AB910

[vctenderness]

Spitfire AB910 has just flown over my house twice once heading East and returning west bound.

My question is where is this aircraft based?

im wondering if it is on a reccy for Airbourne later this month.

[dook]

It's part of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at Coningsby.

It's a Mark Vc which was donated by Vickers Armstrong in 1965.

I'm intrigued by how you knew it was AB910.

[Danny42C]

dook (#2),I'm intrigued by how you knew it was AB910. Mk.I eyeball plus binoculars would do the trick, if it banked when in sight.

[vctenderness]

Yes it did involve my eyeballs but they were looking at PF Air which showed AB910.

[dook]

I was going to say that one would need a kin good pair of binoculars to read the serial number.

http://i64.tinypic.com/eueq1l.jpg

[vctenderness]

Thanks for replies. Of course it was on its way to Eastbourne. I hadn’t realised Airbourne had started I thought it was next week.

i hope the Battle of Britain flight take the same route and fly over my house.

[DaveReidUK]

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.gmforum.com-vbulletin/900x632/ab910_fae3383e5f4d0e9200edbe8f098770e6fa5790d9.jpg

[Fantome]

Was this the one that during the war took a WAAF sitting on the tailplane for an unintended circuit?

[dook]

Certainly was - she was Margaret Horton.

[Danny42C]

"She's a bit out of trim, Corporal ! .. Sure was, Sir, it'll take her a long time to get over it !"

[Danny42C]

Those "Invasion stripes" must've made aircraft recognition easy for Leutnant Baron von Prunestein in his FW190 !

[Danny42C]

#7 (DaveReid UK) is it all right, Reckon #5 (dook) is a IX - (four blades),

[DaveReidUK]

Reckon #5 (dook) is a IX - (four blades),

No, it's a blurry photo of AB910 from about 10 years ago in (I think) 303 Squadron marks.

[treadigraph]

AB910 has certainly been fitted with a four blade prop from time to time, I think she has been on her nose a couple of times and possibly a four blade hub and spinner were easily available as temporary replacements?

[CoodaShooda]

Did they change the exhaust stubs too?

[Chris Scott]

No, it's a blurry photo of AB910 from about 10 years ago in (I think) 303 Squadron marks.
As a novice on Spitfire recognition, I tried with limited success to enlarge (on my PC monitor) the nice image posted by dook. Still couldn't read the serial number, but it doesn't look like AB910. AB546, perhaps?

Looking at the nose, could it even be a Griffon-powered version?

[treadigraph]

I agree, very hard to read but it is AB910.

Individual stubs do seem to have been fitted - presumably the Siamese stubs don't look right with a four blade prop!

Edit: I have a vague recollection of a BBMF Hurricane with a four blade prop at one point - did I dream it or did it happen?

https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7227/7348232062_36cd8a5cb8_b.jpg

[Chris Scott]

I agree, very hard to read but it is AB910.

Individual stubs do seem to have been fitted - presumably the Siamese stubs don't look right with a four blade prop!

Edit: I have a vague recollection of a BBMF Hurricane with a four blade prop at one point - did I dream it or did it happen?


Great photo of AB910, Tredders. But it doesn't solve the question: is it the same a/c as in the image posted by dook?

[treadigraph]

It is... I think the low resolution has pixelated the serial. I've found a larger version at the link below:

https://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/89677/ab910-uk-air-force-battle-of-britain-memorial-flight-supermarine-spitfire-v-b/

[DaveReidUK]

I agree, very hard to read but it is AB910.

Individual stubs do seem to have been fitted - presumably the Siamese stubs don't look right with a four blade prop!

Edit: I have a vague recollection of a BBMF Hurricane with a four blade prop at one point - did I dream it or did it happen?

I'd say it's highly likely that it's a different engine installation, not just a different prop. That could well also account for the different exhaust configuration.

But it's definitely the same aircraft.

[Danny42C]

Chris Scott (#16),Looking at the nose, could it even be a Griffon-powered version? No, then it would have five blades.

[Chris Scott]

It is... I think the low resolution has pixelated the serial. I've found a larger version at the link below:

https://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/89677/ab910-uk-air-force-battle-of-britain-memorial-flight-supermarine-spitfire-v-b/
Agreed... :ok:

Thanks, Danny, I should've realised four blades (of the same diameter) wouldn't suffice to process the extra power of the Griffon.

[treadigraph]

Interestingly, looking at pics of AB910 throughout her life with the BBMF she seems to have had the four blade prop and separate stubs for nearly all her career including the BOB film. At least three mishaps, the worst being the runway collision with a T-6 at Bex... took a while to fettle her after that and she was fitted with the Merlin 35 out of the Flight's Mk II (or so it says on a web page I was perusing!).

The Griffon-powered Mk XII and Seafire XV and XVII each had four blades; Kennet Aviation fly a Seafire XVII and "watch this space" as I believe Richard Grace's organisation will be test flying the XII they are currently rebuilding in the not too distant future... :)

[India Four Two]

No, then it would have five blades.

And also the bulges to accommodate the larger cylinder heads.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.gmforum.com-vbulletin/569x383/detail_spit19_08_0a5a68c66dfb43fe26df46123d4db16ed7432613.jp g

[yorky66]

Apologies if this has already been covered but AB910 has been based at Hurn, Bournemouth for the last few days together with a BOBMF Hurricane and the Lancaster whilst appearing at Eastbourne Show
Photo in indifferent weather on the Signatures ramp

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1834/44022792202_300eaed167_b.jpg
DSC_0061 by yorky22, on Flickr

[Terry McCassey]

The giveaway is the top skin. By the time the IX's were coming off the line, they had thickened up the top skins negating the need for the 2 strengthening strips across the wheel area. AB910 has the universal C wing with the 2 angled alloy reinforcing.

[DaveReidUK]

The giveaway is the top skin. By the time the IX's were coming off the line, they had thickened up the top skins negating the need for the 2 strengthening strips across the wheel area. AB910 has the universal C wing with the 2 angled alloy reinforcing.

Though most, if not all, sources refer to AB910 as a Vb rather than a Vc. Was the C wing retrofitted at some point during its lifetime ?

[chevvron]

Dropped in at Blackbushe along with Hurricane PZ865.
Some great pictures on Home | Blackbushe Airport - The one-stop Forum (http://www.blackbusheairport.proboards.com/) daily movements report pages 559 and 560.
NB You have to register to view the site due to people 'hacking' it in the past but it only takes a few seconds.
They were also due to stop off on the way back today (19th Aug).

[megan]

AB910 was part of the second order for 500 Spitfire F Mk. I dated 22 June 1944 (? obviously incorrect). Built as Mk.VB between July and November 1941 AB serials assigned to production order 779-828, 841-875, 892-941, 960-994

AB910 92S Aug '42 ME 1-9 VSM 7-6-43 fuel sys mod wing stiff 416S 1-7-43 OTU took off Hibald with WAAF Margaret Horton on tail 4-4-45 Sold Air Com Wheeler M45M instal G-AISU BoB Flight QJ-J Strk Hendy Heck at Wolverhampton 17-10-47 extant BoB Flight. (Published 2000)

Some of the run note the wing stiffening being carried out post production, was not universal.

[DaveReidUK]

And here's some more history from Geoff Goodall's excellent site:

Supermarine Spitfire Registry - A Warbirds Resource Group Site (http://www.warbirdregistry.org/spitregistry/spitfire-ab910.html)

[treadigraph]

Seems the four blade prop was fitted at some point during Allen Wheeler's stewardship. It appears he raced AB910 with both the three blade and four blade prop and with the separate exhaust stubs - I presume these offered improved performance compared to the Siamese stubs?