N.O.S. Spitfires?

[daveismissing]

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Lost_Spitfire_Squadron_206526-1.html

Lost Squadron Of Pickled Spitfires Found   
By Russ Niles, Editor-in-Chief
   

Aviation historians and warbird enthusiasts are drooling at the discovery of at least 12 and maybe as many 20 perfectly preserved brand-new Spitfire Mark 14s buried in Myanmar, which was formerly Burma. Thanks to the tenacity (and apparently considerable diplomatic skills) of British farmer David Cundall, the lost squadron of pristine fighters was found where they were buried by U.S. troops in 1945 when it became clear they wouldn't be needed in the final days of the Second World War. At least a dozen of the aircraft, one of the latest variants with their 2,035-horsepower Roll Royce Griffon engines replacing the 1,200-1,500-horsepower Merlins in earlier models, were buried without ever being removed from their original packing crates. It's possible another eight were also buried after the war ended. After spending 15 years and $200,000 of his own money, Cundall was rewarded with visual proof of the magnitude of his discovery. "We sent a borehole down and used a camera to look at the crates," he told the Telegraph. "They seemed to be in good condition."

The aircraft were declared surplus when they arrived in Burma because the Japanese were in retreat by then and carrier-based Seafires were getting all the action. They were ordered buried in their original crates, waxed, swaddled in grease paper and their joints tarred against the elements. Cundall found some of the soldiers who buried the planes by placing ads in magazines and was able to narrow down the search before using ground-penetrating radar to confirm the burial site. The next obstacles to recovery are political. Myanmar's former military junta was under a variety of sanctions, among them an international convention that prevented the transfer of military goods to and from the country. Recent political reforms have led to the lifting of that ban effective April 23. Cundall will also need the permission of the new Myanmar government to unearth the treasure. He helped his own cause by making numerous trips to the country and earning the trust of government officials. British Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to seal the deal with Myanmar President Thein Sein during a visit.

[SuperSix]

Whoa!!!

[Steve Wood]

that was one of the most beautiful planes in the air that I have ever seen.  That big elliptical wing made it fly like a dream

[stevemon]

Awesome! I bought this picture of a Spitfire in 30 years ago. So far it's been hanging in the 3 houses I've owned. Hope to take it to the rest home eventually. 

http://www.panoramio.com/photo_explorer#view=photo&position=0&with_photo_id=70523087&order=date_desc&user=5433292

[SuperSix]

I can't wait to see pics. I hope Discovery films this in HD!

[daveismissing]

Makes me think of "Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind"
What were the planes found in the desert at the beginning?

[gbsean]

I can't wait to see pics. I hope Discovery films this in HD!

I believe I saw that picture back in the tbs.com days....my favorite plane...but then I am biased

lol I found the thread

[gbsean]

http://www.turbobuicks.com/forums/waiting-room/81652-hp-ink-cartridge-substitutes.html#post717493

[gbsean]

Spitfire Low Pass

[gbsean]

16 Spitfires Flying Together The Sound of Victory " Duxford Airshow ".

[stevemon]

Wow! Can't believe you found that thread on my Hewlett Packard rant!
Happy to be using a wireless Epson now. Only problem is it's an older one that doesn't work with the Ipad.

[gbsean]

Wow! Can't believe you found that thread on my Hewlett Packard rant!
Happy to be using a wireless Epson now. Only problem is it's an older one that doesn't work with the Ipad.

I have a memory like a steal trap...and you need to know how to search...lol.. .

[Steve Wood]

Too bad they did not have some Focke Wulf 190 D's to come humming thru the formation...

[Charlief1]

That's is great.   The last time I heard about something like this was some P-38's that were found in Eruope under water. A dyke had broken during WWII and the planes were covered up and never recovered. Just think of brand new planes that've never been flown before and hopefully will have a long life to come.

[Steve Wood]

It is really interesting to read out the evolution of the WWII fighters and their use of Meth/water, and, Nitrous for more speed and more altitude.  Also, the change in fuselage design on some like the Mustangs and Thunderbolt from a razorback design to bubble canopies which sacrificed some good flying characteristic s for more visibility.

The Spitfire had a narrow wheelspan and were no fun to handle on the ground as they would ground loop without much provocation.  The Corsair had a gull wing in order to shorten up the landing gear in the name of strength..but the size of the prop would have caused clearance problems without the elevation.