Large Scale Central

Battle of Britain Flypast

In preparation for this Sunday’s Battle of Britain Memorial our two Spitfires the Mk16 and Mk9 did a practice flight with the Hurricane IV at Vintage Wings. The first time the two Spits have flown together. Great article of it here. my friend Peter Handley took the photos. http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/Stories/tabid/116/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/598/At-the-Going-Down-of-the-sun.aspx

Awesome.

A remarkable set of photos Steve, greatly appreciated.

I did not join the RAF until 1955, ten years almost after the European part of the war, but there were still very many vets in the RAF at that time from many countries besides the UK. Many were from what had become USSR satellite countries and could not’/did not want to return home. The medals they proudly wore spoke of their endeavours. Remembrance, of course, has to be made for all those, wherever they hailed from, that did not make it home.

And for any who do not ‘associate’ or acknowledge the history, IMHO to acquire some further sort of knowledge base (even if from a theatrical version) they should try to access, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064072/ “Battle of Britain” the movie, for viewing in the near future !

Tip of the cap, to the peoples who fought back, and fight the ***** !

{edit out political party ref.}

Doug C

p.s. and the movie Trivia pg includes some interesting items;

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064072/trivia?ref_=tt_trv_trv

Battle of Britain is my favourite movie have two copies that I keep on the go between the house and cottage. The opening scene’s where the 109’s attack are awesome, Ray Hanna is piloting the lead aircraft, if you watch carefully he has to lift it slightly as he goes over the fence he’s that low. Was also the pilot in that great low level pass of a Spit over a TV announcer.

A battle of Britain vet Alan Griffin used to visit us often he was shot down three times during the battle, managed to parachute out each time. Described how he would undo his seatbelt and invert his Hurricane and drop right out. By the third time he said it was a “piece of cake”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iOoiEbtf2w

I always thought the Spit was a very beautiful aircraft. Almost like a flying sculpture. Its nice to see that there are still so many of them still flying.

Someone mention Spitfires?

https://youtu.be/hzumXyf2ueA

Just in case anyone has missed this 2008 short film ‘The German’. Some nice aerial combat scenes.

Wow, thanks Steve.

I believe the Spitfire used the Merlin.

A lot going on inside this demon. Just AMAZING stuff !!

I love the film “Battle of Britain”. I show a few dog fight clips in my history class when we discuss the Battle of Britain. Many kids have no idea what an aerial combat dog fight looks like. I just like the sounds of the Merlin engine. The recent film “Dunkirk” has some good dog fighting scenes as well using the Spitfire.

David Maynard said:

I always thought the Spit was a very beautiful aircraft. Almost like a flying sculpture. Its nice to see that there are still so many of them still flying.


The Spitfire was a beautiful design. It was however the fuselage was nightmare to repair if badly shot up - if you look at it from all angles there is never a really straight surface on it and consequently it was said it took ages to repair as the part required needed reproducing at one of the factories. One estimate of repairing a badly damaged machine was said to be three weeks!!

The Hurricane on the other hand , had a fuselage canvas covered except around the engine and could be repaired in 15 minutes (canvas patch stick over and a quick paint… and sent on its way rearmed and refuelled…

By the way…those barrel rolls they did to celebrate a “kill” were pretty dangerous… as the Merlin could seize up as the engine oil dropped away from the moving parts. It was prohibited to do such a roll…but pilots will be pilots especially as their average age in the B of B was 20!

Most of the historic aircraft that make up the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) have been grounded due to an engine issue.

A Lancaster bomber, two Hurricanes and three Spitfires are all affected by the problem.

The BBMF has three other Spitfires with different engines which are currently unavailable for other reasons.

The RAF said it had “taken the decision to temporarily pause flying of our aircraft powered by Merlin engines”.

If a roll is properly executed, it is a 1G maneuver. Meaning if its done right, the aircraft doesn’t even know its upside down. The original dash 80 (707) was barrel rolled over a regatta crowd, twice.

David Maynard said:

If a roll is properly executed, it is a 1G maneuver. Meaning if its done right, the aircraft doesn’t even know its upside down. The original dash 80 (707) was barrel rolled over a regatta crowd, twice.


So was a Vulcan bomber at the Farnborough Air Show one year , just after take off! (same type engines that powered Concord)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-BXhmGsRVA

David Maynard said:

If a roll is properly executed, it is a 1G maneuver. Meaning if its done right, the aircraft doesn’t even know its upside down. The original dash 80 (707) was barrel rolled over a regatta crowd, twice.

Bit of a difference between a jet engine and petrol! The Merline engine did not like oil stavation at all…

David Maynard said:

If a roll is properly executed, it is a 1G maneuver. Meaning if its done right, the aircraft doesn’t even know its upside down. The original dash 80 (707) was barrel rolled over a regatta crowd, twice.

Rex Johnson of. Boeing, head test pilot rolled over the Seattle SeaFair event. Got chewed out by the Boss on Monday, and his response was “I’m selling airplanes”… Classic Seafair story here in Seattle.

Off post quite a bit!!! But…as a retired Air Traffic bod…(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)

Some years ago at London Gatwick several aircraft have started up but, for whatever reason, there is a delay in issuing any taxy clearances.

Eventually a Lufthansa is given taxy, clearance… - -

Before the pilot can acknowledge, a very clipped British accent is heard proclaiming that Bristish Airways 450 had started first and was demanding to know why they had not been given clearance first.

This time , before the Controller can reply, the Luftie Capt. says " because ve ver up very early zis morning und put our beach towels on zer runway first!"

(This is a racing thing at Spanish holiday resorts to claim the swimming poolside chairs between Germans and others early morning before breakfast!!!)(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)

“Never was so much, owed by so many, to so few,”…Winston Churchill

Good on ya Steve for keeping those memories alive. Here is how it plays out in New Mexico with my grandson:

Me: (laying a wreath at the WW II memorial) “Its called the greatest generation Alan, stop playing with your smart phone”

Alan: (messing with phone) “I’m not playing Poppa Boomer, I am trying to find their Facebook page so I can “Like” them”.

Ross Mansell said:

By the way…those barrel rolls they did to celebrate a “kill” were pretty dangerous… as the Merlin could seize up as the engine oil dropped away from the moving parts. It was prohibited to do such a roll…but pilots will be pilots especially as their average age in the B of B was 20!

I thought it was negative G and not positive G which caused the fuel starvation issue and went looking for references to check my occasionally iffy memory.
The Merlin was fitted with an injection-type carburetor and a two-stage supercharger. The carburetor however, was at a disadvantage in maintaining positive fuel flow during negative G maneuvers

http://www.aviation-history.com/engines/merlin.htm

However, the downside of the system meant that any negative G force manoeuvres would force fuel to the top of the carburettor’s float chamber, rather than into the engine. This led to a loss of power and, if sustained, would shut down the engine completely.

http://www.stokemuseums.org.uk/blog/charismatic-carburettors/

Edit - Wait a minute, you are talking oil and oil and fuel are not the same thing. Okay, so I’m a bit brain foggy today! (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

Honestly, I am. our model RR club monthly meeting began an hour and 15 ago but I’m still at home since driving may not be a thing for me today.

Hi Boomer,

My wife and I must be some of the last people on the planet that do not have a smart phone nor do we do Facebook. I did try F/bk but found it irritating.