UK2 PS890 Supermarine SpitfirePR19 2005-07-08 to F-AZJS Duxford DougMacDonaldPhoto.jpg

[Joseph Testagrose]

[Frank Howard]

On Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:30:58 -0500, Joseph Testagrose
> wrote:

I was intrigued as to why one picture shows a contra-rotating prop
system while the other two have single 5-bladed props. A little
research shows that goes roughly as follows: The plane was donated to
the Planes of Fame museum in Chino by the King of Thailand. After
quite some time, it was decided restore the plane to flying condition.
As its existing prop was unserviceable, the original single prop
Griffon engine was replaced by a contra-rotating Griffon from a
Shackleton and the plane was flown at Chino fo a number of years. The
plane was then sold on to France in 2007, where the original
engine/prop arrangement was reinstated. There is a video of its first
flight in 2010 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdT7_qshR9w