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Thread: 20 Brand New Unused Spitfires Discovered in Burma

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  1. #1

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    20 Brand New Unused Spitfires Discovered in Burma

    The aircraft were buried at the end of World War II with some possibly being added a few months later, as they were no longer needed for operations. To avoid having them fall in the wrong hands, they were buried in their transport crates covered in waxed and greased paper.


    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...ned-to-UK.html

    I figured some may not have heard this yet and how cool is that.
    Last edited by JimmyH; 04-18-2012 at 09:14 AM.

  2. #2
    steveinindy's Avatar
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    Very cool news. I think someone else posted about it the other day though. I can't wait to see some of these birds back where they belong.
    Unfortunately in science what you believe is irrelevant.

    "I'm an old-fashioned Southern Gentleman. Which means I can be a cast-iron son-of-a-***** when I want to be."- Robert A. Heinlein.



  3. #3

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    Yea, I just noticed it had already been posted . I must have had tunnel vision when I looked through the topics to miss it . Oh well , still great to hear.

  4. #4
    steveinindy's Avatar
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    No worries. This is the sort of news worthy of a second thread!
    Unfortunately in science what you believe is irrelevant.

    "I'm an old-fashioned Southern Gentleman. Which means I can be a cast-iron son-of-a-***** when I want to be."- Robert A. Heinlein.



  5. #5

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    There is some doubt about the final results if and when all this is found. So far it seems to be a story of how detectors see something large underground and maybe a small camera was sent down and found something. This is not the same as a real intact Spitfire sitting on the surface, but it may be in the end.

    20 ft 0r 30 ft of earth is very heavy, it is possible that the weight might crush a normal shipping container.
    Some have remarked on another site, (warbirdinformation) that the "magnesium rivets" would have turned to dust. And I have heard this story from some looking to sell other planes, especially in the U S. I don't think so. The rivets are an alloy with magnesium to add strenght at light weight. They don't spontaneously disingtergrate at a certain time, like a new car which may be pretty trouble free until the month after the warranty expires.
    If the rivets are kept painted and thus moisture free there may last decades. There are Spit MK I from before 1940 that are in museums and they did not turn into a pile of dust. If the rivets were painted and then sprayed with a protective grease or oil, and not subject to flooding, the plane could be in excellent shape.

  6. #6

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Greenwood View Post
    There is some doubt about the final results if and when all this is found. So far it seems to be a story of how detectors see something large underground and maybe a small camera was sent down and found something. This is not the same as a real intact Spitfire sitting on the surface, but it may be in the end.
    Remember the "perfectly preserved" P38's buried in a glacier......?

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