Help to restore South Africa’s Supermarine Spitfire

The SAAF Museum's Spitfire Restoration Project team is in urgent need of funds to complete our workshop/hangar.

1.) Spitfire HF Mk.IXe, TE213, SAAF 5518 is in the process of being restored - the last airframe of this mark. The hangar is based at Air Force Base Swartkop, Centurion. It is South Africa's oldest air force base and houses the South African Air Force Museum.

For the restoration to proceed, a new workshop and restoration hangar is required. On Saturday 26th February 2022, the erection of the new workshop and hangar commenced. This will remain a memorable day in the restoration of the SAAF Museum's Spitfire 5518.

The structure is being erected in phases, as funding becomes available. This first phase includes the erection of the steel structure and a significant part of the roof covering and will be completed by the end of March.

BACKGROUND

The SAAF approved workshop facility is to be built with the short to medium term objective of providing the Spitfire Restoration Project with a dedicated facility to restore TE213/5518.

The restoration facility will further promote restoration skills development, training and provision of a facility that would allow aviation apprentices to complete practical study requirements. The facility's importance to the museum and preservation of vintage aircraft will expand over time.

The workshop will also house a Spitfire Simulator which will be used to generate project funds as well as offer the first of its type facility in the world to train pilots on the Spitfire.

The planning phase of the project has been completed and the construction of the workshop facility has begun!

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

The Project will require a significant initial investment to construct the workshop and skills development facility. Following the initial investment, over time further funding will be necessary for tooling the facility.

The utilisation of such a facility will immediately support the needs of the Spitfire Restoration Project TE213/5518 and our mandate of skills development. The project currently has insufficient workshop space to commence the necessary restoration activities and upskilling of unemployed youth between the ages of 18 and 29.

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