"RN201" RAF Supermarine Spitfire at Kissimmee Municipal Airport

Now there's something you don't see every day. Nice find.

http://www.pbase.com/phoenix_uk/image/46045030

Must be something in the air this week. I went back to an airport I've been over a dozen times. I must have approached from a different direction this time, opening a slew of uncharted classic aircraft. Go figure.

Just goes to show it pays to re-visit areas you thought were played out.

It's for sale:

RN201 is a high-back Mk XIV with Rolls Royce Griffon power. It was built at the Keevil dispersal factory in early 1945 and delivered to No. 9 MU at Cosford on 22 February that year.

Once the war in Europe was over, RN201 emerged from store and was allocated to No 83 Group Support Unit in July and stayed with this unit until December 1945 when it was allocated to 350 (Belgian) Squadron at Fassberg. In May 1946 it was transferred back to the UK to No 29 MU High Ercall in Shropshire. It was subsequently sold to the Belgian Air Force in February 1948 under the serial number SG-31 and was used again by No 350 Squadron coded MN-L and later by No 3 Squadron as YL-B when it suffered a heavy landing in February 1950. The aircraft was declared as not worthy of repair to flying standard and was mounted on a pole with code GE-A at Beauchevain. It was acquired in 1988 by a UK collector and put into storage.

Historic Flying acquired the aircraft in 1998 and restoration began in late 1999. The Griffon 65 engine has been zero timed and the propeller rebuilt with new blades and bearings.

RN-201 flew again in April 2002 and received its Permit to Fly shortly afterwards. Its first public appearance was at Flying Legends, Duxford, in July 2002.

http://www.historicflying.com/content.htm