21:27 10 November 2006Procurement Historic aircraft Military maintenance Fighters and Attack Aircraft Military Piston
<P>With <A href="http://www.army.mod.uk/ceremonialandheritage/household/remembrance.htm" target=_blank>Remembrance Sunday </A>falling this weekend, it is perhaps fitting that the UK Ministry of Defence has announced two new initiatives to support operations of the Avro Lancaster, Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire aircraft which equip the <A href="http://www.raf.mod.uk/squadrons/hbbmf.html" target=_blank>Royal Air Force’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF).</A></P> <P>Expressions of interest were sought by 10 November from companies interested in conducting a landing gear modification to the flight’s Spitfire fleet, with this to value up to £500,000 ($950,000). The work will focus on the design and production of new wheels to accommodate replacement tubeless tyres, and an invitation to tender for the work will be issued in late January 2007. A total of 20 wheels in two sizes will initially be acquired to fit the single Mk IIA, Mk VB and Mk IXE Spitfires now in use, plus tw