Spitfires make me go all funny......

[andy400]

I can't see and hear a Spitfire flying without it giving me goosebumps and sending shivers down my spine. No other aeroplane has quite the same effect. Just wondering why this should be, and I can't quite put my finger on it.

• The sound of that Merlin?
• The beauty of the thing?
• The knowledge that (way before I was born) it saved the day for our country, simply by being the best, flown by the best?
• Something else altogether that I haven't thought of yet....?

Most likely a combination of the above, I guess.

[esselte]

[andy400]

esselte said:

I think if I saw one of those flying it would be an interesting day!

[Ikemi]

andy400 said:

I can't see and hear a Spitfire flying without it giving me goosebumps and sending shivers down my spine. No other aeroplane has quite the same effect. Just wondering why this should be, and I can't quite put my finger on it.

I agree, although I'd also say that hearing Concorde in flight was something quite special ... Not quite the same, but I'm sure others will understand what I mean

[Jasandjules]

Yep, they sound lovely, and look good too.. A shame that they shot down less than the Hurri's in the Battle of Britain.

[andy400]

Jasandjules said:

Yep, they sound lovely, and look good too.. A shame that they shot down less than the Hurri's in the Battle of Britain.

Is that true? I've never heard that before.

[esselte]

andy400 said:

I can't see and hear a Spitfire flying without it giving me goosebumps and sending shivers down my spine. No other aeroplane has quite the same effect. Just wondering why this should be, and I can't quite put my finger on it.

• The sound of that Merlin?

:

How about a Lancaster....4 times the pleasure...

[Graebob]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8_5Qc1mK54

[tubbystu]

andy400 said:

Jasandjules said:

Yep, they sound lovely, and look good too.. A shame that they shot down less than the Hurri's in the Battle of Britain.

Is that true? I've never heard that before.

Oh because the faster, more chuckable Spits took on the fighters so that the Hurri's could tear into the bomber pack.

[Ali_D]

andy400 said:

Jasandjules said:

Yep, they sound lovely, and look good too.. A shame that they shot down less than the Hurri's in the Battle of Britain.

Is that true? I've never heard that before.

Isn't that cos' there were more Hurricanes than Spitfires though? I thought the 'kill' ratio were about the same?

Actually I realise I have no knowledge ..... Eric were are you???

[NewNameNeeded]

wasn't the first plane shot down by a Spitfire actually a Hurricane? Or is that some myth I picked up on somewhere?

Have to agree though - everything from the design to the sound of the Spitfire is just very British /patriotic and absolutely amazing. I'm not sure I can think of any other manufactured item which stirs my soul as much

[Jasandjules]

http://www.battleofbritain.net/0010.html

Says 80% of claimed kills were by Hurris..

[Eric Mc]

In 1940, the most numerous aircraft in Fighter Command was the Hurricane. That is the main reason they shot down more enemy aircraft - not only more than the Spitfire but more than all the defences added together.
However, the Hurricane was already becoming obsolete by 1940 and by 1942 all the fighter squadrons had completely re-equipped with Spitfires and other newer aircraft such as the Typhoon.

Hurricanes were used throughout the war, but in theatres of war where they could still give a reasonable account of themselves and in the ground attack role - especially in the Middle and Far-East.
They also served on board escort carriers as Sea Hurricanes.

Regarding the Spitfire, you need to realise that a few of the Spitfires flying today are powered by Rolls Royce Griffons, not Merlins. For example, the Spitfire that participated in the flypast over the dam last week was a Griffon powered late war PRXIX.

I like the sound of any classic piston aero-engine but the Griffon is one of my favourites.

[markduffy]

These can meake you see things

[Eric Mc]

My other "favourite" Spitfire

[Famous Graham]

NewNameNeeded said:

wasn't the first plane shot down by a Spitfire actually a Hurricane? Or is that some myth I picked up on somewhere?

Two actually, over Medway in 1939 thanks to a dodgy fighter control system.

[mybrainhurts]

Eric Mc said:

I like the sound of any classic piston aero-engine but the Griffon is one of my favourites.

No, No, No...Merlin has it

How many times do I have to tell you...?

[tonyvid]

markduffy said:

These can meake you see things

I have a brewery Spitfire bottle opener, when you put it on the lid it plays the sound of a fast flypast of a Spit - brilliant. My father has one as well so we do the occasional Mosquito impression - even brillianter

[Eric Mc]

mybrainhurts said:

Eric Mc said:

I like the sound of any classic piston aero-engine but the Griffon is one of my favourites.

No, No, No...Merlin has it

How many times do I have to tell you...?

Sorry, I'm a Griffon man - and four in formation on a Shackleton sounded even better than the single one on a Spitfire.

I also like the Centaurus on the Hawker Sea Fury - pure power.

[mybrainhurts]

Eric Mc said:

mybrainhurts said:

Eric Mc said:

I like the sound of any classic piston aero-engine but the Griffon is one of my favourites.

No, No, No...Merlin has it

How many times do I have to tell you...?

Sorry, I'm a Griffon man - and four in formation on a Shackleton sounded even better than the single one on a Spitfire.

I also like the Centaurus on the Hawker Sea Fury - pure power.

:sigh:

I can see I'm going to have to send Max Mosley round with his whip...