Few aircraft hold such a place of love and respect in a nation’s aviation history that they can be called “iconic”. For members of the British Commonwealth, the iconic fighter aircraft of World War Two was the Supermarine Spitfire. The Spitfire was physically beautiful, with graceful lines and elliptical wings, while at the same time it was deadly efficient in air combat. Many of the pilots who flew it, including Wing Commander Stocky Edwards of Comox, BC, say it was a dream machine to fly – it responded beautifully to light control input and could turn circles around enemy aircraft.

Restoration proceeded slowly but surely, despite heroic volunteer efforts to raise funds and awareness. The pace was dictated by funds and by 2007, when the original plans had said the aircraft would be flying, only the fuselage and tail of Y2K were completed. Volunteer enthusiasm was being tested and it was becoming increasingly clear that considerable funds were going to be needed to finish this project: now anticipated to be over $2 million, a number twice the original estimate and several orders of magnitude beyond any CAFM fund raising campaign. The wings alone could cost upwards of $1.5 Million.

The original VWOC plan was to ship the completed wings to Comox, using available hangar space in the GRA for the installation of the wings on the fuselage.  In 2011 the Spitfire workshop was renovated, increasing the workspace to install the wings. However, in order to get the aircraft out of the workshop the wings would have to be removed, this is difficult and time consuming.  The problems with using a 19 Wing hangar were threefold: it would take up valuable hangar space, all VWOC staff would need ongoing GRA access, and the aircraft would not be accessible to the public.