Mustang
Not so N, but still FG
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Hi there Tigger, what's wrong with the ships? Wouldn't have been many Mustangs flying without the Liberty Ships to bring their bits, and their go-go juice. Not glamorous, perhaps, but mucho importanto.
Did you see last night's (5/2/02) prog? Although ostensibly about that well known cockernee euphemism, the Sherman Tank, it turned out to be more of a potted history of the Normandy campaign, and seemed quite reasonable within the confines of less than an hour. I don't recall seeing that footage of the four Typhoons peeling off to rocket a railway before. Sad shots followed of the aftermath on the ground near Falaise, as a reminder of just how grim it gets when organised industrialised states slug it out. As before, "Commandos" followed up with the human element. Really admirable how the programme makers managed to use humour (including nervous looking Action Men jumping out of carboard Whitleys) without in any way detracting from the seriousness of the subject or the dignity of the participants.
Did you see last night's (5/2/02) prog? Although ostensibly about that well known cockernee euphemism, the Sherman Tank, it turned out to be more of a potted history of the Normandy campaign, and seemed quite reasonable within the confines of less than an hour. I don't recall seeing that footage of the four Typhoons peeling off to rocket a railway before. Sad shots followed of the aftermath on the ground near Falaise, as a reminder of just how grim it gets when organised industrialised states slug it out. As before, "Commandos" followed up with the human element. Really admirable how the programme makers managed to use humour (including nervous looking Action Men jumping out of carboard Whitleys) without in any way detracting from the seriousness of the subject or the dignity of the participants.
Join Date: Jul 2000
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You Brits must come see Oshkosh and the Reno Air Races!!!! Cant say you have lived a full life unless you do. Honestly , at Oshkosh I got tired of looking at P-51's. Just too many . IF THAT IS POSSIBLE!! Im not spelling Oshkosh correctly , am I?
Senis Semper Fidelis
Join Date: Feb 2001
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Polzin,
A few years ago I supplied quiet a number of RR Griffon and associated props and spares to one of the well known racers out at Reno(Gary Levitz) and had an open invitation to be part of their team out there in the desert, unfortunatly he was killed flying a hybrid P51, whilst I have the mind to go the USofA, I fear that my wife would not really appreciate my detour to anything like that, nor do I think I could get there on my own, the same leg iron rule's with a grip of that approaching Mrs Thatcher, so I will always drool at the sound and views of any P51(The Cadillac of the Sky)as they pound their way to the clouds, through the efforts of "Merlin the Magnificent" whose sound and decibels are only bettered by the deep growl of the Griffon! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
A few years ago I supplied quiet a number of RR Griffon and associated props and spares to one of the well known racers out at Reno(Gary Levitz) and had an open invitation to be part of their team out there in the desert, unfortunatly he was killed flying a hybrid P51, whilst I have the mind to go the USofA, I fear that my wife would not really appreciate my detour to anything like that, nor do I think I could get there on my own, the same leg iron rule's with a grip of that approaching Mrs Thatcher, so I will always drool at the sound and views of any P51(The Cadillac of the Sky)as they pound their way to the clouds, through the efforts of "Merlin the Magnificent" whose sound and decibels are only bettered by the deep growl of the Griffon! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
Guess which aeroplane was first referred to as a "Spam Can" by it's crews. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
Yup, you've guessed it, the P-51. <img src="eek.gif" border="0">
Apparently the ex P-47 drivers felt cramped in the European style cockpit. Designed to a British spec, dontcha know (as I'm sure you do
).
Beautiful beast. Want one, want one badly. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
Yup, you've guessed it, the P-51. <img src="eek.gif" border="0">
Apparently the ex P-47 drivers felt cramped in the European style cockpit. Designed to a British spec, dontcha know (as I'm sure you do
).Beautiful beast. Want one, want one badly. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
Join Date: Apr 2001
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FNG, shipping was definetely very important and also dangerous but not very interesting to someone like me, especially because it was about merchant shipping. Doesnt quite compare with spitfires whirring about the skies. I really liked the way it gave you an inside view from the spitfire in flight, just as you'd see if you were flying it, something which isnt shown in most programmes.. .By the way I bought Flypast magazine and a magazine about the world's flying spitfires came with it. It said there were about 50 left. How many flying mustangs are there left?. .And, in the highly hypothetical situation that I was looking to buy a spitfire or mustang, how much would it cost me? Would £1M and £0.5M respectively be about right?
Join Date: Jan 2002
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At risk of being "moderated" <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> I would thoroughly recommend a squint at this URL the book in question is ROLLS ROYCE and the MUSTANG by D Birch, The MERLIN IN PERSPECTIVE is very good too!
<a href="http://www.rolls-royce.com/history/heritage/publications.htm" target="_blank">http://www.rolls-royce.com/history/heritage/publications.htm</a>
Wunper <img src="cool.gif" border="0">
<a href="http://www.rolls-royce.com/history/heritage/publications.htm" target="_blank">http://www.rolls-royce.com/history/heritage/publications.htm</a>
Wunper <img src="cool.gif" border="0">
Not so N, but still FG
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Hi Tiger_Moth, there are, I believe, between 70 and 100 P-51s in flying condition worldwide, although some of them have been chopped about and hotted up for the Reno air races (ruined I would say, but that's a matter of opinion). You probably need to revise your costs estimates upwards for both, although you are in the right ball park. I have always been one for instant gratification (I want it, and I want it now!), but in the case of a Spitfire (Mark IX preferably), I have a twenty year plan. OK, make that ten years (as I'll only be fifty then and not too stiff to climb in and out of the thing). Want to go halves, circa 2012?
I was in Chino a couple of years ago and met a fascinating character called Lee Irwin who was building a "new" P51 every six months. His order book was full for the next 5 years. During my two day visit there was hardly a moment when there wasn't a P51 in the circuit (plus lots of other interesting machines which, for a short time included me in a Stearman but that's another story).
Plaything of fine moderators everywhere
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Just returning to the ‘recreation / re-enactment’ theme.
My son is fascinated by all things military and especially WW11. Last year I took him over to Normandy for a tour of the invasion beaches – a very worthwhile experience and I was much impressed with the friendliness of the locals and the obvious respect they had for the allied forces that liberated them. Looking to do a repeat this year and was surfing the web for ideas at the weekend – discovered by chance that there is a fairly major ‘re-enactment’ of the landings at the American beaches (Omaha & Utah) at the beginning of June. From what I could see of the details on the web, it looked as if there would be a pretty good turnout of Warbirds.
Whatever, it gets us away from all the Golden Jubilee malarky, so I’m booking the ferry!
My son is fascinated by all things military and especially WW11. Last year I took him over to Normandy for a tour of the invasion beaches – a very worthwhile experience and I was much impressed with the friendliness of the locals and the obvious respect they had for the allied forces that liberated them. Looking to do a repeat this year and was surfing the web for ideas at the weekend – discovered by chance that there is a fairly major ‘re-enactment’ of the landings at the American beaches (Omaha & Utah) at the beginning of June. From what I could see of the details on the web, it looked as if there would be a pretty good turnout of Warbirds.
Whatever, it gets us away from all the Golden Jubilee malarky, so I’m booking the ferry!
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FNG, do you really have a plan to buy a spitfire? If so you must be very rich. I have a plan to get one too but it relies on me winning the lottery or finding buried treasure. I agree that a MKIX is best because the later ones with Griffon engines lack the classic spitfire look and the MK1s lack power (and probably availability).. .I have a ten year plan too but at the end of it I will be at the poorest point in my life but I will be a flying instructor: 3 years university, 6 years boring but decently paid job, 1-2 years spending savings on being a flying instructor.. .So, ten years from now I will probably be in debt but if I do have several hundred thousand pounds ( or euros?) kicking about I couldnt think of anything better to spend it on than a share in a spitfire. . .Which raises an interesting question: What would it's annual maintenance costs probably be? And what would it's hourly running costs be and how much fuel would it use per hour (in gallons)?
By the way, on a totally unrelated topic: I hate winter "flying". I havent flown for more than 2 months despite having booked every week and I won't be flying any time soon either because although high pressure is coming along for the weekend I just happened to be unable to book for this weekend!
By the way, on a totally unrelated topic: I hate winter "flying". I havent flown for more than 2 months despite having booked every week and I won't be flying any time soon either because although high pressure is coming along for the weekend I just happened to be unable to book for this weekend!
Join Date: Jul 2000
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Undone... .Can u give me a web address for the Normandy reenactment? Love to attend.
Vfr....... .I was not able to attend the year Levitz went in, but my brother was just on the other side of the fence on the back stretch and saw the accident . Went straight in from about 300 feet at 400+ per hour. You can get amazingly close to the airplanes there and it is free.. . . .On page 350 of one of the best WW II books I have ever read, there is a reference to the historical development of the Merlin. The book is Blood, Tears, and Folly by Len Deighton, available at Barnes and Noble in the states for $13 ! . .Fairey tried out the American Curtis D-12 in a Fairey Fox and was impressed with the increase in speed. RR designed one exactly like it, the Kestrel. RR improved that engine into the Merlin.
Vfr....... .I was not able to attend the year Levitz went in, but my brother was just on the other side of the fence on the back stretch and saw the accident . Went straight in from about 300 feet at 400+ per hour. You can get amazingly close to the airplanes there and it is free.. . . .On page 350 of one of the best WW II books I have ever read, there is a reference to the historical development of the Merlin. The book is Blood, Tears, and Folly by Len Deighton, available at Barnes and Noble in the states for $13 ! . .Fairey tried out the American Curtis D-12 in a Fairey Fox and was impressed with the increase in speed. RR designed one exactly like it, the Kestrel. RR improved that engine into the Merlin.
Not so N, but still FG
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Hey, TM, I did say it was a plan, and aviation is, as we know, full, of plans which go nowhere. This particular plan is more than a pipe dream but less than a certainty. If I was very rich I would be out buying (or flying) a Spitfire now, not planning to be in a position to buy one in ten years time. Anyway best of luck in fulfilling your ambitions, and, if the plan comes off, you can come and have a go in the thing.
PS: join the UAS: wish I'd done that!
PPS: don't worry about winter: my log book has been empty in January for the last three years running, but quite full for the last three Februarys. This one looks to be no exception: managed 50 minutes of hooligan aeros this morning before putting in a cheerful afternoon's work. Particularly bad conditions for DH82s this Jan because of the high winds, but I bet you'll have your PPL before the summer is out.
PS: join the UAS: wish I'd done that!
PPS: don't worry about winter: my log book has been empty in January for the last three years running, but quite full for the last three Februarys. This one looks to be no exception: managed 50 minutes of hooligan aeros this morning before putting in a cheerful afternoon's work. Particularly bad conditions for DH82s this Jan because of the high winds, but I bet you'll have your PPL before the summer is out.
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VFR..... .How did u acquire the engines and props?
What does an griffon engine cost today?
At google.com Rare Bear they state that stock R3350's are now going for $25 to 50 thousand , up from 5 thousand just a few years ago.
[ 12 February 2002: Message edited by: polzin ]</p>
What does an griffon engine cost today?
At google.com Rare Bear they state that stock R3350's are now going for $25 to 50 thousand , up from 5 thousand just a few years ago.
[ 12 February 2002: Message edited by: polzin ]</p>
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Watched the "Battle Stations" feature on the P-51 last night. Superb, Superb! Ooooooo that Byooootiful airplane! <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
Senis Semper Fidelis
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Polzin,
In order of asking,
1/.Secret,. .2/. About £18K now, according to my contact none about for the mo.
Sad thing is, Gary Levitz used the Griffon 58 with the contra props cut down so to allow take off without fouling the tips, but becuase of the short (so called) endurance of the races they only re-balanced the props with a weight scale they didnt match the pair as was done by De-Havilland the original prop manufacture, then they mounted the Griffon directly onto the engine carrier missing out the big squelchy rubberoid shock absorbers, they stated that the egine would not create any vibration problems for the short time in the race for it would over come vibes by being flat out!(they used a injector in place of a Spark plug, to inject Nitro, that boosted the power to a max 4000 hp for the duration of the race, and changed the engine for every race) a good friend of mine who was there told me that the P51 Hybrid broke up from the area just in front of the grafted lear wings, so quite possibly the unbalanced props+ the directly mounted Griffon+ possible wing flutter tore the a/c to pieces, very sad, because it was one of my engines fitted at the time, or so I was informed.. .Levitz Rogers would supply anyone with a P51 of any design or engine config, for a basic $1m Plus extra's.. .They took 16 engines and 20 sets of props, plus Csu's and translation units, plus about 60 Mags and coil sets, along with two Merlins and various Spit parts in two 40ft containers. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
In order of asking,
1/.Secret,. .2/. About £18K now, according to my contact none about for the mo.
Sad thing is, Gary Levitz used the Griffon 58 with the contra props cut down so to allow take off without fouling the tips, but becuase of the short (so called) endurance of the races they only re-balanced the props with a weight scale they didnt match the pair as was done by De-Havilland the original prop manufacture, then they mounted the Griffon directly onto the engine carrier missing out the big squelchy rubberoid shock absorbers, they stated that the egine would not create any vibration problems for the short time in the race for it would over come vibes by being flat out!(they used a injector in place of a Spark plug, to inject Nitro, that boosted the power to a max 4000 hp for the duration of the race, and changed the engine for every race) a good friend of mine who was there told me that the P51 Hybrid broke up from the area just in front of the grafted lear wings, so quite possibly the unbalanced props+ the directly mounted Griffon+ possible wing flutter tore the a/c to pieces, very sad, because it was one of my engines fitted at the time, or so I was informed.. .Levitz Rogers would supply anyone with a P51 of any design or engine config, for a basic $1m Plus extra's.. .They took 16 engines and 20 sets of props, plus Csu's and translation units, plus about 60 Mags and coil sets, along with two Merlins and various Spit parts in two 40ft containers. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
Join Date: Apr 2001
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I can't join the UAS. I made enquiries and it seems they don't want my kind, because of eyesight, if I could then I probably wouldn't go to university at all and I'd just try to join the RAF after A levels.. .I definetely won't have my PPL by the end of the summer because I don't have enough money for that but I should have had a great summers flying with some aerobatics and solo flights. Also, I applied for that Caernarfon full PPL cadetship so there's a very small chance I could get my PPL that way. I don't mind about getting a PPL that much as long as I spend all my money on loads of flying and have a good 3 month long summer holiday.
That mustang programme was very good. I liked the bits where it showed you the mustang flying around from inside. Does anyone know what next weeks is about?
That mustang programme was very good. I liked the bits where it showed you the mustang flying around from inside. Does anyone know what next weeks is about?