Another Airworthy spitfire for BBMF

I'm surprised that this hasnt been reported so far,
Another Spitfire from the BBMF has taken to the air, a LFXVI
This airframe was originally going to a provider of spares along with another Mk XVI and as such was never expected to fly again, the BBMF has to be praised for allowing the staff to work on this project in their own time, and with no budget for it, some very interesting bartering must have gone to get the work done when you think the collection started off as just 3 spitfires and 1 hurricane

 

That's brilliant news!

 

It's even more so when it seems the airframe was part of the display section of the RAF, and this low back mk16 and another were meant as spares to be sold on once any suitable parts had been removed, the engine found its way onto the Lanc, the interiour went as spares into the stores, it was a groundstaff who hatched the idea of preserving it , because at the time the collections spitfires were just 3 Mk 19's un armed photo types and some thought it not right that such should be sole reminders of those who fought and fell.
The plan was thaat the aircraft would be just static, but the project leader got unofficial backing to restore it to such that it could be made flyable at a later date, as there was no budget for it.
A deal was struck with the firm that overhauls the fusalarges of the BBmf that they would undertake the work as and when they had quite periods in return for the other Mk 16 that was going to be sold on anyway, so over a period of time the aircraft was restored and worked on by the staff until it was ready for its engine, the original had by now been replaced by another on the lanc and this was overhauled as a spare and refitted at the time it wasnt even clear if the collection would get permission to fly her but 2 days later they did.

 

A potted history of TE311 from the mod/bbmf website.
"Spitfire TE311 is a low-back/bubble-canopy Mk XVI with ‘clipped’ wingtips. Some 58 years after it last flew, TE311 will be back in the air in 2012, having undergone a painstaking re-build to flying condition by BBMF technicians, which was started in October 2001.
TE311 was taken on charge by the Air Ministry on 8 June 1945 – a month after the war ended – and was placed in storage. From October 1945 to February 1946, it was flown by the Handling Squadron of the Empire Central Flying School (ECFS) at Hullavington. Subsequently, after another period in store, it was used by the Ferry Pilot Training Flights at Aston Down and Benson. TE311 was grounded and transferred to non-effective stock on 13 December 1954. Subsequently the aircraft was a ‘gate guardian’ at Tangmere for 12 years and then, for over 30 years, was used as a static display exhibit at many air shows, as part of the RAF Exhibition Flight.
TE311 is painted as Spitfire XVI TB675 ‘4D-V’, the aircraft of Squadron Leader Tony Reeves DFC, who was the Commanding Officer of No 74 Squadron in 1945."