Primarily for general aviation discussion, but other aviation topics are also welcome.
#1799065
Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I got the impression that the two-seaters are just viewed as the cash cows and the real enthusiasm is for the single-seaters and trying to reuse as much original material as possible to avoid the 'replica' tag.

Rob P
Bill McCarthy, JAFO liked this
#1799068
@Rob P it's in @JAFO's head. There's no doubt the singe seat aircraft looks better than the two seat, so what, that's totally irrelevant to the beauty of the single seat aeroplane (and not airplane as I believe young Alex referred :shock: ).

An RV4 looking better than an RV6 is equally pretty meaningless. :D

I'll bet you a pint you enjoy it @JAFO. :thumright:
#1799069
Yes, Alex needs a slap for that.

Though the RV-4 is by far the nicest of the Van's two-seaters to fly, better looking depends (in my opinion of course) on the angle viewed from.

Rob P
Miscellaneous liked this
#1799071
Would we still love it so much if it had the name that RJM wanted - the Schrew. It does seem odd that a full scale (modified) replica can be built from just a recovered serial number plate. Many of the intact parts of a Hurricane, including the serial no. plate that my late cousin dug out of a Caithness bog are still around. Some components went to Duxford to be used as spares. I agree that that the 2- seater hurts the eyes somewhat.
It was the Merlin powered Mustang however, in its bomber escort role that turned the tide in the end.
T6Harvard liked this
#1799076
Bill McCarthy wrote:It was the Merlin powered Mustang however, in its bomber escort role that turned the tide in the end.


I would say it was the Hurricane and Spitfire that turned the tide, the P-51 that the turned that tide into a tsunami. The first in their defensive role, the latter when numbers allowed it to free-range over the continent.

On the name, this is shrouded in myth and legend.

The Vickers chairman had called his daughter ‘my little spitfire’ in Mitchell’s presence, and the name came out of this usage, but applied to the heroically ugly first attempt by RJ at an interceptor.

Mitchell favoured Shrew for his second attempt, but was overruled. He thought 'Spitfire' was "a bit silly" (according to his biographer son)

The "That’s just the sort of bloody silly name they would give it.” line is from Leslie Howard and the screenplay writers of "First of the Few"

Rob P
Last edited by Rob P on Tue Sep 29, 2020 9:30 am, edited 4 times in total.
JAFO liked this
#1799081
Highland Park wrote:...and I much prefer the Griffon-engined versions to the Merlin engined versions...

We had a guy who would come to our PFA (as was) strut meetings who, late in the war, had flown Spitfires. He told the story of how he went to collect a new one to ferry somewhere.
Apparently briefings were pretty much 'Here are the Pilots Notes, off you go.'
In he got, started up, taxied out, lined up and opened the throttle. Only at that point did he realise it had a Griffon as it turned the other way and he nearly lost it off the side of the runway! :shock:

Apologies, Rob. That better?
Last edited by rf3flyer on Tue Sep 29, 2020 8:44 am, edited 2 times in total.
#1799088
Miscellaneous wrote:The most disturbing thing for me was how narrow the undercarriage is. :shock:

I have often thought that were I offered the impossible chance to fly a Spitfire I would decline simply because I'd be terrified I'd wreck it. Partly that's due to the financial value of the thing but mainly to the thought of wrecking such an iconic piece of history. In part that comes down to the narrowness of that undercarriage track. That and my head would be so far behind the machine we wouldn't even be in formation. :(
Miscellaneous, Rob P, Stu B liked this
#1799096
I'd be very interested to hear more from Anna Walker who I'd guess is the most experienced female Spitfire pilot in the world.

Am hoping the prog explores a bit more of the engineering and physics, too. I have a basic understanding but still love a good explanation and a look-see at internal systems from the experts.

We need more feel-good programmes. There is so much knowledge, skill and dedication to be proud of in the UK that goes unheralded.
Rob P liked this
#1799097
View from the naughty step:

I have to say that I found the programme fascinating. I was a little bit (insert non-negative word for regurgitation here) in my mouth when I saw the two-seaters - it's like building a conservatory on the Taj Mahal.

There was a bit of the: "he must finish it this year, has he bitten off more than he can chew?" and "...the clock is ticking. Back at the Spitfire Factory, there's a problemm..." kind of faux jeopardy but Al Murray is excellent at this kind of thing and he does say "aeroplane" - even if Monk the Younger says "airplane".

I've been to the Solent Sky Museum and it's a great place. I loved the Sandringham most of all.

So, thank you @Miscellaneous for bringing ti to my attention and to @Rob P for talking me into it.
Miscellaneous liked this
#1799098
T6Harvard wrote:I'd be very interested to hear more from Anna Walker who I'd guess is the most experienced female Spitfire pilot in the world.


Don't tell Carolyn Grace that. :)

T6Harvard wrote:We need more feel-good programmes. There is so much knowledge, skill and dedication to be proud of in the UK that goes unheralded.


Hear, hear - I have e-mailed the producer asking when the Hurricane one will be on. :D
T6Harvard, Rob P liked this