44 FLYPAST January 2018
FROM THE WORKSHOP AIRFRAME ASSEMBLIES
Benchwork
There’s a hive of activity around
the benches, which occupy the
workshop’s ground floor, and even
more movement upstairs on the
mezzanine. Members of the team
were busy forming a sheet of metal
to create a belly skin for a Spitfire
as I looked around.
It was fascinating to watch them
pushing and pulling the sheet back
and forth to create the curves of the
fuselage. Every so often, an original
belly skin was placed over the new
one to check the form was accurate.
In the mezzanine, Steve showed
the rudder for the Anglia Aircraft
Restorations Tempest II, which
was on a workbench. Nearby
was a tailplane and rudder under
construction for a static Spitfire
V that Airframe Assemblies is
building for an overseas museum.
To the side of the benches were
wooden forming moulds used to
create the metal ‘D skins’ for the
Spitfire’s leading edges. Steve
explained that the moulds are
universal for Spitfire wings and
they had clearly been used for
many years.
A large engine cowling for the
BBMF Lancaster, PA474, was
instantly recognisable. The team
produced new cowlings for PA474
when it suffered an engine fire
in 2015. Airframe Assemblies
has been commissioned to make
cowlings for the other engines
and Steve noted that each one is
slightly different, making the job an
interesting challenge.
Among the stash of parts in
store are a set of Bf 109 fuselage
sections. Airframe Assemblies has
worked closely with Messerschmitt
specialist Craig Charleston for
many years and has developed agood reputation for this work.
Through Craig, sets have been
manufactured for ’109 projects
in Germany. Steve laughed: “The
Germans don’t seem to be able to
produce Bf 109-formed fuselage
frame sections, so the customershave to come to Craig and us,
which is rather ironic, but it does
counter the fact that most ’Spits’
fly with [German-made] Hoffman
propeller blades!”
The future is very bright for
Airframe Assemblies as its skills
are world respected. It holds a
British Civil Aviation Authority
A8-21 (formerly A2) approval rating
for manufacturing. This makes it
one of very few companies that
can produce and supply itemssuch as wings, fuselages and other
components to foreign customers.
The Sandown craftsmen have
proven time and time again
that their skills are essential for
warbirds and new projects.
http://www.airframes.co.uk“The Germans don’t seem to be able to produce Bf 109-formed fuselage frame
sections...but it does counter the fact that most ’Spits’ fl y with German-made
Hoffman propeller blades!”
Above
An unusual view of a Spitfi re fuselage,
showing the fasteners keeping the metal
in place. Behind is two-seat Mk.IX EN570,
which will eventually pass to Norwegian
Flying Aces.Left
The starboard wing of Spitfi re Mk.IX LX842 is
nearly fi nished.Below
The stripped-down wing of Mk.XVI TB382.
ALL DARREN HARBAR