Post amazingly cool pictures of aircraft (Volume 2)
Discussion
irocfan said:
not being a smart alec - but is that where the marine in Supermarine Spitfire comes from?
Yes. They started under another name, but within a few years became Supermarine Aviation Works Ltd. Bought out by Vickers (or Vickers-Armstrong) about a decade later, the Supermarine name continued to be used. The Spitfire was their first land plane since the First World War, as they'd mainly been specialising in monoplane float planes (for racing) and biplane flying boats. Their original factory was on the River Itchen at Woolston, Southampton, not too far from the Solent Sky Aviation Museum on the other side of the river. A complex of flats called Spitfire Court now stands on the site, off Mitchell Close/Wharf Road, almost right under the Itchen Bridge... https://www.google.com/maps/place/Oakbank+Rd,+Wool...
yellowjack said:
Yes. They started under another name, but within a few years became Supermarine Aviation Works Ltd. Bought out by Vickers (or Vickers-Armstrong) about a decade later, the Supermarine name continued to be used. The Spitfire was their first land plane since the First World War, as they'd mainly been specialising in monoplane float planes (for racing) and biplane flying boats.
Their original factory was on the River Itchen at Woolston, Southampton, not too far from the Solent Sky Aviation Museum on the other side of the river. A complex of flats called Spitfire Court now stands on the site, off Mitchell Close/Wharf Road, almost right under the Itchen Bridge... https://www.google.com/maps/place/Oakbank+Rd,+Wool...
Supermarine had a works in Swindon too. I think 170-odd Sptifires and Seafires were built there, some Shorts Stirlings, and lots of jets in the 1950s. The name survives in the form of Supermarine RFC and Swindon Supermarine FC, remnants of the old works social clubs. Their original factory was on the River Itchen at Woolston, Southampton, not too far from the Solent Sky Aviation Museum on the other side of the river. A complex of flats called Spitfire Court now stands on the site, off Mitchell Close/Wharf Road, almost right under the Itchen Bridge... https://www.google.com/maps/place/Oakbank+Rd,+Wool...
The original company was called Pemberton-Billings and they built flying boats during WW1. Like a lot of aircraft manufacturers, they went bust (or were deliberately liquidated) as soon as orders dried up at the end of the war. However, also like so many companies, they were fairly quickly reformed under a new name - Supermarine. They chose the name Supermarine as it means "above the water" - which they felt was appropriate given their location (on the Solent) and the fact that they built flying boats.
tog said:
Supermarine had a works in Swindon too. I think 170-odd Sptifires and Seafires were built there, some Shorts Stirlings, and lots of jets in the 1950s. The name survives in the form of Supermarine RFC and Swindon Supermarine FC, remnants of the old works social clubs.
I've been to "The Swindon Submarines" (Swindon Supermarine FC) for a Farnborough FC away fixture or two. The ground is at the back of the industrial estate behind the South Marston Honda factory. Called the Submarines because they were often found diving toward the bottom of the table... 
james_TW said:
CanAm said:
Then I suppose you've never heard of the Spitfires carrying 2 passengers, in "body bags" strapped to the wings?
Um. Nope 
yellowjack said:
Yes. They started under another name, but within a few years became Supermarine Aviation Works Ltd. Bought out by Vickers (or Vickers-Armstrong) about a decade later, the Supermarine name continued to be used. The Spitfire was their first land plane since the First World War, as they'd mainly been specialising in monoplane float planes (for racing) and biplane flying boats.
There was also the disappointing gull wing Type 224, of which I think only one prototype was built
Edited by CanAm on Monday 30th November 17:51
CanAm said:
yellowjack said:
Yes. They started under another name, but within a few years became Supermarine Aviation Works Ltd. Bought out by Vickers (or Vickers-Armstrong) about a decade later, the Supermarine name continued to be used. The Spitfire was their first land plane since the First World War, as they'd mainly been specialising in monoplane float planes (for racing) and biplane flying boats.
There was also the disappointing gull wing Type 224, of which I think only one prototype was built
Edited by CanAm on Monday 30th November 17:51
james_TW said:
How are these filled up / What's the turnaround time for this where there's a massive forest fire somewhere?
This article (which appears to be about the exact same airframe) reckons half an hour. I didn't know they use compressed air to push the liquid out quickly. Gravity alone would be too slow.https://fireaviation.com/2017/01/27/how-to-refill-...
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