Turbo2

Any of you watch the Charlie Boreman, sorry Boorman, thing in Australia on BBC2 last night? I had seen the previews which involved a Spitfire. Turns out it was a replica: I was pleased about this because I was up in Scotland for the Aberdeen Oil show earlier than this month and saw this "Spitfire" take-off just as I was climbing the steps to board my Easyjet flight home. Funny thing was it looked like a Spitfire but sounded nothing like the glorious supercharged V12 Merlin engine that we are so used to. Anyway, a bit of googling has turned up this photo and it confirms that what I saw was a scaled-down Aussie replica like the one on telly last night. Doesn't look that convincing to me close up: a bit like a Ferrari kit-car!

Spitfire in Aberdeen on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

P1Fanatic

I watched it and when I heard him talk about flying a spitfire I immediately said to the mrs ah wait til you hear the sound of one of those - spine tingling. Then turns out to be a 90% scale replica with a 400hp engine (compared to the 2000hp merlin). Gutted. Still at £250k for one of those you are talking serious wonga to get one with a 100% accurate replica.

Didnt a real one sell on Ebay for £2m?

Simon

Leslie

There used to be a smaller scale one that used to be seen flying around Rutland and Lincs. It also did not have the Merlin sound.

Never did find out who owned it.

Les

The Zohan

<Pedant mode on>Merlins never, ever got to 2000hp, you are in griffon territory for the bigger HP figures - 950-1700hp was about it for the merlin during its development <Pedant mode off>

it is stil the best sounding petrol engine of all times in some of the best aircraft ever and one of the reasons we do not wear leaderhosen and say Yes instead of Ja - or at least until the EU demands that we do

Oh and on the suject of ze germanz - have a look at http://www.flugwerk.de the FW109 is such a beautiful and purposeful aircraft
and this beauty http://www.zap16.com/mil%20fact/Me-262%20Schwalbe.htm - just superb!

albob

ive posted this before, but it makes me chuckle everytime i see it

YouTube - Spitfire Scares the **** Out of Guy

enjoy !!

Steve vRS

The Spitfire was and remains a beautiful, romantic aircraft but the Hurricane was the most numerous plane during the Battle of Britain and I think shot down more Henkels and Junkers than the Spitfire.

Bubba po

I'm afraid that Spit looks absolutely shite.

CrisPDuk

I remember reading about a guy building a reduced scale replica in the Lincs area Les, about 15 years ago if memory serves

It was built from wood & canvas rather than aluminium & had a Jag V12, never heard any more of it though.


By the way Paul you've got your digits mixed up on the Focke Wulf

This;



is a 109

jonny_693

iTrader: (5)

It was actually Charlie Boringman who mentioned 2000hp.

Leslie

That one in Lincs was probably the one then. The timing is right too.

Les

Ray_li

i remember hearing there's only something like 14 spitfires still flying today

CrisPDuk

Nah, there are well over 40 still airworthy Ray

The number increases every year too, there are several active restoration companies worldwide

Ray_li

thats good stuff

Daz34

Agreed

A Spitfire is without doubt a beautiful and iconic fighter but by far the best airframe to be paired with a supercharged Merlin engine was the P51D Mustang.
It was every bit as fast and deadly as it's graceful lines suggested.
IMHO never has a more stunning and purposeful aircraft taken to the skies.