Spitfire AR614 MkVc
Spitfire AR614 MkVc was brought to us to complete it's restoration. It sent to it's new owners, abroad, late in 1999.
The Spitfire Mk.V, commonly known as the baby Spitfire, was the prime aircraft used during the Battle of Britain and was designed before continuous modifications in the quest to get better performance from the Spitfire, - in most pilots' opinion thereby degrading the flight handling which mades the Mark a delight to fly. There are only four flying Mk. V Spitfires in the world. AR614 was ordered in August 1940 from Westland Aircraft Limited and built in the summer of 1942 with a Rools Royce Merlin 46 engine. It later jointed the Czech Squadron No. 312 at Harrowbeer but in 1943 was damaged by flak and was returned to serice on the 9th September. In November, 1943, it was issued to the County of Chester Squadron at Bolt Head in Devon operating from there unitl early 1944. Later in that year, it was transferred to Acklington in Northumberland where it had two flying accidents. In July 1945 it was allocated to RAF St. Athan in South Wales as an instructional airframe for maintenance.
During the late 1940's and early 1950's, the aircraft was put on display at RAF Padgate in West Kirby and was eventually sold by the Ministry of Defence in 1963 to the Air Museum in Calgary, Canada. The aircraft later returned to England. It is now fitted with a Merlin 35 engine and Dowty Rotol propeller.
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