Great programme, and Guy Martin's enthusiasm is superb. Same question from me though as tyke's, how much of the 'restored' aircraft came from the original?

S-D

My eyes seemed to be bothering me at Chateau Cooch tonight for some reason watching that.

I too was left wondering about the Buchon and whether there had ever been any direct in-flight comparisons made of the airframes with similarly rated Merlins? I don't suppose they ever faced each other for real?


And I agree that however few original parts were re-used, it would have been nice to know which! Wonderful nonetheless!

Brilliant documentary.

Shame about the unnecessary 0.5" calibre stuff. If my sources are correct, that calibre was never fitted in a Mk 1 Spitfire.

That's nitpicking however, he's a talented engineer and had a wonderful attitude - is he today's Fred Dibnah?

Here is the 1 sqn one

RAF Leuchars Air Day 2012

Yes, but, in fairness they never said it was, and mentioned that it was fitted to later versions, which it was, as the E Wing fit MkXVI's used by the RAF in the last year of the war had the inner 20mm Hispano replaced by a fifty (and no outer .303's)

Also, live a/c fit Browning .303's are a tad thin on the ground, hence having to make do with the fifty for the demo.

'Todays Fred Dibnah'.
Good comparison I'm sure he'd be happy with!


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Mrs TTN has never seen him before and asked who he was and what he did. I told her he was like a new Fred Dibnah, so it seems a lot of us had the same idea. Enthusiasm is so infectious.

Re how much of the original was used- did I hear it correct that a lot of the original Merlin had been used (the block, etc?) after an extensive rebuild?

Eee lads, this bloke has got it all. And how nice to see such enthusiasm put in to a programme on aircraft engineering, that drew me into the service many years ago. I had a blooming flashback when they went to the "building the wings" bit. Nice rows of gripper pins awaiting the rivetting. Blue, Yellow and Red, from memory Blue 5/32, Yellow 1/8 and red 3/32 (all fractions of an inch). Yep, I'm sure many enjoyed this programme, and the hairy fellah was top notch. Thanks for the heads up on this guys, it was a treat.

Smudge:ok:

PS, no Mickey take on the "eee lads", I talk like that too.

A wonderful programme I enjoyed every minute, I have it recorded so thanks to sky I can watch it again. Even though the commentary was a bit weak in places it was thoroughly enjoyable. I must say it brought an onion in the room watching it take off. Strange to see Caroline's Spit without her in it though.

Danny 42C:-
Recalls a quote from Bob Doe, who said that having trained on the Spitfire and before going into action in the BoB, he was authorised to fly over the North Sea and fire his guns at it. "I managed to hit it!", he recalled proudly.
He managed subsequently to hit a few other things as well. Wikki credits him with 14 and 2 shared, but his daughter (a Virgin Express F/O with whom I shared a F/D from time to time) reckoned it was 17. Either way he was then the highest scoring surviving BoB pilot...
RIP Sir, duty done.
Bob Doe - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wasn't the Grace Spitfire. Guy flew in PV202 which is based at Duxford. The Grace Spitfire is ML407 and is based at Bentwaters. Plus Grace Spitfire has a different rear cockpit position (it's a lot lower than PV202). There are at least four Tr 9 twin stick Spits in the UK.

I understand that because of C of G considerations the weight limitation for the rear seat occupant is around 170lbs.

That means I have far too many pounds to be able to fly in one, and far too few of the other sort to pay for the flight! Ah well, they'd need a bloody big shoe horn to get me in any case :(

Think we said ages ago on here that he was the new Fred Dibnah..........

As Guy in his book plainly sets out he is not Bike racer (though he excels at it), not a TV presenter (again he is good because he doesn't understand how to BS) he is just a truck mechanic - on Skania and Volvo trucks which he eluded to a couple of time.

I laughed when time and again you see him with a mug of tea in his hand, pretty much that is what he is known for among friends of always having a big mug of tea in his hand.

It is his infectious passion that people like.

Great programme! I liked the bit during the flight where he says to Cliff Spink: "I think you've done this before"
Great to showcase the true British craftsmanship of ARCo too! :ok:

A great documentary, but I doubt I was the only one struggling to comprehend Guys accent at times?

The twin seat Spitfire is ARCO's own, it is also one of the ones I believe being used by the Boultbee academy in which you can now have flights without being a pilot.

The rear cockpit (Raised) canopy was the standard military trainer fit, Caroline's Graces late husband Nick wanted a lower sleeker design, so it is based on two forward canopies. :)

And if you do wish to partake in a flight in one, see

http://www.boultbeeflightacademy.co....-flights/c1exu

:)

TT
 

Here's a clip showing GM doing his other 'hobby' -

No idea how people can process at thet speed with no margin at all for error.

GUY MARTIN 275Kmh Speed Wobble ?HD? - Isle of Man TT - SURREAL ? - YouTube

I am surprised that you dont know him, Nutnurse. He is the brother-in-law of that well known RN operator Roger Wait Out, much beloved by the maritime community.

And cousin to that naval chappie with perspiration problems, Feet Wet

Stupid question from Dragartist:


Why no yak s#!t?


When they were making wings at Castle Brom did they have jigs or form blocks to check the profile of the skins prior to riveting them. I can't imagine them having them on and off five times for adjustment.
Did they also have squeeze riveting tools in those days?


Cheers