2 Spitfires plus 2 others in formation
2 Spitfires plus 2 others in formation
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Discussion

Smiler.

Original Poster:

11,752 posts

259 months

Sunday 18th September 2011
quotequote all
Just flew over Twyford.

The other two had a different wing silhouette but with fairly flat wing tips.

What might they have been?


Edit:

2 more Spitfires have just flow over, all were heading north.



Edited by Smiler. on Sunday 18th September 17:41

Boatbuoy

1,975 posts

191 months

Sunday 18th September 2011
quotequote all
Mustangs?

tog

4,948 posts

257 months

Sunday 18th September 2011
quotequote all
Smiler. said:
Just flew over Twyford.

The other two had a different wing silhouette but with fairly flat wing tips.

What might they have been?


Edit:

2 more Spitfires have just flow over, all were heading north.



Edited by Smiler. on Sunday 18th September 17:41
Probably all Spitfires on their way home from Goodwood. At least two of the aircraft they had there yesterday were later marks with the clipped wings.

Edited by tog on Sunday 18th September 18:36

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

284 months

Sunday 18th September 2011
quotequote all
They probably spotted a Jerry...

blueg33

46,261 posts

253 months

Sunday 18th September 2011
quotequote all
Smiler. said:
Just flew over Twyford.

The other two had a different wing silhouette but with fairly flat wing tips.

What might they have been?
Hurricanes?

Mustangs?

Clipped wing spitfires? an LF ?

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

284 months

Sunday 18th September 2011
quotequote all
Moths...?

blueg33

46,261 posts

253 months

Sunday 18th September 2011
quotequote all
These?

Fromm Goodwood Revival. All 4 are Spits I believe. 2 with clipped wings



pc stolen from the Revival Photos Thread

Eric Mc

125,606 posts

294 months

Sunday 18th September 2011
quotequote all
Clipped wing doesn't necessarilly mean a "later mark". From the V onwards there were clipped wing variants.

blueg33

46,261 posts

253 months

Sunday 18th September 2011
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Clipped wing doesn't necessarilly mean a "later mark". From the V onwards there were clipped wing variants.
Only 4 MK V's apparently with clipped wings. Looking at the photo, its hard to be sure but one of the clipped wings has a 3 blade prop so is probably an earlier one

Eric Mc

125,606 posts

294 months

Sunday 18th September 2011
quotequote all
The Mark I initially had a two blade prop. They were later refitted with three blade props.

The Mark II had three blades.

The Mark V had a three blade prop.

The Mark VIII , IX and XVI had four blades

The Mark XII was Griffon powered with four blades

The Mark XIV and all the other later Griffon powered aircraft had five blades.


dougc

8,241 posts

294 months

Sunday 18th September 2011
quotequote all
Had a bit of a moment in town today. Was out watching the Tour of Britain and at exactly 12:30 - in fact as the bells of the tower chimed - I heard a familiar thrum. Stood on Embankment as a Spit flew over at about 1000ft, performed a victory roll over the Houses of Parliament and headed West up the Thames.

cloud9

Eric Mc

125,606 posts

294 months

Sunday 18th September 2011
quotequote all
dougc said:
Had a bit of a moment in town today. Was out watching the Tour of Britain and at exactly 12:30 - in fact as the bells of the tower chimed - I heard a familiar thrum. Stood on Embankment as a Spit flew over at about 1000ft, performed a victory roll over the Houses of Parliament and headed West up the Thames.

cloud9
Pity it didn't open fire - but then again - he probably knew there weren't many MPs around, it being a Sunday.

perdu

4,885 posts

228 months

Sunday 18th September 2011
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
dougc said:
Had a bit of a moment in town today. Was out watching the Tour of Britain and at exactly 12:30 - in fact as the bells of the tower chimed - I heard a familiar thrum. Stood on Embankment as a Spit flew over at about 1000ft, performed a victory roll over the Houses of Parliament and headed West up the Thames.

cloud9
Pity it didn't open fire - but then again - he probably knew there weren't many MPs around, it being a Sunday.
Hmm that raises an interesting question

How many of today's flying "working" Spitfires actually have fireable cannons and machine guns fitted

Or have they all been rendered unfireable?

Which seems a bit sacreligious to me, as the son of a BoB Spitfire and Hurricane armourer. frown

Eric Mc

125,606 posts

294 months

Sunday 18th September 2011
quotequote all
I know that the Hurricane taht was recovered from India and restored has all its guns fitted and in working order - although they have been "safed".

perdu

4,885 posts

228 months

Sunday 18th September 2011
quotequote all
I reckon I could make eight new firing pins

smile

Lurking Lawyer

4,535 posts

254 months

Sunday 18th September 2011
quotequote all
Why did some versions come with clipped wings?

Function over form, no doubt, but the Spitfire doesn't look the same without those sublime elliptical wings...

Boatbuoy

1,975 posts

191 months

Sunday 18th September 2011
quotequote all
Lurking Lawyer said:
Why did some versions come with clipped wings?

Function over form, no doubt, but the Spitfire doesn't look the same without those sublime elliptical wings...
I believe it gave a higher roll rate.

Zaxxon

4,057 posts

189 months

Sunday 18th September 2011
quotequote all
Better manoueverability at low level. High altitude spits had extended wings mainly used for photo recon,that looked IMO worse. Clipped wings looked aggresive but there is only the one classic wing for a spit, that of the Mk 9.

There was also a pink spitfire!

tog

4,948 posts

257 months

Sunday 18th September 2011
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Clipped wing doesn't necessarilly mean a "later mark". From the V onwards there were clipped wing variants.
Well a Mark V is a later Mark than Marks I-IV smile

Eric Mc

125,606 posts

294 months

Monday 19th September 2011
quotequote all
tog said:
Eric Mc said:
Clipped wing doesn't necessarilly mean a "later mark". From the V onwards there were clipped wing variants.
Well a Mark V is a later Mark than Marks I-IV smile
It depends on what you mean by later I suppose. The Mk V came out in 1941, about the mid point in Spitfire production..