Spitfire!

Halix said:

T.C.E said:

Halix said:

I live near Longfield and everyday a Spitfire flies overhead 2 or 3 times a day. I think it is a two seater and flies out of Biggin Hill taking passengers who pay big money for a short flight.

People always seem to recognise the sound and happily point towards it. Personally it brings me back bad memories of the war, one of the buggers shot me down when I was in the Luftwaffe.

Oi Fritz, do you know anything about the damage to our chip shop.
@Dazzler21, I can't speak for Halix. But anyone 16/17 in the 70s when starting work were constantly reminded by older generations that lived through or fought during the war exactly how lucky we are. Like most 16/17 year olds at the time we thought they were talking *hite but we now know different. I saw the humour intent straight away but I'm nearly 10 years older than you

Sorry about the chip shop, I was aiming for the Den and coughed at the crucial moment.

You probably wouldn't have done much damage if you hadn't coughed.

NornIrishAddick said:

ForeverAddickted said:

skywalker said:

"Despite its shortcomings, the Hurricane accounted for 656 German aircraft during the Battle of Britain - more than the Spitfire."

Yet more Hawker Hurricanes were built...

Good thing too. The Spitfire, whilst a beautiful aircraft, was much less forgiving than the Hurricane (particularly in relation to landing gear). The Hurricane was ideal for often partly trained pilots (by peacetime standards) and could be more effectively used from dispersal airfields.

Mind you, both were luxury compared to the Gloster Gladiator (which, strangely enough, is a plane I quite like, because it's overlooked).

Radically radial.

Halix said:

I live near Longfield and everyday a Spitfire flies overhead 2 or 3 times a day. I think it is a two seater and flies out of Biggin Hill taking passengers who pay big money for a short flight.

People always seem to recognise the sound and happily point towards it. Personally it brings me back bad memories of the war, one of the buggers shot me down when I was in the Luftwaffe.

Bean?

Those of you interested in the Spitfire and the Battle of Britain may like to hear that over the course of this school year, I've run a Battle of Britain project with my secondary school students, in which we wrote letters to the surviving 19 (now 17) pilots from the battle. We received replies from 13 of the pilots and/or their families including some signed photos and a 30 minute video interview from the oldest and highest-ranking pilot who now lives in Australia (he'd recorded the interview especially for the two boys who'd written to him).

None of the pilots live close enough to make a visit possible but I was invited down to Cornwall and Wales to meet two pilots and interview them for the kids (I took Spitfire beer as presents). I still can't get my head around the fact that I have sat and chatted with men who in 1940 were part of 'The Few' and that the students have in their possession, letters, etc which they will hopefully cherish forever. We've even heard from Dame Vera Lynn who wrote, also sending a signed photo and sharing her thoughts on the project.

Incidentally, what has come across from several of the Spitfire pilots is a deep affection for that plane which they say was a joy to fly.

Addickted said:

DaveMehmet said:

Halix said:

ForeverAddickted said:

Was watching a Channel 5 Programme last night on the Air France Flight 4590 (Concorde) that crashed back in 2000...

Doing a bit of research into Concorde this morning I cant believe a few years ago that it was voted as the best British design beating the likes of the Mini / Tube Map / Jaguar E-Type and the Spitfire... Despite being a damned good plane nothing can ever beat the Spitfire for me, magnificent aircraft!!

Personally I also favour the Spit, and the Mosquito. People seem to forget that Concorde was half french.

The De Havilland museum in London Colney is well worth a visit.

Agreed. Two RR Merlins sound better than one.

Just the most wonderfully designed and capable aircraft and far more versatile than the Spit.

Just come back from the Oval (Surrey v Yorkshire) with a friend who's Dad flew as a navigator in Mosquitoes in the war. He had 18 months on combat operations and survived so deciced, on the basis that he's used up all his luck, that he'd never go in/on an aeroplane again.

MillwallFan said:

DaveMehmet said:

My cousin volunteers there and got taken up in the two seater as a surprise last year. Said it was fantastic.

If ever I win the lottery, it's the first thing I'm treating myself to (flights start at around £3k)

Have a look at the ones that fly over the south coast mate. A lot cheaper than the ones that fly from biggin hill. Don't quote me I this but think flights start at 3 or 400 quid.

I thing they're for the ones where you fly alongside it in another plane mate. Would imagine it's still pretty special though.

They do flights in a 1943 Harvard at Goodwood for £500 which is a bit more realistic pricewise. May be looking at something like this for my 50th in a couple of years.

Leuth said:

Spitfires are indeed protected. It is an offence not only to kill them, but also to deliberately disturb or interfere with them.

Explain to your mother no Spitfire will enter her house, they are far too timid.

You should be honoured to have such a wonderful creature visit your garden/pond.

I'm equally honoured as one (or possibly two) bask in my pond.

Wow. Educating you really did hit a nerve didn't it.

Daggs said:

Leuth said:

Spitfires are indeed protected. It is an offence not only to kill them, but also to deliberately disturb or interfere with them.

Explain to your mother no Spitfire will enter her house, they are far too timid.

You should be honoured to have such a wonderful creature visit your garden/pond.

I'm equally honoured as one (or possibly two) bask in my pond.

Wow. Educating you really did hit a nerve didn't it.

dude, it was a surreal homage to a great post, i'm like CL's resident nature freak

Leuth said:

Daggs said:

Leuth said:

Spitfires are indeed protected. It is an offence not only to kill them, but also to deliberately disturb or interfere with them.

Explain to your mother no Spitfire will enter her house, they are far too timid.

You should be honoured to have such a wonderful creature visit your garden/pond.

I'm equally honoured as one (or possibly two) bask in my pond.

Wow. Educating you really did hit a nerve didn't it.

dude, it was a surreal homage to a great post, i'm like CL's resident nature freak

Freak .......... I can go with.

Achtung!

My mate works at fly a spitfire from Biggin. As above they are converted to two seaters and basic cost is £2700 ish
I have been to the heritage hanger and spent time in a Mk9 Spit, they have several Spits there including A MK1 from the Battle of Britain and hurricanes as well, they also have several other WW2 era planes. The main 2 seater they use shot down a few German planes in fact they have recently acquired camera footage of one kill from the same plane. They have acquired an ME109 (the German WW2 fighter) at present it is being made ready for its air worthiness cert. Keep it quiet but they may be offering the chance to partake in a spitfire v 109 dogfight for about 6k, sound expensive? Not when you consider that starting a Spit for 15 mins can cost £300 a recon Merlin engine is approx 100k before fitting.
Re Hurricane v Spit WW2 kills, the tactics were as follows the workhorse Hurricanes were tasked with shooting down the bombers the more nimble spit took care of the German fighter planes that is why the Hurricanes shot down more planes because the lumbering bombers were easier targets. The Spit was faster and turned tighter enabling the pilot to get in behind the 109, but it couldn't take a lot of damage, the Hurricane was not as fast but because it's airframe was covered in fabric not aluminium it took so much more punishment, I have met several BOB pilots they all say the same about the spit you didn't just fly it, you became part of it. For me it's the greatest piece of engineering ever made bar none, and saved our country when we needed saving!
I'm lucky enough to own some BoB spit parts, part of an airframe from a MK1 an altimeter and other parts.
I've just come back from Malta and spent time at 203 squadron RAF Luka were they still have a Spit and Hurricane, a must visit if you are out that way!