Not often I can combine my first love, the Spitfire, with trains.
Hi Steve,
You made me look with the title. I wasn’t sure what “Sptifires” you were speaking of. Thought it might have been the “Triumph Spitfires” of my youth.
Interesting Steam shot.
double, ha
That guy looked like he was havin fun…
It reminds me of a friend that was a crop duster’s quote, " there are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots. looks cool its what I think the most beautiful airplane made, those wings !!! but that is just a little too close to the ground, the fences and the moving train, obviously no harm no foul, but wow !! Ok rant over
I believe it was staged for a movie scene.
but the low flying was there and thats what my concern is, a gust of wind with a airplane that low is a disaster. Obviously it didnt happen but I would hate to have seen that plane destroyed for a movie scene that didnt make a lot of sense, it said attack and there is no way for him to get his guns on the train from that pass, but I didnt see the context of what was actualling happening , could have been just buzzing the train.
Interesting coincidence - I visited a friends large indoor layout recently and what do I see on the backdrop? A spitfire coming round for another “buzz”.
Ric Golding said:
Hi Steve,
You made me look with the title. I wasn’t sure what “Sptifires” you were speaking of. Thought it might have been the “Triumph Spitfires” of my youth.
Interesting Steam shot.
Hi Rick
My first new car was a Triumph Spitfire as well, first time the temperature dropped to -30 no start. Checked the battery frozen solid! Lucas prince of darkness had struck. New bigger battery problem solved. Spent a week this summer travelling to Airventure with our Spitfire, great adventure. Seen a lot of low flying in my time also said goodby to a few pilots before their time.
Well I will give that it is a warbird, but neither a British ship nor a Spitfire but a neat idea for the often overlooked background. (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
Pete Thornton said:
Interesting coincidence - I visited a friends large indoor layout recently and what do I see on the backdrop? A spitfire coming round for another “buzz”.
That’s no Spitfire its a Vought F4U-4 Corsair we have a FG-1D version in our collection as well one real brute of a machine.
Pete Lassen said:
It reminds me of a friend that was a crop duster’s quote, " there are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots. looks cool its what I think the most beautiful airplane made, those wings !!! but that is just a little too close to the ground, the fences and the moving train, obviously no harm no foul, but wow !! Ok rant over
Talking abut crop dusters, out here in our little county seat farm burg, one time when I went by airport to see what might be happening a couple years ago the local crop duster had landed to refuel/refill and it was funny to note that in the cockpit he had a during in one of those 64 ounce ‘Big Gulp’ cups and it was in a cup holder hanging on cockpit side - with no lid on the cup!
He took a drink and took off with cup in same lidless condition.
I guess that if you are only pulling positive Gs it’s no big deal.
I think that the camera angle helped to convey the impression that the Spitfire was really low. Film type stunt pilots know how to make it look more dangerous then it is.
My favorite WWII fighter is the F4U Corsair. The plane Pappy Boynton flew. “Whistling Death” as the Japanese called it.
Interesting story that links the Spitfire and Corsair, at Vintage Wings we have owned two Corsairs a F4U and FG-1D.
The FG-1D Corsair - what a beautiful airplane that is! Do you belong to the Vintage Wings club, Steve?
Mike I’m at Vintage Wings of Canada we have a collection of aircraft owned by Michael Potter which are all flown on a regular basis. Also do aircraft restoration, our main current project is a Hawker Hurricane. Our website is here: http://www.vintagewings.ca/Home/tabid/40/language/en-CA/Default.aspx