Can't buy a Spitfire? Make one.......
- Thread starter 308pirate
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If I ever hit the lotto its on my shortlist of things to buy. I've always considered the spit the most beautiful aircraft to ever take to the skies.
Surprised that there are not more repro's flying.... Most of the restorations have so many reproduction parts as to be almost... new.
If you ever want a great movie to watch... see "The First of The Few" a story about Spitfire designer R.J. Mitchell. Lots of original footage in with a somewhat campy script. But a really, really good old movie about the 'Spit and the Schneider Trophy races that spawned the fighter.
For those DEEP into trivia... T.E. Lawrence (aka John Hume Ross, aka Aircraftsman Shaw aka Lawrence of Arabia) was involved in the Schneider Trophy races... helping run rescue boats. That he helped design the hulls for. One of his last RAF postings before he mustered out... was helping create the rescue service that saved hundreds of RAF pilots.... and still exists today. After he mustered out.... he died on his Brough.
Interesting connections around the 'Spit....
Cheers,
Sirhr
If you ever want a great movie to watch... see "The First of The Few" a story about Spitfire designer R.J. Mitchell. Lots of original footage in with a somewhat campy script. But a really, really good old movie about the 'Spit and the Schneider Trophy races that spawned the fighter.
For those DEEP into trivia... T.E. Lawrence (aka John Hume Ross, aka Aircraftsman Shaw aka Lawrence of Arabia) was involved in the Schneider Trophy races... helping run rescue boats. That he helped design the hulls for. One of his last RAF postings before he mustered out... was helping create the rescue service that saved hundreds of RAF pilots.... and still exists today. After he mustered out.... he died on his Brough.
Interesting connections around the 'Spit....
Cheers,
Sirhr
They must've been really something. During the war a good friend of mine ditched a B-17 in the Channel with 3 dead engines. I asked him how long they were in the water. He said, "Hell, I barely even got my feet wet. Those Brits were there in the rescue boats almost before we came to a stop!"
I drool over the polished P51 Mustang . A few years back I watched a show where a guy built a scaled one powered by a 20hp briggs and stratton . Flew it no problem . This is one of those interest I don'nt indulge myself in as I would bankrupt myself . Like RC jets .
^^^^ Wow! My all-time favorite plane, and interestingly, you also hit my all-time favorite livery. That's a 325th FG, 317th FS paint job, operating in Italy as I recall. In MAR 1990 I was working in Alcoa, TN, which is where the Knoxville airport is actually located. I was driving and looked up to see an aircraft painted identical to this one on low final right overhead. I spent my lunch hour driving around the airport trying to find it and lucked out. I was looking at it through the fence and the pilot was standing beside it talking to a couple of people. I shouted to him and asked if I could come through the gate to get a closer look and he beamed with pride and said "Sure!" To date it was the most beautiful plane I ever saw. It was identical to this one, except it was number 13 in the squadron instead of 52, and the nose art had the Grim Reaper holding a baby rattle, and the name was "Death Rattler." The pilot introduced himself as Harry Tope, told me where he was from and that he owned a business called Tope Enterprises in MI. Then he gave me a brief tour around the plane before returning to his affairs. I thanked him and went back to work with the notion to contact him later for some possible pictures to build a scale model from. Time went by and I finally found how to contact Tope Enterprises (no internet to speak of back then) In September. I was informed that Mr. Tope had fatally crashed the plane at an airshow in Canada in July, but that his widow still had some of his promo pictures. They took my info and sure enough, she sent me an 8x10 aerial shot that I still have. I never did build that model, though.
Clicked on the link but it disappeared ... What a machine though ! Everything I've ever read
from the men that piloted the Spit was glowing in praise , apart from early negative g fuel
issues . The way the conrods in the engine occupy the same crank journal is magical indeed .
from the men that piloted the Spit was glowing in praise , apart from early negative g fuel
issues . The way the conrods in the engine occupy the same crank journal is magical indeed .
...and like the 'Stang, it ain't cheap, either...
Wow, Sirhr, looking up John Hume Ross led to on merry steeplechase through English/Welsh/Indian history. I always understood that Lawrence was a colorful character, but the background is even more interesting than the facade.
Greg
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Like Chuck Yeager said, "The Spitfire could do for 45 minutes what the Mustang could do for 8 hours..."
Spits are beautiful planes no doubt. The advancement in aviation during that time was incredible too. At the beginning of WWII aircraft engines could barely make 1000hp. At the end, we we had them capable of almost 4000 hp. And like that they were obsolete. Jets came out, and props all but ceased to be. Piston props anyhow.
My most recent masters thesis was on Lawrence... There will be stories written on him for another hundred years...
Watch for a big announcement in June... Some historian friends and I hit an interesting historical jackpot... should make the news when we announce.
Cheers,
Sirhr
Look forward to reading about it Sirhr, hope you post something about it on the Hide in case the news does not reach us in Australia.
Sorry men this is the plane that all other planes aspire to be.....
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IBUKiKvl29Q
and the Brough Superior was one badmofo of a bike.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IBUKiKvl29Q
and the Brough Superior was one badmofo of a bike.
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This is the same photo that Mrs. Tope sent me. The plane was destroyed in the 1990 crash, but is (somehow) flying again now as "Little Horse." The restoration was competed in 2005. It's like Sirhr said - there are a few shops out there that only need a Data Plate, a shadow, and your checkbook to build you any warbird you want.
pmclaine: I've had the rare opportunity to stand on the edge of a grass runway at Leeward Air Ranch in Ocala, FL, while a Corsair and one of Jimmy Leeward's Mustangs tried to out-do each other on who could make the lowest, fastest pass, mere feet away. Let's just say, they are both AWESOME!
This is the same photo that Mrs. Tope sent me. The plane was destroyed in the 1990 crash, but is (somehow) flying again now as "Little Horse." The restoration was competed in 2005. It's like Sirhr said - there are a few shops out there that only need a Data Plate, a shadow, and your checkbook to build you any warbird you want.
pmclaine: I've had the rare opportunity to stand on the edge of a grass runway at Leeward Air Ranch in Ocala, FL, while a Corsair and one of Jimmy Leeward's Mustangs tried to out-do each other on who could make the lowest, fastest pass, mere feet away. Let's just say, they are both AWESOME!
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I am a student of WWII. Aircraft in particular. Recently there was an airshow nearby and I was lucky enough to hear the roar of those huge radials and inlines flying over. A B-25J, a P-47, A FW-190, a B-17G and a Dakota bringing up the rear.
Listening to the different engines, especially radials is a unique thing. The R-2600's in the B-25''s sounds like a bag of hammers. The buzz of the R-2800's in the P-47's and the Corsair sounds like one large pissed off bumble bee. A-26's too. The 1820's in the B-17's are incredibly quiet in comparison.
The rumble and Vvvvv combined of the V-1650 in the Mustang is a sexy sound you just never forget. Conversely, the V-1710 in the P-38 and P-40 sound almost like those little four-bangers in Jeep's. Pretty unremarkable for the power they put out. When they accelerate, they just smooth out even more.
FWIW, it isn't so much a question of which one was best. Technology pretty much dictates that. To me, it's more a question of which one was the best of it's time. Both Allied and Axis aircraft went through massive amounts of engineering changes. The Spitfire MkIII used in the Battle of Britain couldn't hold a candle to even one modification later of Spitfire, the Mk V or the Bf-109. To hold your own against a superior aircraft of the time was the exceptional thing to do. The Wildcat and P-40 we're two such circumstances. Tactics and flying to the aircrafts strengths we're what kept us in the fight.
Added: pmc,. For all around bad-assery it's a toss-up between the Corsair and the Jug. The last variants were fast in terms of piston fighters. Again though, not as fast as jets. The Jug had eight guns. The F4 U could land and take off from carriers. Both of the latest variants could carry a lot of ordnance. The last jug made it into WWII. The last variant of the Corsair, (F4U-5) did not. But, it served through Korea and then some. So, hard to say which was the baddest, but, they both did their part.
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Two of my favorites: Hawker Sea Fury and Douglas Skyraider.
This Sea Fury belonged to a mate of mine, he was having trouble finding tires for it until I figured out they were the same size as the Mirages we were operating at the time.
Excellent napalm delivery vehicle below.
This Sea Fury belonged to a mate of mine, he was having trouble finding tires for it until I figured out they were the same size as the Mirages we were operating at the time.
The Skyraider was an excellent EVERYTHING delivery aircraft. The damn things even shot down three MIGs in Viet Nam
Added:. The Sea Furys are a favorite at the Reno Air Races. Mustangs are beautiful. But, one has to be amazed at all that power being harnessed in that skinny tube with wings.
Added:. The Sea Furys are a favorite at the Reno Air Races. Mustangs are beautiful. But, one has to be amazed at all that power being harnessed in that skinny tube with wings.
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The Skyraider was developed for WWII but didn't make it in time. Interesting to note that this single-engine fighter had more payload than a four-engine B-17. That's how much development occurred during that short span of time. They had so much power, there are several accounts of them having taken off with the wings still folded (how can you forget that?). I know of one that even managed to land safely.
If you are a WWII fighter plane buff and if by chance happen to pass through El Paso, be sure to stop by the War Eagles Air Museum in Santa Teresa. it has a collection of warbirds including several P-51's. P-38. F4U Corsair, TBF Avenger, Hawker Fury, P-40 among others all of which are in flying condition. In addition two MIG 15's and well as other aircraft and memorabilia. The aircraft were acquired over many years by John McGuire an El Paso millionaire who built many of the AAF training facilities in the southwest during WWII. My late friend and parter built the massive hanger that they are stored in and spent many days there during construction and afterwards. Col. Frank Borman would come down and fly one of the P-51's and a few of the other aircraft and eventually wound up owning one. Hearing and watching a P-40 or a P-51 make a low pass over the runway was quite an experience. If only they could find a P-47.
Re: P-47 (added)
There are two very good examples I know of. One at Hill AFB just north of Salt Lake City, and one in Ft. Walton Beach at the AF museum there. I did not get to see it when I was down in Tuscon, but I know they have one there. The sun is so hard on the paint there. It's like the planes just got back from a combat tour.
There are two very good examples I know of. One at Hill AFB just north of Salt Lake City, and one in Ft. Walton Beach at the AF museum there. I did not get to see it when I was down in Tuscon, but I know they have one there. The sun is so hard on the paint there. It's like the planes just got back from a combat tour.
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I come by my interest honestly. My grandpa was a draftsman on the Curtiss P-40 and XP-55 Ascender.
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