Warbirds

New Spitfire to call Australia home

The big news this issue is the impending import of Supermarine Spitfire IXb MH415 from the USA. The 1942-built Spitfire was from Texan Connie Edwards’ amazing collection, which also comprised a Mustang and a number of Spanish-built Merlin-powered Bf 109s.

US-based warbirds brokers Platinum Fighter Sales announced via Facebook that the Spitfire, registered N415H, has been bought by an Australian and is to be restored by Pay’s Air Service at Scone. The new owner is unstated but sources have it that he is also the owner of the Hawker Hurricane now at Scone under the care of Ross Pay. Another source has talked of a genuine German-built Bf 109 being imported from the UK for the same owner. Exciting stuff! The Spitfire has not flown since 1973 and is an original, unrestored example. Not only that, MH415 is a movie star, featuring in two movies, The Longest Day and The Battle of Britain. Not having flown in 40 years, the machine has a total flight time of 816 hours while its Merlin engine, a model 66, has clocked 330 hours since major overhaul.