Temora Aviation Museum acquires a second Spitfire

[Keith Webb]

The museum has just announced the acquisition of a second airworthy Spitfire.

The machine, a LF XVI version has WW2 history, having flown 12 missions with 453 (RAAF) squadron near the end of the war.

Here's a link to the aircraft's history on the NZ Alpine Fighter Collection of Sir Tim Wallis website.

It will be flown at Wanaka and will join the Temora fleet in June 2006.

Here's a pic taken by the Museum with their chief engineer, Peter Pring-Shambler running her up.

[Tony Smith]

The Kiwis are up in arms about this, accusing the Aussies of stealing "Their" Spitfire. Rebutting this, Temora has paid a fair price and the Spitfire was originally an Aussie aircraft (well, it served in a RAAF Squadron).

The Wanaka Airshow has seen the end of an era this Easter. Sir Tim Wallis, due to ailing health, has decided to step down from organising Warbirds over Wanaka, after 20 years and 10 Airshows. Initially providing his own aircraft from his collection of 30 Aircraft that have been in the Alpine Fighters collection, the show has grown to be the biggest and best Warbirds show in the Southern Hemisphere. Following the sale of the Spitfire, Sir Tim's collection now just numbers 6 warbirds, with even those for sale. Future Warbirds airshows will be taken out of the hands of the Alpine Fighter collection and the NZ Fighter Pilot's Museum, and will now be organised by a Wanaka Community Trust. The Airshow is of enormous importance to the local economy and is widely supported by the community, but it will remain to be seen if their enthusiasm can equal the experience of Sir Tim and his team.
Perhaps there is an opportunity here for the Temora museum not to spoil the attraction of Wanaka, but to rival it's excellence.