Photographer captures images of the final 55 airworthy Spitfires using just a handheld camera

UK Daily Mail ^ | 05/19/2016 | EUAN MCLELLAND

[T-Bone Texan]

Question: wouldn’t a repro aircraft, with entirely modern internals and only the skin appearing to be authentic, result in a better handling, faster, and safer aircraft?

I ask because the cost of restoration appears to be so high you’d actually save money by doing that.

Also, I remember a story about a wealthy guy who built a 4/5 sized version of a WW2 fighter craft. I do not know why he built it that size, but he flew it. Maybe a Messerschmitt?

[tanknetter]

That’s all true, but it wouldn’t be nearly as valuable as an “authentic” aircraft. Both from a monetary and sentimentality standpoint. And an experiential one as well. Of course it’s all relative. Just about all flying warbirds have modern avionics to some extent. The big exception being Paul Allen’s Flying Heritage Collection which goes as close to original authentic as possible. Even to the point of recreating manufacturing capabilities for things like canvas wrapped/insulated electrical wiring.

There are a good number of subscale replicas out there, but also a growing trend of 1/1 scale repro aircraft as well. The repro Spit mentioned earlier is an example. The new build Me 262s, which were such faithful recreations that they were given authentic werk numbers picking up right where the WWII production numbers left off, are another.

[JoeFromSidney]

The Spitfire was a beautiful airplane. Almost as beautiful as the Mustang (ducks under desk).

[DFG]

3/4 scale P-40

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAsB5X6IyPY

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2/3 scale P-51

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjUs6l_7Yfo

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3/4 scale P-51

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tsj7ZAaVFQ

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1/2 scale F4U Corsair

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKNIHGppiqw

[T-Bone Texan]

Wow, thanks much for all the info.

I had no idea.