-- m -->
<!-- m -->http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwhitworth/5785715463/<!-- m -->
<!-- m -->http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwhitworth ... otostream/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwhitworth/5787061670/in/photostream/)

Hopefully it will make its presence known at a few air show events this year!<!-- m -->

[Naki]

Thanks for the HU and links....wonder how many other Mark I & IIs wil come out of the woodwork? Great to hear an Al Deere Spitfire is under restoration too.

[Bomber_12th]

Besides this Spitfire I X4650, and the Al Deere Spitfire I X4276 as I mentioned, a few other notable Spitfire I's in the pipeline include P9372 and P9373 (all of these I would have to imagine are being restored to the same sort of incredible standards as P9374, as finished and flown for the first time last summer).

BTW, last year when Spitfire I P9374 came on the scene, everyone who knew Spitfires was greatly impressed with the complete authenticity of the airframe, including things like the early hand-pump undercarriage system, proper RR Merlin III engine, and every single other aspect. One of these items also included the ultra-rare de Havilland 3-blade, 5/29 two position propeller, as was the exact prop-type the aircraft was fitted with in 1940. I recall it being said last year, that ten-sets of these props were newly-manufactured, in order to support the restoration of P9374 and the other Spitfire I's as mentioned above.

[Bomber_12th]

As discussed in the Flypast forum thread, more photos (of higher quality) will likely be posted as soon as the owner of the aircraft gives permission for the official press-release on the news of the aircraft's first flights, which sounds like that will be happening sometime within the next week or so.

If you're interested in seeing and learning more about the level of detail and attention to authenticity being incorporated into these aircraft, be sure to check out this website dedicated to P9374:
http://markonepartners.co.uk/

(The John Dibbs aerial photography is worth a visit to the website in itself - you can see why warbird owners hire him to take photos of their aircraft)