Spitfire Mark Vb

[big_les]

Some pics of a beautiful MkV Spitfire stored and flown here at Duxford. It's not a museum aircraft (we don't fly our planes) but many on-site owners and companies are based here, where they can fly their aircraft and display them alongside the static exhibits.

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/jferguson/aad.jpg

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/jferguson/aaa.jpg

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/jferguson/aab.jpg

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/jferguson/aac.jpg

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/jferguson/aae.jpg

[big_les]

I should add that I'm getting a digicam myself and so hopefully will be able to provide (on my lunch hour!) some more warbird pics. In fact, I could probably take requests....

[Bayonet]

Nice pics ...Big_les
:D

I like old planes very much..

[Graeme]

Dunno whether you're interested or not, but one of the only(or the only?) Two seater training spitfire's reamining today, used to be kept less than a mile from where I live, used to fly quite often. What a noise that engine made :D

[big_les]

I'm guessing that's ML407 you're talking about, owned and flown (now) by Carolyn Grace. I'm not sure where it was you used to see it, but if its that plane (there aren't many two seaters) its now here, about 700yds away from me. It flies regularly, and though it was converted to two-seat config by the Irish Air Corps, it was originally an RAF MkIX Spit that shot down the first enemy aircraft of the D-Day operation! Hence its currently flown in invasion stripes:

http://www.ml407.co.uk/pages/gallery.html

[big_les]

I won't link it directly, but one of those pics is amazing; sixteen airworthy Spitfires of various marks flying in formation. Takes a lot to make me feel all patriotic, but flybys like that do it every time :)

http://www.ml407.co.uk/Graphics/16spits2.JPG

[Graeme]

It quite possibly is the same two seater, it used to be kept at Strathallen Airfield/museum(not longer a museum.)

[big_les]

Done a bit of digging, turns out it was on the site I posted:

http://www.ml407.co.uk/pages/main.html


In December of 1944, ML407 was transferred to 341 Free French Squadron, becoming the aircraft of Sergeant Jean Dabos. It then moved on through 308 (Polish ) Squadron, 349 (Belgian) Squadron, 345 (Free French) Squadron, 332 (Norwegian) Squadron, and back to 485 (New Zealand) Squadron, before being remodelled as a 2-seat trainer for the Irish Air Corps where she flew until 1960. She was used for the film 'Battle of Britain' and was then sold to the Strathallan Museum from where she was acquired by engineer Nick Grace in 1979.

Cool eh? I'm guessing it was the Spit used in that Jim'll Fix It episode where the kid got to fly in a two-seater.[/quote]

[Alphabet76]

http://img33.exs.cx/img33/3582/pol.jpg
woot

[LeMat]

Letters JH means that this was an aircraft of 317 Polish Fighter Squadron.

[He219]

Somewhat related, but I love this Video (http://alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/ohmygodSpitfire%20pass.wmv) ..

:D

[Alphabet76]

Somewhat related, but I love this Video (http://alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/ohmygodSpitfire%20pass.wmv) ..

:D
It would scared the crap out of me :D
Awesome rofl

[Graeme]

Done a bit of digging, turns out it was on the site I posted:

http://www.ml407.co.uk/pages/main.html


In December of 1944, ML407 was transferred to 341 Free French Squadron, becoming the aircraft of Sergeant Jean Dabos. It then moved on through 308 (Polish ) Squadron, 349 (Belgian) Squadron, 345 (Free French) Squadron, 332 (Norwegian) Squadron, and back to 485 (New Zealand) Squadron, before being remodelled as a 2-seat trainer for the Irish Air Corps where she flew until 1960. She was used for the film 'Battle of Britain' and was then sold to the Strathallan Museum from where she was acquired by engineer Nick Grace in 1979.

Cool eh? I'm guessing it was the Spit used in that Jim'll Fix It episode where the kid got to fly in a two-seater.

Thought it'd be the same plane...small world eh?

[big_les]

Yep, BM597 is painted to represent a Polish squadron. Poles, Czechs, Canadians, Americans (before 1941) and more nationalities all flew RAF aircraft with great skill and bravery.

I absolutely love the Spitfire. Only the Mustang comes close for aesthetics in my book, and its a lot harsher on the eye. That elliptical wing....wow. Having said that the Hawker aircraft (Hurricane, Typhoon, Tempest) were phenomally tough aeroplanes.

I've seen that video before, but thanks for reminding me; typical bloody warbird pilot hot-dogging for the camera,. That's how they get themselves killed and destroy unique aircraft in the process :( But you can see why they do it.

[Herrmannek]

http://img33.exs.cx/img33/3582/pol.jpg
woot
woot woot