Who restores them the best?

Read the forum code of contact

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 3,415

If you want an Airfrmae restored in the UK, who does them best? My 1st choice would be Skysport or the MAPs at Rochester.

Original post

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 1,777

RE: Who restores them the best?

I too vote for Skysport, although it is a close call with many other top-rated organisations.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 3,553

RE: Who restores them the best?

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 16-08-02 AT 01:35 PM (GMT)]I'll deliberately not answer with a name, as I'm biased! (And besides, the guvnor would rip the mick out of me when I'm next in!). However, I would say it depends very much on what aircraft type is being restored.

Certain restoration companies specialise in particular types as a result of lessons learned in previous jobs, hence Historic Flying specialising in Spitfires, Hawker Restorations concentrating on Hurricanes, etc.

You also have to consider commercial realities. Taking Hurricanes as an example, I read that Hawker Restorations had a load of new-build Hawker spec tubing manufactured, which would only have been cost effective if it was made in a large-ish batch. As Hurricanes are their forte, it makes perfect commercial sense for them to do that. It would have been far too cost prohibitive for anyone to do it as a one off.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,907

RE: Who restores them the best?

i have to vote MAPS as ive been round thier palce at the airport open day -great bunch of people

rabie :9
Attachments:
http://www.keypublishing.com/forum/importedfiles/3d5d7c567700cd4d.jpg

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 541

RE: Who restores them the best?

My choice would have to be SKYSPORT.They would be the first people I would contact when my numbers come up on the lottery (HA,HA).
I would commission them to build my dream, a full size SE5A repro
in the colour and markings of "Mick Mannock's" 74 or 85 squad aircraft
with as many original components incorporated as possible.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 3,415

RE: Who restores them the best?

I was thinking my Dream warbird would be a 109 in a more obscure scheme such as the romanian one i'm curently building. Wonder if MAPS could do me one for er, £3.00 which is about my budget...

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 101

RE: Who restores them the best?

I'm afraid if my numbers come up then i'd be sending cash to Cal-Pacific Airmotive for one of their highly polished P-51D Mustangs with the original MOOSE markings on it.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 4,169

RE: Who restores them the best?

I just know that I'll get a lot of flack for this, but there you go. MAPS build very nice static aircraft, but if you are after a flyer then look again. The Spitfire XI they did a few years back needed shed loads of work putting in to it after it had been test flown and was transfered to OFMC at Duxford for their engineers to correct it.
In addition I'm currently involved with a T6 project that they had some years ago and I'm afraid to say that the little work that they did to it when they had it has done little to preserve the aircraft. However the static Mk 1 Spit restoration they completed is superb.
If you want a flying restoration I'm sure arco can help you out to their usual high standards.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 360

RE: Who restores them the best?

If I had the hardware, airframe and money that is, and Personal Plane Services could fit my project into their schedule, then I´d go with them. They´ve been in the business since before it became a civilian warbird movement. The competition were only eager looks in their mothers eyes at that time ......

Christer ;-)