Spitfire incident at Ardmore this morning (3 Dec)

**Mikkel** · 4th December 2009, 08:39

Originally Posted by Pussy

That suggestion is right on the money!
There will be a big "please explain" from the insurance company, I'll bet!

Insurance, for a Spitfire... I am not even sure if anyone would go near that. Maybe if it was stored in a hangar and not taken into the air.

Originally Posted by Forest

That double-seat canopy is incredibly fugly.

Not to mention pointless - with that track record no one would be willing to get into that cockpit.

Originally Posted by SPman

Aah shit!
Not again!
He's not having much luck with that plane, is he.
There are quite stringent requirements, and no one realises this more than the operators. Just think of a Spit, as the GSXR1000 of the skies.....
more photos here http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi...d=10366&page=2

More like the Vicent Black Lightning of the skies...

The F-35 is more like the Gixxer of the skies.

Originally Posted by nudemetalz

More damaged Spit pics from Ardmore...

Doesn't looks so bad from these pics but they can be deceiving. Plus parts wouldn't be cheap...

And I doubt Vickers-Armstrong Ltd. has got a stockpile of spares just waiting to be ordered in. ...even if the company still existed today.

**Pussy** · 4th December 2009, 08:47

Originally Posted by Mikkel

Insurance, for a Spitfire... I am not even sure if anyone would go near that. Maybe if it was stored in a hangar and not taken into the air.

Believe it or not, they are actually insured! Not cheap, though!

**Mikkel** · 4th December 2009, 08:50

Originally Posted by Pussy

Believe it or not, they are actually insured! Not cheap, though!

I'd imagine. Third party only or comprehensive?

What are the ACC levies on airplanes btw?

**Pussy** · 4th December 2009, 08:57

Originally Posted by Mikkel

I'd imagine. Third party only or comprehensive?

What are the ACC levies on airplanes btw?

It's "aeroplanes"!
I'm not sure of the exact percentage, but funnily enough, the aerial topdressing company I fly for has recently had a REDUCTION in levies!

**Forest** · 4th December 2009, 10:02

Originally Posted by Pussy

Believe it or not, they are actually insured! Not cheap, though!

Most private planes are only insured for total loss & third party liability.

**Swoop** · 4th December 2009, 10:38

Originally Posted by Mikkel

Not to mention pointless - with that track record no one would be willing to get into that cockpit.

Not so. I have been trying to track down the owner and enquire about a flight. Will continue to do so, even after this.

**nudemetalz** · 4th December 2009, 10:50

A flight in a Spitfire (or P-51, or P-40, or...) would be a lifetime dream come true for me !!!!

**Bass** · 4th December 2009, 13:23

Originally Posted by Swoop

Not so. I have been trying to track down the owner and enquire about a flight. Will continue to do so, even after this.

It's not difficult to meet him. He flies his contest aerobatic aircraft pretty much every fine day. I can show you where to stand and wait.

**Bass** · 4th December 2009, 13:28

Originally Posted by nudemetalz

A flight in a Spitfire (or P-51, or P-40, or...) would be a lifetime dream come true for me !!!!

Not all your dreams come with 2 seats in NZ. Some do though and a flight can be arranged. It comes with a pretty steep price tag however. The last time one of my contacts went for a ride in the P51, it cost $2000 for half an hour and that was several years ago.
The maintenance cost are huge. The last time I asked, it cost a bit over $250,000 to overhaul the Merlin and I doubt that they would get 1000 hours between overhauls. I stand to be corrected on that one however.

**StoneY** · 4th December 2009, 13:52

My grandad was a mechanic on P-51's and then on Corsairs (on Gudalcanal at that)

He told us of all the WWII aircraft out there, the ME 109 and the Spit were the two hardest to land fighters of the era

Spits 'bounced' terribly if your landing angle was out by sweet fa, and the ME's had real stiff undercariage that was too narrow and tended to collapse sideways if landing in strong side winds

Thats what Grandad said anyway, seems our man in the SI has proven him right on the Spit

**Bass** · 4th December 2009, 16:44

Originally Posted by StoneY

He told us of all the WWII aircraft out there, the ME 109 and the Spit were the two hardest to land fighters of the era

I have seen the exact figures, but for the life of me I can't remember them. However, my vague recollection is that there were more 109's lost to landing accidents than to enemy action. It was certainly of that order.

**Madness** · 4th December 2009, 16:50

What an investment! The Spitfire was worth $2,000,000 yesterday when it crashed. Today (according to Teh Harold) it's value has jumped to $3,000,000.

You don't see GSXR1000's appreciate like that when they get binned!