Please help identify, potentially spit wheel?

[Gavin A]

Hello,
I recently purchased this tail-wheel to a supposed spitfire, i was wanting to create a small stand to display this part and have a small plaque detailing what exactly it is however whenever i look up pictures to spitfire tail wheels they look somewhat different. Is this a spitfire wheel or if not what exactly is it? Cheers.

 

[Gavin A]

After researching the wheel it turns out it's one of two of the nosewheels from an RAF McDonnel Douglas Phantom FG.1

 

[MiTasol]

Good detective work. If you are offered any future Spitfire wheels the early ones were Dunlop and had part numbers starting with AH or AH0. I cannot remember the full number.

 

[Gavin A]

Thanks, I'll keep a note of that for the future.

 

[Airframes]

Hmm. Doesn't look like a Phantom nose wheel. The detail of the wheel hub is different, and the tyre is totally different and larger.
Looks more like the type on the Jet Povost.

 

[Gavin A]

I'm not too sure about a Jet Provost, apparently it was part of a collection from an ex-serviceman who worked at RAF Leuchars at the time of the cold war. Unfortunatly he passed away so i guess we will never know the story as to how he got it. also not my photo...

 

[Airframes]

I agree. but definitely not a Phantom nose wheel. The wheel had perforations around the circumference, inside the rim, and the tyre was a "flat treaded" type, of different profile.

 

[wingnuts]

I'm not too sure about a Jet Provost, apparently it was part of a collection from an ex-serviceman who worked at RAF Leuchars at the time of the cold war. Unfortunatly he passed away so i guess we will never know the story as to how he got it. also not my photo...

I remember EE Lightnings were based at RAF Leuchars, but I don't think yours is off a Lightning.