Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

RE: Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

Mark Hedberg — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 10:22:45 GMT

[quote user="Virginia Campbell"]

cos they looked like Airwolf :-)

[/quote]

Loved that show. Alas, the original helicopter they used in the series is no more. :(

RE: Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

Virginia Campbell — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 20:34:43 GMT

[quote user="Clare Tapsfield-Wright"] It’s the chinooks that we prefer not to encounter. [/quote]

Our local agricultural show used to be right beside an army base. Used to pray they wouldn't be flying when the 12.2 showing was on as my pony went bats if they came over (the rest got used to it but he was from a family of inbred nutters. The ponies, that is). A Chinook landed in one of our fields and disgorged a whole patrol once. Another time my dad was doing cutting silage, heard a noise and turned around to discover a chap in a Gazelle hovering a few feet above and behind him, watching. We used to see a lot of Wessex and Pumas, the occasional Sea King and Lynxes which were my favourite cos they looked like Airwolf :-) I think the army base is a school now.

RE: Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

Julie Innes — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 08:47:25 GMT

I read the title as "Who wants a fight in a spitfire"!

I thought Arlo was challenging someone to a high adrenalin duel!

RE: Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

J G Wray — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 10:37:19 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]What gaffe?[/quote]

The gaffe? Well, questioning whether there's an important difference between the Merlin and the Griffon AND the question of the claret - the '82 is £300 and the '83 £200 to you from the cellars of Wray Towers - I mean, really?

RE: Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

Bob Russell — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 10:04:48 GMT

What gaffe?

The iconic sound that people associate with the Spitfire is the merlin engine. The engine that allowed for better survival rates was the griffon - faster and better but also later in the war!

RE: Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

Derek Lyon — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 10:02:40 GMT

Some years ago we were at Caernarfon airport. Suddenly I heard an aircraft high up in the clouds and its engine noise brought a lump in my throat. Then as if by magic the plane came out of the clouds and after landing taxied upto within a few yards of us. I soon realised what the plane was though. The pilot got out and came towards us. I asked him what it was like to fly it and in a "posh RAF accent" said one word "FUN"! Off he went inside the nearby building but soon reappeared and climbed back on board. He then gave one of the most superb displays of flying I had ever seen. As there were only a few folks watching my wife and I felt it was a personal display. Off he went high into the clouds over Snowdonia and then appearing out of them and came zooming down over the airfield doing rolls and high climbs etc. This went on for about 30 minutes and was a spectacle we will never forget. I thought about all those brave pilots of WW2 many only just out of their teens and the great job they did for our Country.I have video of the day but unfortunately only in VHS format! Regards Derek

RE: Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

J G Wray — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 08:33:35 GMT

A question for this thread. Has Guthrie's elementary gaffe vis a vis engines in the Spitfire invited more emotional response than the debate on err homeopathy?

Guthrie could be responsible for all sorts of stuff if this is true.

RE: Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

Busybee — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 22:41:42 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]And if there's anything better than the sound of one, it's the sound of four in a Lanc.[/quote]

Or eight in two Lancs when the Canadian one came to visit

RE: Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

vetbl.locum — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 21:15:48 GMT

Has to be Merlin !

RE: Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

Iain Richards — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 19:47:15 GMT

[quote user="J G Wray"]

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]Is that a bit like comparing a 1982 vs a 1983 Margaux?[/quote]

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? Do you know nothing of the Spitfire's history Guthrie? Stand in the corner and take three demerits.

The sound of the Merlin engine is.......the sound of Victory in Our Darkest Hour, not forgetting other aircraft equipped with the same, the "Hurrie" for instance.

I can keep this up for some time

[/quote]

Somehow, I knew. I knew that deep down you were a decent chap!

RE: Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 18:12:33 GMT

[quote user="J G Wray"]Has anyone seen a Mosquito?[/quote]

Flying, you mean? Alas, no, except on film. (And I am not referring to that dreadful heap of *deleted* "633 squadron")

[quote user="J G Wray"] Merlin really made a difference to was the P51[/quote]

Can't argue with that.

[quote user="Niall Taylor"]Mind you, I never took one into combat.[/quote]

Ye-e-es.... With a FW approaching you might have been glad of the Griffon.

RE: Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

Anthony Dennison — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 17:29:26 GMT

[quote user="Clare Tapsfield-Wright"]It’s the chinooks that we prefer not to encounter. [/quote]

I grew up in Suffolk within flight paths of RAF Mildenhall, RAF Honington and USAF Lakenheath. The house we were in until I was about 8 would have jets (F-15s/F-16s I think, can't remember!) flying over so regularly I don't bat an eyelid now where other people would jump.

Our next house was between RAF Honington and RAF Barnham, the training camp for all the gunners. Chinooks would fly over at tree level and make the windows shake!

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]And if there's anything better than the sound of one, it's the sound of four in a Lanc[/quote]

And where I live now, in Lancashire, is around the run up for the Southport air show so once a year we get a free Battle of Britain fly-over. This year they flew over my rugby club where we were playing and banked around. Was amazing.

RE: Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

Niall Taylor — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 16:38:20 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]You must admit that the Griffon improved the performance of the Spitfire markedly, though.[/quote]

Yeah, but that nose job on the Mk IX - hardly a spitfire at all really. Give me the Merlin every time.

Mind you, I never took one into combat.

Niall

RE: Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

J G Wray — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 16:37:28 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]And if there's anything better than the sound of one, it's the sound of four in a Lanc.[/quote]

Has anyone seen a Mosquito?

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]You must admit that the Griffon improved the performance of the Spitfire markedly, though[/quote]

Yup, especially at low altitude, but the plane that the Merlin really made a difference to was the P51

RE: Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 15:31:49 GMT

[quote user="J G Wray"]The sound of the Merlin engine is.......the sound of Victory in Our Darkest Hour, not forgetting other aircraft equipped with the same, the "Hurrie" for instance.[/quote]

Quite so.

And if there's anything better than the sound of one, it's the sound of four in a Lanc.

You must admit that the Griffon improved the performance of the Spitfire markedly, though.

RE: Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 13:16:50 GMT

[quote user="J G Wray"]

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]Is that a bit like comparing a 1982 vs a 1983 Margaux?[/quote]

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? Do you know nothing of the Spitfire's history Guthrie? Stand in the corner and take three demerits.

The sound of the Merlin engine is.......the sound of Victory in Our Darkest Hour, not forgetting other aircraft equipped with the same, the "Hurrie" for instance.

I can keep this up for some time

[/quote] he’s right , Dad was in the RAF and he could always spot the sound of the merlin engine. if they fly over us when I’m out on my horse it brings a lump to the throat. It’s the chinooks that we prefer not to encounter.

RE: Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

J G Wray — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 12:26:45 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]Is that a bit like comparing a 1982 vs a 1983 Margaux?[/quote]

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? Do you know nothing of the Spitfire's history Guthrie? Stand in the corner and take three demerits.

The sound of the Merlin engine is.......the sound of Victory in Our Darkest Hour, not forgetting other aircraft equipped with the same, the "Hurrie" for instance.

I can keep this up for some time

RE: Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 10:58:57 GMT

[quote user="J G Wray"]Merlin or Griffon?[/quote]

Is that a bit like comparing a 1982 vs a 1983 Margaux?

www.youtube.com/watch

But I rang my friend, and he tells me it's a Merlin.

This one:

http://www.boultbeeflightacademy.co.uk/pv202

RE: Who wants a flight in a Spitfire?

J G Wray — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 10:30:42 GMT

Merlin or Griffon?