Just been buzzed by a spitfire at waitrose
Just been buzzed by a spitfire at waitrose
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mini me

Original Poster:

1,450 posts

222 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
quotequote all
Well as close as il ever likely be in a supermarket carpark. Came buzzing in at a fair rate of knots from the west ish. Did several turns right over us and then it looks like it headed for Southend airport. I assume there is a show on this weekend or something? Would be good to know when it's scheduled to leave if it hasn't already? Could possibly go take a look.

On a side note. Flight radar lists it as RAF. I was under the impression the BBMF was all grounded so what's this one? And what's the link to RAF?

https://flic.kr/p/WAuWHj

mini me

Original Poster:

1,450 posts

222 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
quotequote all
I had heard one of them did. No idea if this was that one though. Would make sense. Cheers 👍

Bomma220

17,459 posts

154 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
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Yes, PS915 is a Griffon engine Spitfire which won't have been affected by the grounding of the Merlin engine ones.

It's part of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Eric Mc

125,606 posts

294 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
quotequote all
Notice the difference between the front end of a PRXIX (Griffon) and a MkIX (Merlin)

Mk IX



PR XIX



They also sound quite different.


mini me

Original Poster:

1,450 posts

222 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
quotequote all
Clearly. One fat, one thin. TBH the sound was the first thing we heard and I knew it was not normal. Wouldn't know the difference between merlin and griff though. Sounded... proper, either way though. Any ideas on its schedule?

kowalski655

15,210 posts

172 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
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Waitrose always gets a better class of aircraft...had you been at Asda that would have been a cheap drone overhead biggrin

mini me

Original Poster:

1,450 posts

222 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
quotequote all
Worst, I shop at Waitrose thread?
biggrin

mini me

Original Poster:

1,450 posts

222 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
quotequote all
It just took off again. Heard it in the background but sadly missed it.

Eric Mc

125,606 posts

294 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
quotequote all
mini me said:
Clearly. One fat, one thin. TBH the sound was the first thing we heard and I knew it was not normal. Wouldn't know the difference between merlin and griff though. Sounded... proper, either way though. Any ideas on its schedule?
It's the bulges over the exhausts that give it away. Also the nose is longer as the Griffon is larger than the Merlin.

Most Griffon powered Spitfires had five bladed props. The Merlin versions went from two, to three and then four.

Finally, the tail fin on the Griffon Spitfires was quite a bit larger as it had to cope with a greatly increased amount of torque from the Griffon engine.

The Griffon has a much growlier sound than the Merlin. II actually like the sound of the Griffon.

DrDeAtH

3,697 posts

261 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
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It's hangared over at southend airport this weekend. Expect a flypast at the airport around 13:30 tomorrow.

Eric Mc

125,606 posts

294 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
quotequote all
I like all Spitfires (and Seafires) and I love the sound of the Griffon engined variants.

Fat Fairy

512 posts

215 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
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cloud9cloud9cloud9
Eric Mc said:
Notice the difference between the front end of a PRXIX (Griffon) and a MkIX (Merlin)

Mk IX



PR XIX




They also sound quite different.
Love them all!

Edited for being an id10t

lufbramatt

5,661 posts

163 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
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Was at Herne bay air show just over the water from Southend

mini me

Original Poster:

1,450 posts

222 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
quotequote all
DrDeAtH said:
It's hangared over at southend airport this weekend. Expect a flypast at the airport around 13:30 tomorrow.
Nice one. Cheers. I may just try and head over there. See if we can see it.

Gandahar

9,600 posts

157 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
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My dog is enjoying the Red Arrows being based at Biggin Hill this weekend.

Woof woof, might need to rename him Flash Heart. They went off earlier to Eastbourne, then later to Herne bay. His barking warded them off though and kept them in formation without any landing in our back garden. Top work Biggles.

He's tired now but will be up and ready for Sunday ! I can just imagine the neighbours, " I don't mind RAF Hawks but that bloody dog ...."

biglaugh

Gandahar

9,600 posts

157 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
quotequote all

As Saturday night entertainment rather than "Just been buzzed by a Spitfire at waitrose" fill in the missing blanks for the following

"Just been buzzed by a XXXXXXX at Lidl "

smile


Simes205

5,017 posts

257 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
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Gandahar said:
My dog is enjoying the Red Arrows being based at Biggin Hill this weekend.

Woof woof, might need to rename him Flash Heart. They went off earlier to Eastbourne, then later to Herne bay. His barking warded them off though and kept them in formation without any landing in our back garden. Top work Biggles.

He's tired now but will be up and ready for Sunday ! I can just imagine the neighbours, " I don't mind RAF Hawks but that bloody dog ...."

biglaugh
I'm just a few miles away and watched most of their display from the garden.

CAPP0

20,836 posts

232 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
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Waitrose where? The Kings Hill WW2 control tower is right next to the Waitrose there. Would have been relevant.

kiethton

14,632 posts

209 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
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Watched them a lot today - was over at a Biggin Hill

Parked up at the end of the day:




mini me

Original Poster:

1,450 posts

222 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
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CAPP0 said:
Waitrose where? The Kings Hill WW2 control tower is right next to the Waitrose there. Would have been relevant.
This was Waitrose Southend. The one close to Southend airport. I have to do a trip out today over to the airport retail park. Might try and coincide it with a little saunter over to the airport around 13:30 and see what I can see.