British Spitfire search team arrives in Myanma

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By AYE AYE WIN

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - A search team led by a British aviation enthusiast arrived in Myanmar on Sunday to begin a dig they hope will unearth dozens of rare British Spitfire fighter planes said to have been buried in the Southeast Asian country at the end of World War II.

The 21-member team led by farmer and businessman David Cundall will start excavations soon near the airport in the main city, Yangon.

Cundall said the aircraft were buried in wooden crates around 30 feet under the ground and the project would take about four to six weeks to complete.

"We are expecting them to be in first-class condition," Cundall said shortly after arriving at the international airport in Yangon.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130106/DA3KHMO03.html

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Farmer and businessman David Cundall, of Britain, talks to reporters upon arriving at Yangon International Airport on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, in Yangon, Myanmar. A team led by Cundall has arrived in Myanmar to begin the first of several digs they hope will unearth dozens of rare British fighter planes said to have been buried in the Southeast Asian country at the end of World War II. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)

[GliderGuider]

1. I hope the dig is a smashing success.

The Spit is my favourite aircraft of all time. The more of them we can bring back into the world, the better.

[AtheistCrusader]

3. Wonderful plane.

Shape-wise it always reminded me of an evolutionary forerunner to the P-51.


My favorite bird is the P-38 Lightning. We have a similar 'amazing' recovery story in Glacier Girl:
http://www.p38assn.org/glacier-girl.htm


I wish these guys luck in finding those crates, if they exist.

[Historic NY]

4. What made the P-51 great was the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine...

Packard V-1650 (US version) that was in the Spit.

[truebrit71]

8. Mine too...just something about those lines...

...i used to love going to airshows in the UK as a kid growing up just to watch those thing fly..

[NBachers]

2. Hey Steve - keep posting about this if they turn up any Spitfires - or if they don't

Thanks

[triplepoint]

5. Some Useful Facts About the Spitfire

Last edited Sun Jan 6, 2013, 05:32 PM - Edit history (1)

The original Spitfire was powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine of slightly more than 1,000 horsepower and was armed with eight .303-caliber Browning machine guns firing through the leading edge of its wing. Before the war ended, the fighter was powered with a 2,375-horsepower Rolls-Royce Griffon engine, and four 20-millimeter cannons replaced the Browning machine guns.

Modified and improved throughout the war, the plane was produced in over 30 different variation. A total of more than 22,000 Spitfires and Seafires (the naval version of the fighter) were produced. Built in greater numbers than any other British wartime aircraft, the Spitfire was the only plane to remain in continuous production for the duration of the war.

Reference Link:
http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/AERO/spitfire.htm

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Structurally the Spitfire was a straightforward design with a light alloy monocoque fuselage and a single spar wing, with stressed-skin covering and fabric-covered control surfaces.

Reference Links:
http://www.aviation-history.com/supermarine/spitfire.html
http://aircraft-list.com/db/Supermarine_Spitfire/58
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Good Luck and Good Hunting Mr. Cundall et al!

[Javaman]

7. I have been following this story since the discovery was first announced...

I sincerely hope the planes are still in good shape.