Guy Martin's Spitfire

Bernie174 said:
I heard from a number of sources, mostly drunken RAFP old WO's and FS's, that they went a tad faster than that in a dive. A member of the one winged not quite master race also told me the same thing. As a Nav has never said anything praiseworthy of a driver in the history of the RAF, I suspect it may have had some truth.

The 2 seat spitfires that run around are all ex IAC. I think they are an abomination!

Typhoon (original version) and Tempest? Tat! The original MRCA, the Mosquito rules!
Click to expand...

Mossie was the balsa wood wonder, bomber, fighter, night fighter, anti shipping .....

Tempest with the strengthened wing tips for "tipping" V1s and the Typhoon ripping up trains, bridges etc.... All had a variety of jobs to do. (a root round showed that Hawker had a Tornado lined up.....)

Overall the Hurricane was a workhorse but the Spitfire was just a beauty with a kick.

MRCA!!! close to my heart from 74-78 as I was involved in the development of the /ADV (later Tornado F2/F3).
 
Hazza said:
Nah, love the current scheme :)

I think I'd buy a P-47, B-25 and a (P-38) Lightning before that hair dryer anyway :p
Click to expand...

P47 and P38 with you there but, for me, my ideal toy .... F82 Twin Mustang.
 
Going off at a tangent, I was pressed to look for information on Howard Hughes P38 lookalike and came across this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_B-50_Superfortress#Variants

We know the B29 Superfort, but this beast was quicker than a Spitfire.

Hughes XF11 had a top speed of 450MPH

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hughes_XF-11

And of course a modern propellor driven bomber (expected to be in service until 2014) which could shame many jet aircraft today. It could have probably outpaced an ME 262 fighter from WW2.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-95
 
There is a short film on 4od about Guy Martin and his Merlin engine on a trailer, brilliant bloke.
 
Bernie174 said:
MRCA=Must refurbish Canberra again!

Hazza

Hair drier? You should be shot for treason!
Click to expand...

Seen the Csnberra whem it was still in service in numbers.

As for MRCA/IDS... loads of pics on this site of the GR4 doing their thing in the Mach Loop.
 
Last edited:
I have plenty of my own, albeit now in the loop....Me not being a mountain goat!

I seem to recall a day-glow orange German Canberra used to arrive at Gutersloh every so often. I am sure it was probably just a weather balloon, who's crew were only there to get some lighter gas from the NAAFI
 
Just watched the programme (4OD) and enjoyed it. Could have done with more detail about the build and manufacture/reconditioning of the parts - there are plenty of better documentaries about the Spitfire! Interesting that the Mk9 belched flame on start-up but the Mk1 seemed to just start. Maybe it was already warmed up to avoid any embarrassing spluttering?

At what point does a restoration become a replica? I suppose parallels can be drawn with vintage racing cars such as "Old Number One", a Speed Six Bentley which was continuously upgraded and refined over its racing life and rebuilt several times after retirement (including a couple of times when it had been fairly comprehensively written off!) You can also look at the current project under way at Jaguar, where they're building a few (6 IIRC) lightweight E-Types which will be eligible to race in classic series races despite being brand new. Personally, I would say that the Spitfire in the programme is a very faithful replica rather than a restoration but that's just my opinion.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top