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9DB---BOGIE AT 8 O'CLOCK!!!!!!!!!

db1yg

Well Known Member
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Never mind---it is a friendly.

Actually, there were nine friendlies!!! You see, at KPRC we have a rather large contingent of pilots on our "Fly to Breakfast/Lunch" mailing list. This past Sunday we had a total of nine planes/14 people whose "mission" that day was to patrol the Chino Wash and then to rendezvous for breakfast and de-brief in Seligman, AZ at West Side LiLo's--wheels down at 0900. West Side LiLo's is one of those historical 1950's-1960's diners located right on old Rte 66 in northern AZ. However, if you go there beware---they serve "cowboy sized" meals!!!!

The flight this day consisted of three RV9a's, one RV8a, one Cessna 180, one Cessna 172SP, one Maule, one Commanche, and a SpitFire-------------
wait----a WHAT???

The owner of the Spitfire, Bob DeFord, is one of the locals and normally flys his Champ or a Midget Mustang on pleasure flights but today felt the Spit needed some exercise--to **** with the Allison's 55 gph fuel consumption!

After too much breakfast and a thorough debrief (read airplane talk) we started the return to Prescott. On the way a couple of the friendlies took some pics of my 9a and Bob's Spitfire in loose formation flight. We had to slow (Bob a LOT more than me) to 125 kias to allow the camera ship, a Cessna 180, to pace us. I was down to 17.5 inches mp and Bob had one eye glued to the big Allison's temp gauge. However, all went well, it was a special day for all (especially Janie and I) and I got some "keeper" pics thanks to Bob, Janice and Rick.

BTW, if you want to know more about Bob's Spitfire, pick up a copy of the March issue of Sport Aviation magazine--his plane is on the cover and it contains a really nice write up on him and his special air transport!!

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Cheers,

db
 
very nice

Nice photo shoot Dave ! One day Bob was escorting a B-17 around downtown... before landing at PRC. I joined up in the 9A (loose... very loose) but there was no one there to take a picture.
Anyway, the sun was just right for you guys. Route 66 via experimental aviation.... so much better than a Harley.
 
Allison

Hi John,

Normally you would be right---but Bob's Spitfire is actually a full scale home built Spitfire based on the original plans!!! Took him many years to build it and he decided to install the 1325 hp Allison for its reliability--vs the Griffon or Merlin. He had an original canopy, stick, and interior parts and built most of the rest--with help from some talented friends. The ultimate compliment was at the last Oshkosh---it was parked with the other WWII Spits and got little more attention than did the "real" ones---you CAN NOT tell the difference!! Pick up a copy of the March edition of Sport Aviation---great article.

Cheers,

db
 
Dave
What an stunning effort. Looks absolutely superb.
An example of the great American "can do" attitude.
John
 
Hi John,

Normally you would be right---but Bob's Spitfire is actually a full scale home built Spitfire based on the original plans!!! Took him many years to build it and he decided to install the 1325 hp Allison for its reliability--vs the Griffon or Merlin. He had an original canopy, stick, and interior parts and built most of the rest--with help from some talented friends. The ultimate compliment was at the last Oshkosh---it was parked with the other WWII Spits and got little more attention than did the "real" ones---you CAN NOT tell the difference!! Pick up a copy of the March edition of Sport Aviation---great article.

Cheers,

db

Not quite the original plans... Bob's Spitfire is wood...:)

You are correct though on how it looks, you have to get really close to see that it is a replica, not a real one.
 
The Bogie

Actually, the wings are wood but much of the fuselage is steel tube and aluminum. Modern materials such as carbon fiber were also used in areas like some of the complex segments of the cowl. The original plans were used to insure the dimensions, shapes, angles of all components were to spec.

BTW, I was in my hanger a couple of weeks ago tinkering with the 9a and heard a distinctive sound--he had taken off from KPRC and did an early turn out over my hanger under full power------nothing like the sound of a big Allison or Merlin.

Cheers,

db
 
Good write up, Dave. You probably don't even remember the breakfast after this mission. I'll take a second look at the Sport Aviation article.
 
I think the wing is based on the Jurca plans, which are French. I don't know if the rest of it follows those plans. But the wing structure (wood spar) does. What a cool project. I can't imagine how much work that was. He did have help. It must go like stink. Glad he is not paying Canadian fuel prices.
 
Video

Thanks for the video post John!,
The only thing missing was the sound of that engine as he did the fly by/pitch out!!

Cheers,

db
 
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