The Supermarine Spitfire turns 70.

[devilmaster]

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/03/05/spitfire-memorial060305.html


The Supermarine Spitfire, a plane that became an emblem for the British and Canadian air forces in the Second World War, marked its 70th anniversary Sunday.

Five Spitfires flew in a V formation above Southampton in southern Britain, 70 years to the minute after the first flight.

http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/equip/grfx/equip_gallery/historic_gallery/wallpaper/spitfire.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/alemarinel/Spitfire/ra-spiro-spit-small.jpeg

[Ankf00]

phatty :thumbup:

[Kiwifan]

Have you heard one of those fly by? Wow! Music to the ears.

A wee story, there's a guy who lives in Wanaka and made his money farming and hunting deer in the wild with helicopters. Being a bit of a jack-the-lad with a bag full of money he bought a Spitfire and used to fly it around the country, sometimes very close to Civil Aviation Rules. ;) He had a close association with Tekapo and used to "buzz" the town every time he passed up the island. It was an awesome time but sadly he traded it in and bought the latest model. For some reason one Mark needed left rudder, the other right and he got it wrong. Yep, a rightoff for the plane and a cripple for him. There's a good article here (http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/WanakaWarbirds/index.html)

He's still alive and every two years we share his passion, Wanaka Warbirds. We get folk from all over the world for this. (http://www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com/)

Enjoy you plane lovers. :)

Rusty.

[chop456]

Alan De Cadenet getting a surprise:

WARNING: CONTAINS FOUL LANGUAGE

http://alexisparkinn.com/oh_my_god.htm


:D

[devilmaster]

Alan De Cadenet getting a surprise:

WARNING: CONTAINS FOUL LANGUAGE

http://alexisparkinn.com/oh_my_god.htm


:D

I was looking for that clip..... Got sidetracked on all the web pages....

Neat thing I did find though.... Alain owns a Spit....

http://www.militaryairshows.co.uk/spitaw.htm


TE184 G-MXVI Mk.XVIe Alain Decadenet, OFMC, Duxford, Cambs, UK.

Built Castle Bromwich and delivered to 9 MU on May 30th 1945. To 20 MU October 20th and 6 MU September 16th 1946. To 203 Advanced Flying School (later 226 OCU) September 7th 1948 and to 607 Sqn February 27th 1950. Stored 33 MU June 13th then to Central Gunnery School November 9th. To 64 Reserve Centre February 27th 1951 as 6850M. To 1855 (Royton) Sqn ATC from 1952 to February 1967. Used in the 'Battle of Britain' film and subsequently moved to Finningley to join museum collection. To 5 MU for restoration then to 23 MU and stored for Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. Displayed outside museum March 1977 then stored until sold to Nick Grace in 1986. Registered G-MXVI to Myrick Aviation Services February 2nd 1989 and rebuilt with first flight on November 23rd 1990. Sold to Alain de Cadenet in 1995. To Hawker Restorations on 5th December 1996. Repainted in free French Air Force markings (2002). Moved to OFMC at Duxford until its future has been decided.
(photo by Caz Caswell - Duxford 2004)

http://www.militaryairshows.net/spits/dux-01oct04%20017.jpg

[devilmaster]

For some reason one Mark needed left rudder, the other right and he got it wrong. Yep, a rightoff for the plane and a cripple for him.

Rusty.

Might be two different engines in his planes? The more famous was the Rolls Royce Merlin engine, but Spits also could have had a Rolls Royce Griffon engine.

The Griff engine was a monster torque engine, bigger and more powerful than the Merlin. IIRC, it came later in the war.

Just a WAG on my part....

[nrc]

Saw on the news last night that one of the pilots who flew in celebration of the original flight was one of the original test pilots - now 93 years old.

http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=337382006

[mapguy]

:thumbup: The most beautiful machine ever created by man.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/alemarinel/Spitfire/Spitfire_profile.jpg

Thanks DM. I am willing to overlook you posting a pic with a Spit with it's wingtips clipped....

[TrueBrit]

:thumbup: The most beautiful machine ever created by man.




I couldn't agree more...and they sound glorious.....

[devilmaster]

Thanks DM. I am willing to overlook you posting a pic with a Spit with it's wingtips clipped....

LOL! I knew about the clipped wing look to the Spitfire, I just didn't notice that I had picked one for a photo...... whoops, sorry ;)

[mapguy]

I couldn't agree more...and they sound glorious.....

True that. The only thing that sounds as good as the Spit is a Lancaster. 4 Merlins versus 1... Although at much lower revs...

:)

[Andrew Longman]

See

http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/2006-merlins.mpeg

[mapguy]

See

http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Video/2006-merlins.mpeg

Wow. As far as I know there are no airworthy Mosquitos left. When was this video shot?

[Andrew Longman]

Wow. As far as I know there are no airworthy Mosquitos left. When was this video shot?

No idea, but it somehow doesn't look that old. No data to support that except the quality of the video.

I got it at http://www.alexisparkinn.com/aviation_videos.htm

Perhaps they could be of help on the source.

I love that audio. And the low level footage. And Mosquitos. Sweet plywood, Merlin powered planes. How remembers the movie Mosquito Squadran? Mosquitos and P38s are my favorites though it is hard to argue with Spitfires and Mustangs for their thoroughbred qualities and P47s and B17s for their practical lethality.

[devilmaster]

There is a guy in New Zealand who has spent years to make the molds to make actual Mosquito fusilages - not saying those 2 in the video are replicas though.....

http://www.ch2a.ca/PathfinderNZ.htm - Link to Windsor's aircraft association who are building a replica Mosquito, and the story of the Kiwi builder....

http://www.mossie.org/Mosquito_loc.htm - Link to all known Mossie locations....

[mapguy]

No idea, but it somehow doesn't look that old. No data to support that except the quality of the video.

I got it at http://www.alexisparkinn.com/aviation_videos.htm

Perhaps they could be of help on the source.

I love that audio. And the low level footage. And Mosquitos. Sweet plywood, Merlin powered planes. How remembers the movie Mosquito Squadran? Mosquitos and P38s are my favorites though it is hard to argue with Spitfires and Mustangs for their thoroughbred qualities and P47s and B17s for their practical lethality.

The one thing that most people don't realise is that the Mosquito is more lethal than a B17. It can carry the same bombload (4000lb) but it can carry it at treetop level at untouchable speeds. Also, due to it's construction of wood it was virtually undetectable to German radar. The world's first stealth fighter. Show up at the target undetected, drop the bombs and then outrun the FW190's and Bf109's to the channel.

[Andrew Longman]

The one thing that most people don't realise is that the Mosquito is more lethal than a B17. It can carry the same bombload (4000lb) but it can carry it at treetop level at untouchable speeds. Also, due to it's construction of wood it was virtually undetectable to German radar. The world's first stealth fighter. Show up at the target undetected, drop the bombs and then outrun the FW190's and Bf109's to the channel.

According to this http://www.warbirdalley.com/mossie.htm payload was only 2000 pounds vs 4000 or in some cases 6000 for the B17.

But your point stands. Being faster and stealthy and with a crew of 2 (or is it 3?) vs 10 for the B17, fewer missions and fewer lives probably could have accomplished the same result.

[nrc]

The Mossie typically carried 4 250 pound bombs. The limitation was more space than weight. Carrying 4 or 6 500 pound bombs required specially modified bombs with shorter tail planes or external mounts. The 4000 pound load was one blockbuster bomb which required a bulge in the bomb bay and fuselage.

The most common variants of the B17 would typically carry 6000 pounds in different combinations including up to 20 300 pound bombs. Later versions could carry up to 8000 pounds.

[nz_climber]

Rusty, can't wait for warbirds this year, I will be heading down for the saturday before I have to drive all the way to auckland on monday...

Will have to stop by and say hello on my way down :)

ps/ the spitfire is an amazing aircraft and sounds great

[Kiwifan]

Ya know where to find me. ;)

Take care buddy, see ya at Easter!

Rusty.

[G.]

The Spitfire was my second favorite plastic model that I had ever built.

****ing beautiful! :thumbup:

(first fave is the Russian Hind Chopper, but for non-beauty reasons.)