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The mortal remains
of TA805 arrived at the Airframe Assemblies
works, Sandown, Isle of Wright in early
1992. Having previously been in storage in
Sussex. The dormant period continued for
another 3 years or so until the current
owners acquired the aircraft. Work to return
her to flying condition started in early
1996. |
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The period up until July 1997 being taken
up with the manufacture of the many pieces
that make up a Spitfire fuselage. These
small pieces being made up into
sub-assemblies such as fuselage Frame 9. |
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Also along with the new build items, as
much original material as possible was
removed from the remains, for incorporation
into the rebuild. These photos show the all
important Frame 5 being dismantled and the
almost complete assembly following rebuild. |
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With the kit of parts ready, assembly in
the build fixture commenced in August 1997.
These photos show the basic structure being
assembled in the jig. |
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New skins started being cut in and
drilled off in November 1997. These photos
show the new skinning, along with the
original skins which were used as checking
patterns to ensure that the structure was
true. |
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Skinning work continued, resulting in the
completed fuselage out of the build fixture
in July 1998 |
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With the basic fuselage finished, the
next major task was the building of the
wings. This following a similar pattern,
with many months being spent making
components and sub-assemblies prior to the
start of the build. This task not made any
easier with the need to move the whole of
Airframe Assemblies to a larger premises in
May 2000. The new "works" being located on
the other side of town, with '805 turning a
few heads as she made the trip! She arrived
safe and was carefully unloaded. |
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