Firstly, may the Team at LSL wish you all a Happy New Year.
We apologise for the lack of updates on the website in the last 18 months with life getting “hectic” It is no excuse but, it really is the truth!
It feels like sometimes the world can conspire against you with the last three years presenting not one but two major Global situations affecting the restoration plans for P8331. Firstly, the Covid pandemic shutting down the world for 18 months, and almost bankrupting most Countries, then of course the war taking place in Ukraine. Add to this the current situation in Israel, and you can start to see that the world, banks, Businesses and Private Investors have become nervous.
This has played a big part in the pause and regroup in terms of the build of P8331. As most will know the project is philanthropic and the goal is to get Spitfire P8331 into an organisation that can use her for public displays and demonstrations for the world to share in her splendour. However, this is more challenging than you would think. Involving Government and MOD partners comes wrapped in several bales of red tape and process.
Had we been looking for private ownership we would have surely had this aircraft almost flying by now, but alas maybe to be only ever seen on high days and holidays. We are now looking to alternate options to get the restoration underway again, with a major sponsor already donating a working zero timed Merlin 35. There is certainly passion, desire, and willingness to see P8331 return to the skies, and we hope to the right home.
As we look forward to 2024, we have some very serious high-level meetings planned in terms of high value financial support strategies and also the development of a Docufilm about Wing Commander Laguna and the 18,00 Polish Air Force personnel who came to the UK during WW2. We are confident this will not only be groundbreaking in terms of the content and presentation but also that it could be rolled out into the education system too worldwide.
We look forward to speaking to many of you at the various shows in 2024 and updating you with positive news.
Scott
