Author Topic: Man wants a Spitfire, can't buy one, builds one (Read 1779 times)

Karnak · « **on:** November 19, 2007, 08:54:52 PM »

This was posted on Arstechnica, the other forums I peruse, and I thought it would be of particular interest here:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=640483

Basically a retired airline pilot wanted a Spitfire, so he built one. He made the wings using wood and it is powered by a 1,400hp Allison from a P-39.

There are a bunch of photos in the linked thread, some in flight and some taken during construction.

lagger86 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 19, 2007, 08:57:55 PM »

Say what you want about spits, but that is one beautiful airplane.

crockett · « **Reply #2 on:** November 19, 2007, 09:50:09 PM »

Very nice looking airplane. Did real spits have wood wings? I just wonder why he choose wood versus aluminum.

I'm really surprised their aren't companies building old school warbirds like this, seems like there would be a reasonable market for it.

Golfer · « **Reply #3 on:** November 19, 2007, 09:57:46 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by crockett
Very nice looking airplane. Did real spits have wood wings? I just wonder why he choose wood versus aluminum.

I'm really surprised their aren't companies building old school warbirds like this, seems like there would be a reasonable market for it.

Certification issues for one. It's so expensive that it's actually cheaper to restore them than it is to go through the design and certification process of a new airplane if one were to make it a certified airframe. That's probably the least likely thing to happen. Save for that you're left with experimental airplanes. The rule from the FAA is that the owner must build at least 51% of the airplane themselves. There are some shops out there that specialize in building kit planes (Zenair, Vans to name the first two that come to mind) to sell to owners but that's not the same scale as a full scale WWII fighter. When it comes right down to it, there are examples and projects to be had within "reasonable" expense. When you can put $2M into a "real deal" Mustang for example it seems silly to spend $1.5M or so building one with no history. Ego baby!

Papa 51 made the Thunder Mustang as a kit for a while which was a 3/4 scale using a V-12 engine. A few examples race out at Reno but I'm not sure they're still in business. I have one on my wishlist.

There have been a precious few airplanes built from scratch but very few of the guys with the means (money) to make it happen lack the time and/or ability to build one.

SgtPappy · « **Reply #4 on:** November 19, 2007, 10:08:58 PM »

No, Spitfires did not have wooden wings. I've had someone mention that to me before... they were absolutely CONVINCED it had actual wooden wings. The Spitfire frame was of all-metal construction.

But those nice ellipses snap off easy since they're so thin. They were built that way to attain a good all-round lift quality while being as aerodynamic as possible. Laminar flow wasn't popular with R.J. Mitchell. Though I wish multi-stage flaps were...

Relorian · « **Reply #5 on:** November 19, 2007, 10:25:29 PM »

I wish someone out there did build new "Classic" warbirds. It would be a dream to get a f4u-1d. Closest I came was when I lived in California, A local had a restored one he flew out of the local airport I did landscaping for.

There would be a good market if someone out there had the time and money to found a company and get the plans and materials to build them.

BiGBMAW · « **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2007, 10:36:41 PM »

a company in the eastern blok was making Yaks ..recreated from blueprints and the jigs it had in old factories?

this guy In Sacramento Owns a Thunder p51...Commander Bill, he was a Traffic pilot for a large radio station here..hes retired..When I was taking flight school I used to drop by his hanger and look at the little mustang..its bad ***

Guppy35 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 19, 2007, 11:04:44 PM »

Suggest you check out the Flugwerke new build 190s, the new build P51As that came out of North Dakota, the Yaks out of Russia and so on.

The Allison Mustang that crashed at Oshkosh was a new build bird all the way.

One of the Flugwerke 190s is going to be a D9 with the correct engine, as well as the A models they' ve done.

You've got the new build 262s out of Washington too. New build P26 Peashooter just flew. New build F3Fs flew some years back done by the guy who later started the new build 262 project. Also some new build Ki-43 Oscars were/are in the works.

a number of companies make new build parts for warbirds as well. The Flugwerke guys do 51 and 109 parts too.

If you've got the money, someone will build it for ya, but it won't be cheap.

Golfer · « **Reply #8 on:** November 19, 2007, 11:08:59 PM »

There is a Supermarine Aircraft Co. out there building scale Spitfires. Same goes with the folks at Stormbirds building full scale Me-262s.

The companies are very rare and there is no production in "significant" numbers. However when one aircraft makes up a good percentage of the total fleet (somtimes these days being 100% of the fleet) each one is significant.

RATTFINK · « **Reply #9 on:** November 19, 2007, 11:25:28 PM »

I want a Seafire... sunbat, make it happen

Guppy35 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 19, 2007, 11:31:00 PM »

A restored Spitfire I, AR213 took to the air in the last couple weeks. They took it all the way back. External armor, correct canopy, engine exhaust, 3 blade prop etc. About as pretty as a Spitfire can get even though the XII will always be my favorite.

Kweassa · « **Reply #11 on:** November 19, 2007, 11:34:32 PM »

Is it legal to build your own plane and fly it, where u guys live?

Recreational flying isn't really a common thing in South Korea.. and since we're still technically in a state of war with the North (ceasfire..), you can imagine how the authorities react to civilians flying around in their own planes.

Also, I'm curious..... that "replica" wooden Spit does look like a highly accurate representation, but wouldn't there be any problems in the materials and internal structures not being the same as the real Spit, despite its shape? What happens if something looks exactly like a Spitfire, but doesn't weigh like a Spitfire? Aren't there safety issues?

Vulcan · « **Reply #12 on:** November 19, 2007, 11:54:27 PM »

Needs guns IMHO.

BaldEagl · « **Reply #13 on:** November 20, 2007, 01:36:59 AM »

Wow. Just wow. Beautiful.

My older brother started to build a plane once in his garage. He bought raw (I think it was) aluminum and formed all the wing spars and fuselage bulkheads himself in his basement. Most of the hard work was done and it was down to a matter of assembly when he gave up and sold it to someone. I don't know if it ever got done.

He's a relatively avid RC pilot and has an actual pilots license (he co-owned I think it was a Cessna for a while with 3 other guys). He's got a lot of RC planes that he's built but the prize is a P-51 with about a 5-6 foot wingspan.

Relorian · « **Reply #14 on:** November 20, 2007, 02:07:01 AM »

SO you know of anyone making F4U's or P40's Newbuild?