Doco/Reality Show about Spitfire - ABC Sept 1st
Silly Old Git
Yeh Woomi buggered if I know why more of these kids dont wanna have a go at it?
er...another thing occurred to me maybe old croppies can step into these old birds without being scared of the "Formula one" hoo hah
Har har the thought of a Fletcher to a Mustang.
er...another thing occurred to me maybe old croppies can step into these old birds without being scared of the "Formula one" hoo hah
Har har the thought of a Fletcher to a Mustang.
Last edited by tinpis; 30th Aug 2005 at 03:01.
Yeah its tough ennit??
And there is one "Dungy" teaching his LAME's to fly... right through... in warbirds!
Chippy for Ab Initio, Bird Dog for Nav.
And he needs someone to lend a hand on the nav....
And there is one "Dungy" teaching his LAME's to fly... right through... in warbirds!
Chippy for Ab Initio, Bird Dog for Nav.
And he needs someone to lend a hand on the nav....
Silly Old Git
Well theres a challenge ....teaching a LAME Nav!...much harder than getting a bunch of hooray Henrys up to speed in nine hours on a Spit !
You could charge to watch that..
You could charge to watch that..
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: ni
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Meeb: Have you seen the June 2005 issue of Aeroplane ?
It has a recent quote by Alex Henshaw "...and all those hundreds of young boys who flew it; they hadn't any experience at all, and the Spitfire is so easy to fly."
Edited to ask, do you know who Alex Henshaw is ?
It has a recent quote by Alex Henshaw "...and all those hundreds of young boys who flew it; they hadn't any experience at all, and the Spitfire is so easy to fly."
Edited to ask, do you know who Alex Henshaw is ?
Last edited by gsf; 31st Aug 2005 at 07:43.
Silly Old Git
Have a look at this blokes logbook.
Not a lot of hours here!
And some nice old Spitfire guff.
Hmmm...P/O N.M.G de Hemptinne wonder if we were related?
http://home.scarlet.be/~braf/350Sqn/stories/131sqn.htm
Not a lot of hours here!
And some nice old Spitfire guff.
Hmmm...P/O N.M.G de Hemptinne wonder if we were related?
http://home.scarlet.be/~braf/350Sqn/stories/131sqn.htm
Last edited by tinpis; 31st Aug 2005 at 06:33.
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Looking forward to returning to Japan soon but in the meantime continuing the never ending search for a bad bottle of Red!
Age: 69
Posts: 2,976
Received 102 Likes
on
59 Posts
Back somewhere around 1987 I was glider towing, flying a 235HP Pawnee (an ex Kiwi Cropduster actually) and a gentleman showed up for a weeks course.
Turned out he was newly retired from the RAAF and had flown them all. 'A few hours in a Hurricane' then Spitfires, Meteors,Vampires and Sabres with a few rides in Mirages and was lucky enough to score one ride in an F111, was his comment.
I asked him just what was the Spitfire like to fly, how difficult and what experience was required. He pointed at the Pawnee and asked,
"How many hours you got on that?"
At the time I had just over 500 hrs on type and said so. His comment was as follows
"I'd sit you in the cockpit of a Spit, run you through the checklists 'til you could do them with your eyes shut. Then get you to start it up and off you'd go. And you'd have no problems!"
And to paraphrase a previous poster, I'd give my left one to fly a Spit!! Once said that to my late Father too, who was a Sunderland Pilot in WW11.
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
Turned out he was newly retired from the RAAF and had flown them all. 'A few hours in a Hurricane' then Spitfires, Meteors,Vampires and Sabres with a few rides in Mirages and was lucky enough to score one ride in an F111, was his comment.
I asked him just what was the Spitfire like to fly, how difficult and what experience was required. He pointed at the Pawnee and asked,
"How many hours you got on that?"
At the time I had just over 500 hrs on type and said so. His comment was as follows
"I'd sit you in the cockpit of a Spit, run you through the checklists 'til you could do them with your eyes shut. Then get you to start it up and off you'd go. And you'd have no problems!"
And to paraphrase a previous poster, I'd give my left one to fly a Spit!! Once said that to my late Father too, who was a Sunderland Pilot in WW11.
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
Don Quixote Impersonator
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Australia
Age: 77
Posts: 3,403
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
tinpis I keep dragging his wonderful book "Sigh for a Merlin" out and wandering through the pages.
The sheer number of hours he flew per year test flying them is only overshadowed by the number of flights, I haven't got the book to hand but something like 2,000 hrs pa and 5,000 odd flights comes to mind for many years
Meeb I can only assume your remark was in the mode of dry wit.
I doubt there is anyone in the world who has as many hours certainly not more landings, than this particular gentleman.
Go google.
The sheer number of hours he flew per year test flying them is only overshadowed by the number of flights, I haven't got the book to hand but something like 2,000 hrs pa and 5,000 odd flights comes to mind for many years
Meeb I can only assume your remark was in the mode of dry wit.
I doubt there is anyone in the world who has as many hours certainly not more landings, than this particular gentleman.Go google.
Sorry late on the debate on Luftwaffe & Allied victories.
The USAF did a study in the '50's as to why German pilots had such high kill counts- Rall, Hartmann etc over 300!
Most of which has been mentioned here but an important deduction was that in terms of kills per sortie, if Allied pilots had been exposed to a continuos aerial battle ( as German pilots were over Europe 39-45 ) there was mathematical liklihood of multiple Aliied pilots with 300 plus kills aswell.
Was there mention in the documentary of the dud Spitfires Churchill sent Australia in it's our of need?
The USAF did a study in the '50's as to why German pilots had such high kill counts- Rall, Hartmann etc over 300!
Most of which has been mentioned here but an important deduction was that in terms of kills per sortie, if Allied pilots had been exposed to a continuos aerial battle ( as German pilots were over Europe 39-45 ) there was mathematical liklihood of multiple Aliied pilots with 300 plus kills aswell.
Was there mention in the documentary of the dud Spitfires Churchill sent Australia in it's our of need?
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Singapore
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gnadenburg. Appreciate the sentiment, but at least OZ got some "dud" spitfires.
When your Kiwi neighbours asked the UK for fighters they were told NO because "Britain comes first".
Given the thousands of Kiwis in the UK or North Africa helping dig the UK out of its own sh*t for the 2nd time in 30 years, and that the day WW2 started the NZ govt donated new squadrons of Wellingtons and their crews to the RAF (75 SQDN), it must be one of the most ungrateful acts in military history.
NZ turned to the USA, who supplied 424 F4U's and 297 P40's + transports, bombers, PBY's etc. When I hear people complaining about loyalty to the US, I remember that.
The so called "mother country" shat on NZ while NZ was defenceless and busy fighting their war for them - again, not to mention feeding and clothing them etc.
As I understand it the only airworthy Spitfire supplied to NZ was Kiwi AVM Sir Keith Park's (now in the Auckland Museum). And that was after the war!
When your Kiwi neighbours asked the UK for fighters they were told NO because "Britain comes first".
Given the thousands of Kiwis in the UK or North Africa helping dig the UK out of its own sh*t for the 2nd time in 30 years, and that the day WW2 started the NZ govt donated new squadrons of Wellingtons and their crews to the RAF (75 SQDN), it must be one of the most ungrateful acts in military history.
NZ turned to the USA, who supplied 424 F4U's and 297 P40's + transports, bombers, PBY's etc. When I hear people complaining about loyalty to the US, I remember that.
The so called "mother country" shat on NZ while NZ was defenceless and busy fighting their war for them - again, not to mention feeding and clothing them etc.
As I understand it the only airworthy Spitfire supplied to NZ was Kiwi AVM Sir Keith Park's (now in the Auckland Museum). And that was after the war!
Silly Old Git
LF Mk.XIVe, TE456 (c/n CBAF-IX-4590 or CBAF-23682) is on static display at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Taken on charge by the RAF on August 8 1945, the aircraft initially went into storage at 6 MU at Brize Norton. It was issued to 501 RAuxAF Squadron at Filton in March 1946 (coded RAB-J), and then to 612 RAuxAF Squadron at Dyce in May 1949 (coded 8W-?). The aircraft was stored from July 1951 until August 1953, after which it served with 3 CAACU. During this time it also appeared in "Reach for the Sky". On July 5 1956 the aircraft went to 47 MU, and was grounded on July 20. In 1956 after representations by Sir Keith Park, the aircraft was presented by the Air Ministry in recognition of New Zealand service during World War II. It was struck off charge on August 30 and prepared for shipping, being despatched on September 30. The aircraft was then put on display in the Auckland War Memorial Museum wearing the post 1951 silver scheme and the code 43 from its time with 3 CAACU. In 1997 the aircraft was refurbished (along with the Museum's Mitsubishi A6M3) in readiness for moving to new display areas. Interestingly, the work on the aircraft was carried out in a public gallery. Having been displayed in natural metal, the restoration team found evidence of camouflage having been present from its time with 501 Squadron. The aircraft is now presented in the colours of 501 'County of Gloucester' Squadron marked RAB-J.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Singapore
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Marvellous detail Tinpis - thank you.
I have seen the Spit in question many times over the last 40 years or so. In Silver, and a few months back in its "new" camoflage. Used to be a well used drip tray under the donk and once saw 2 attendants pulling the prop through, I imagine its all but airworthy.
Nice to see that there is a small display of Kiwi RAF pilots adjacent - 485 SQDN, etc.
Sad to say all the ex RAF Kiwi spit pilots I knew have now passed on. All sharp as a tack to the last!
I have seen the Spit in question many times over the last 40 years or so. In Silver, and a few months back in its "new" camoflage. Used to be a well used drip tray under the donk and once saw 2 attendants pulling the prop through, I imagine its all but airworthy.
Nice to see that there is a small display of Kiwi RAF pilots adjacent - 485 SQDN, etc.
Sad to say all the ex RAF Kiwi spit pilots I knew have now passed on. All sharp as a tack to the last!
Registered User **
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Sydney
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ah good old BOB (sans cravat, cigar and monocle) as the instructor chekin' out the students in ACDC, flown her myself a few times, although I'm at wits end to understand how the RAF student described her as responsive ?????????? - Good job they sit behind BOB then 
Wonder wher SKP was, and a noticeable absence was Gerry with his can of WD40 spraying the leads.............before start.
Spit looked nice, but Carolyn ain't letting them touch naught near the ground, spit classic bounce is really a tail first is it not ?
Good to see the mancunian PPL make it through.
Wonder wher SKP was, and a noticeable absence was Gerry with his can of WD40 spraying the leads.............before start.
Spit looked nice, but Carolyn ain't letting them touch naught near the ground, spit classic bounce is really a tail first is it not ?
Good to see the mancunian PPL make it through.
Nice aerial footage. Gives me the impression of no more reality than a joy-flight. Still, would give over both the jewels for a ride.
Now if I am realy nice to my lovely wife, I could convince her that $1300 is money well spent for a flight in BOB.
Now if I am realy nice to my lovely wife, I could convince her that $1300 is money well spent for a flight in BOB.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Wide Brown Land
Age: 39
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
WOW!!! Some great air to air footage on that...
Would be awesome to have the opportunity to do that!!! Just to have 'Spitfire' in the logbook...
Looks like great fun... Top stuff.
Would be awesome to have the opportunity to do that!!! Just to have 'Spitfire' in the logbook...
Looks like great fun... Top stuff.
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: ɐıןɐɹʇsn∀
Posts: 1,994
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
