What Sort Of Hanger Do You Need To House A Spitfire?

Demand for new hangars designed to accommodate Spitfires could soar like the planes themselves if plans to resume commercial production of the aircraft come to fruition. But what specifications would such hangers need to have?

There are already many aircraft hangar buildings across the UK that host historic aircraft, which can be kept for various reasons:

·       As storage between use in pleasure flights

·       As storage between air shows

·       As storage for use in ceremonial events

·       If the aircraft is no longer airworthy, it may be kept on the ground as part of a collection or museum exhibit

Among the most popular of all vintage aircraft is the Spitfire. The iconic fighter plane, which proved so effective in the 1940 Battle of Britain, has a huge appeal.

This is not just for its fame and history, but the aesthetics of its Merlin engine sound, shape and agility in the air.

Whether flying alongside the Hawker Hurricane and Lancaster Bomber in the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Spitfires are in big demand.

How Many Spitfires Are Still Flying Today?

However, while 20,341 Spitfires were built during the Second World War, few remain in airworthy condition. RAF Coningsby, which operates the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, has just five. 90 years after the aircraft first flew, only around 50-70 airworthy planes remain.

A solution is being offered by a specialist team of engineers and designers who are proposing a new model of the Spitfire, called the Aerolite Spitfire Type 433. The model would be made of Gordon Aerolite, a composite material offering an alternative to aluminium.

Lest it be thought that this is a 2020s material replacing the one used in the 1940s, the composite was actually in development in 1940 and Air Ministry officials considered using it as aluminium was in short supply.

The plan was never followed through, but it may be now, with another key feature being that it is built with two seats, making it ideal for uses such as pleasure flights and pilot training.

If these start rolling off the production line, there will be no shortage of takers. But it will be important to have appropriate hangars.

How Big A Hangar Does A Spitfire Need?

If you want to operate on a small scale, perhaps just hosting one Spitfire because you have limited room and a comparatively modest budget, the key thing to do is know the dimensions of the aircraft.

·       A wingspan of 11.23 metres (36 ft 10 in)

·       A length of 9.12 metres (29 ft 11 in)

·       A height of 3.02 metres (9 ft 11 in)

Some large hangars that house multiple Spitfires, like those at Biggin Hill, the airfield on the south-eastern edge of London that played a major role in the summer of 1940. It hosts six Spitfires, plus several other fighter aircraft from the era.

Clearly, any hangar for this number of aircraft would need to be very large and the key would be to measure it according to the combined wingspans of the aircraft, plus some extra space for engineers, pilots and visitors to move around between the planes.

Whether you need a smaller hangar for a single plane or a large one for many, we can supply you with a steel hangar that will keep your precious plane safe and secure, whether it is a new build or dates back to the 1940s.