Vintage Fighter Restorations
Vintage Fighter Restorations
Vintage Fighter Restorations (or VFR for short), are part of the Pay’s Group based at Scone, NSW Australia. We are specialists in the restoration and maintenance of classic and vintage aircraft, with a particular focus on WW2 era fighters. Founded by Australian warbird identity Col Pay, Pay’s has a long track record of outstanding restorations including Spitfire, P-40 Kittyhawk, P-51 Mustang, Harvard, Cessna Bird Dog. Warbird Investors, Syndicates and owners are invited to contact Vintage Fighter Restorations to handle your next project.
The Spitfires
Vintage Fighter Restorations have quite a history in the restoration of the legendary Supermarine Spitfire, having restored the first flying “Warbird” Spitfire in the country, the “Pay’s Spitfire” Mk VIII VH-HET. This Spitfire was restored by the late Col Pay and is now operated by Temora Aviation Museum (TAM).
Vintage Fighter Restorations currently have two Mk IX Spitfires under restoration, LF.IXb, MH415 and Spitfire F.Mk.IX MH603.
Current Projects
SPITFIRE LF.IXB MH415
Supermarine Spitfire LF.IXb, MH415 arrived in Scone NSW at Vintage Fighter Restorations in early 2016 from the USA. This aircraft is one of the most complete and original Spitfires to be restored to flight anywhere in the World. Moreover, the aircraft has a distinguished operational WWII and post war service record.
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SPITFIRE F.IX MH603
Spitfire F Mk.IX MH603 was acquired in 2009 from Provenance Fighter Sales and has required a complete airframe rebuild. The extensive structural work required on the aircraft has been meticulously carried out by Vintage Fighter Restorations at Scone NSW. The wings are being fully rebuilt in their jig assemblies and are largely completed, as well as the fuselage and tail assembly.
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Past Projects
Previous Restorations
Vintage Fighter Restorations (VFR) is the new identity for Pay’s Warbirds. Under the Pay’s brand, numerous aircraft restorations have been completed including Australia’s original warbird restoration, Mustang VH-AUB. Many of these iconic aircraft now reside in Pay’s Flying Museum under the care of VFR.
HAWKER HURRICANE MK.XII / IIB VH-JFW
Hawker Hurricane, Serial No 5481 C/N 60372, C-FDNL, Mk XII / IIB arrived in Australia on the 7th of April 2014 from Canada after a lengthy boat trip via the Panama Canal and New Zealand. The aircraft has undergone an extensive refurbishment program by Vintage Fighter Restorations at Scone, NSW..
Read MoreSPITFIRE MK.VIII VH-HET
Although not Australia’s first Warbird, ex-RAAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII VH-HET was one of the Warbird pioneers and is surely the most famous – restored by the late Col Pay, it is universally known as the “Pay Spitfire”.
Read MoreCA-18 MK.21 MUSTANG VH-AUB
CAC CA-18 Mk21 Mustang, A68-107 / VH-AUB is one of Australia’s most famous and oldest Warbirds, having been restored and registered by Pay’s and put on the Australian register in 1980. The aircraft was previously in private hands from 1958 to 1966 with Titus Oates..
Read MoreCURTISS P40E KITTYHAWK VH-KTH
Col Pay was a visionary in the Australian Warbird movement long before Warbirds were common place in Australia, with a string of firsts including Mustang VH-AUB and Spitfire VH-HET. Another of his firsts was the first Curtiss P-40 Warbird in Australia.
Read MoreCURTISS P40E KITTYHAWK VH-KTY
The second Kittyhawk to be restored by Pay's / Vintage Fighter Restorations, VH-KTY resides in the Pay's collection at Scone.
Read MoreNORTH AMERICAN HARVARD VH-HAJ
North American T-6G Harvard Serial #: 49-3186 Construction #: 168-290, Civil registration VH-HAJ was purchased by the late Col Pay in 1984 from Steven Seghetti, Vacaville CA, USA and has been with the collection at Scone ever since. The Harvard, a former Oshkosh award winner is in excellent condition and flies regularly.
Read MoreDH82 TIGER MOTH VH-PCL
DH aircraft, DH82 Tiger Moth serial 3786 VH-PCL takes center stage in the hanger and is immaculate and a favourite of Ross Pay. VH-PCL was Col Pay’s first spraying aircraft back in 1959 and is still in excellent condition and mechanically sound. It no longer is a working aircraft but an important part of Pay’s history.
Read MoreDE HAVILLAND DHC1 CHIPMUNK VH-AMV
The Chipmunk was acquired in 2005 as a trainer for tail wheel instruction and for joy flights. It is a warbird in its own right having served with the RAF, and is a highly regarded training aircraft with over 1200 having been produced in Canada, the UK and Portugal.
Read MoreCESSNA A-37 DRAGONFLY
In the late 1980s Col Pay traveled through South East Asia where he acquired a number of Cessna A-37 Dragonfly twin jet counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft. The aircraft are a highly desirable warbird having excellent performance, dual controls, and are fairly easy to come to grips with as a private aircraft type.
Read MoreCESSNA 01 BIRD DOG
Recovered by Col Pay from South East Asia, Bird Dog VH-LQS has been a stalwart of the Pays Warbird fleet. Still a working aircraft in its own right, performing Joy Flights, Aerial Photography and Fire spotting duties.
Read MoreSIAI MARCHETTI SM1019
Pays Air Services imported 8 SIAI Marchetti aircraft into Australia in the early 2000’s with most finding new homes in Australia. VH-PAI was shipped to Scone in 2002 after being operated by the Italian Army as MM57217. The SIAI Marchetti is an Italian adaption of the Cessna 305A/O-1 Bird Dog with a new turboprop engine and a revised tail unit.
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HAWKER HURRICANE MK.XII / IIB VH-JFW
Hawker Hurricane, Serial No 5481 C/N 60372, C-FDNL, Mk XII / IIB arrived in Australia on the 7th of April 2014 from Canada after a lengthy boat trip via the Panama Canal and New Zealand. The aircraft has undergone an extensive refurbishment program by Vintage Fighter Restorations at Scone, NSW..
SPITFIRE MK.VIII VH-HET
Although not Australia’s first Warbird, ex-RAAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII VH-HET was one of the Warbird pioneers and is surely the most famous – restored by the late Col Pay, it is universally known as the “Pay Spitfire”.
CA-18 MK.21 MUSTANG VH-AUB
CAC CA-18 Mk21 Mustang, A68-107 / VH-AUB is one of Australia’s most famous and oldest Warbirds, having been restored and registered by Pay’s and put on the Australian register in 1980. The aircraft was previously in private hands from 1958 to 1966 with Titus Oates..
CURTISS P40E KITTYHAWK VH-KTH
Col Pay was a visionary in the Australian Warbird movement long before Warbirds were common place in Australia, with a string of firsts including Mustang VH-AUB and Spitfire VH-HET. Another of his firsts was the first Curtiss P-40 Warbird in Australia.
CURTISS P40E KITTYHAWK VH-KTY
The second Kittyhawk to be restored by Pay's / Vintage Fighter Restorations, VH-KTY resides in the Pay's collection at Scone.
NORTH AMERICAN HARVARD VH-HAJ
North American T-6G Harvard Serial #: 49-3186 Construction #: 168-290, Civil registration VH-HAJ was purchased by the late Col Pay in 1984 from Steven Seghetti, Vacaville CA, USA and has been with the collection at Scone ever since. The Harvard, a former Oshkosh award winner is in excellent condition and flies regularly.
DH82 TIGER MOTH VH-PCL
DH aircraft, DH82 Tiger Moth serial 3786 VH-PCL takes center stage in the hanger and is immaculate and a favourite of Ross Pay. VH-PCL was Col Pay’s first spraying aircraft back in 1959 and is still in excellent condition and mechanically sound. It no longer is a working aircraft but an important part of Pay’s history.
DE HAVILLAND DHC1 CHIPMUNK VH-AMV
The Chipmunk was acquired in 2005 as a trainer for tail wheel instruction and for joy flights. It is a warbird in its own right having served with the RAF, and is a highly regarded training aircraft with over 1200 having been produced in Canada, the UK and Portugal.
CESSNA A-37 DRAGONFLY
In the late 1980s Col Pay traveled through South East Asia where he acquired a number of Cessna A-37 Dragonfly twin jet counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft. The aircraft are a highly desirable warbird having excellent performance, dual controls, and are fairly easy to come to grips with as a private aircraft type.
CESSNA 01 BIRD DOG
Recovered by Col Pay from South East Asia, Bird Dog VH-LQS has been a stalwart of the Pays Warbird fleet. Still a working aircraft in its own right, performing Joy Flights, Aerial Photography and Fire spotting duties.
SIAI MARCHETTI SM1019
Pays Air Services imported 8 SIAI Marchetti aircraft into Australia in the early 2000’s with most finding new homes in Australia. VH-PAI was shipped to Scone in 2002 after being operated by the Italian Army as MM57217. The SIAI Marchetti is an Italian adaption of the Cessna 305A/O-1 Bird Dog with a new turboprop engine and a revised tail unit.
Our Collection
The North American Harvard
P51 Mustang
P40 Kittyhawk
Warbird Flights
Based in Scone NSW, Vintage Fighter Flights provides the opportunity to experience combat flights. These flights allow passengers to fly in aircraft just like our WW2 veterans. Experiencing aerobatics and combat like maneuvers to give passengers a once in a lifetime experience.
Scone Memorial Airport
Location
Scone Airport, NSW 2337 Australia
Vintage Fighter Restoration Museum
Pay’s Warbirds are kept at the Scone NSW base of Pay’s Air Service. The museum is open to visits on a donation basis with prior arrangement, and large group tours can also be accommodated.
Aircraft Spare Parts
SPARE PARTS
Vintage Fighter Restorations have a large stock of spare parts for various aircraft including a sizeable quantity of British BA hardware. Please see below for lists of parts in our inventory, and feel free to contact us with any questions regarding purchases or swaps.
Parts lists:
- A15Y Medium/High Tensile Bolts
- AGS Plumbing Fittings
- British BA & BSF Nuts
- British A1Y Low Tensile Bolts
- British Fork Fittings
- DZUS Fasteners
- Standard Shackles
- Steel Clevis Pins