Battle of Britain prog ITV1 now (7pm Sunday)
Discussion
skeggysteve said:
For an ITV programme I thought it was very, very good.
Question (for Eric?) they mentioned, the Spitfire that David Jason passengered in, was involved in the BoB, fly in xnumber of missions etc. Did a two seater really fly combat missions?
As a trainer I think 300 hours flying time was mentioned.Question (for Eric?) they mentioned, the Spitfire that David Jason passengered in, was involved in the BoB, fly in xnumber of missions etc. Did a two seater really fly combat missions?
skeggysteve said:
For an ITV programme I thought it was very, very good.
Question (for Eric?) they mentioned, the Spitfire that David Jason passengered in, was involved in the BoB, fly in xnumber of missions etc. Did a two seater really fly combat missions?
I'll try to get in before Eric - the Grace Spitfire is a much later mark so wouldn't have flown in the BoB. I think it's a mark IX (symmetrical radiators under the wings, pointed rudder but fixed tailwheel) and it didn't start life as a trainer, it was converted afer the war. It was good to see the Hurricane getting the credit it deserved, too many programmes imply that the Spitfire was the only British fighter in the BoB. Question (for Eric?) they mentioned, the Spitfire that David Jason passengered in, was involved in the BoB, fly in xnumber of missions etc. Did a two seater really fly combat missions?
CobolMan said:
skeggysteve said:
For an ITV programme I thought it was very, very good.
Question (for Eric?) they mentioned, the Spitfire that David Jason passengered in, was involved in the BoB, fly in xnumber of missions etc. Did a two seater really fly combat missions?
I'll try to get in before Eric - the Grace Spitfire is a much later mark so wouldn't have flown in the BoB. I think it's a mark IX (symmetrical radiators under the wings, pointed rudder but fixed tailwheel) and it didn't start life as a trainer, it was converted afer the war. It was good to see the Hurricane getting the credit it deserved, too many programmes imply that the Spitfire was the only British fighter in the BoB. Question (for Eric?) they mentioned, the Spitfire that David Jason passengered in, was involved in the BoB, fly in xnumber of missions etc. Did a two seater really fly combat missions?
I agree it was good to see the Hurricane to get some reconition and all the people on the ground.
On a side note - I really hate flying and I mean really hate it, but there are only two plane would happily get into, sober. Spitfire and Concorde.
What a marvellous programme and very well presented by David Jason. The visuals of the two seat Spit over the white cliffs was outstanding. David did well to interview the maintenance and ordnance crews. The room full of recovered Luftwaffe wreckage was like an Aladdin's cave. Top marks and a TV award to all concerned.
I was busy responding to a parallel thread on the "Planes" forum so didn't see this one.
No two seat Spitfires were built during World War 2 so definitely none flew during the Battle of Britain.
The RAF never flew any two seaters. As the war was approaching its end, Vickers Supermarine decided to explore the needs of post war export customers and it was decided that there might be a market for a two seat trainer derivative. The first factory built two seater was a converted Mk VIII. Production two seaters were based on the MkIX and were referred to as the TrIX. All were remanufactured from single seat MkIXs (there were no new builds). The main customers for these TrIXs were Ireland and Holland. Most of the two seaters flying today are survivors of the Irish batch. The Irish Air Corps only stopped using them in 1962.
During WW2, one Spitfire was converted in the field into a two seater with an extra open cockpit ahead of the normal cockpit. This was a one-off.
No two seat Spitfires were built during World War 2 so definitely none flew during the Battle of Britain.
The RAF never flew any two seaters. As the war was approaching its end, Vickers Supermarine decided to explore the needs of post war export customers and it was decided that there might be a market for a two seat trainer derivative. The first factory built two seater was a converted Mk VIII. Production two seaters were based on the MkIX and were referred to as the TrIX. All were remanufactured from single seat MkIXs (there were no new builds). The main customers for these TrIXs were Ireland and Holland. Most of the two seaters flying today are survivors of the Irish batch. The Irish Air Corps only stopped using them in 1962.
During WW2, one Spitfire was converted in the field into a two seater with an extra open cockpit ahead of the normal cockpit. This was a one-off.
Edited by Eric Mc on Sunday 12th September 23:06
skeggysteve said:
For an ITV programme I thought it was very, very good.
Question (for Eric?) they mentioned, the Spitfire that David Jason passengered in, was involved in the BoB, fly in xnumber of missions etc. Did a two seater really fly combat missions?
I think they looked at two different Spitfires, which caused some confusion. The preflight segment was with the BBMF at Coningsby using one of their Spitfires, which actually flew in the Battle of Britain. Then there was the two-seat Grace Spitfire, which David Jason actually flew in, which flew over the D-Day beachhead and according to the programme shot down the first aircraft of the day.Question (for Eric?) they mentioned, the Spitfire that David Jason passengered in, was involved in the BoB, fly in xnumber of missions etc. Did a two seater really fly combat missions?
When it was still a single seater.
You will notice that some of the two seaters flying today have a "blown" 180 degree vision canopy over the rear seat and some have a "low-line" canopy. When originally converted back in the late 1940s, the high visibility blown canopy was the standard fit. During restoration work on these two seaters in later years, many were altered to have the low profile rear canopy.
This has been done because these "low profile" two seaters can be used for film work less obtrusively than those fitted with the original hood.
I have read recently that the original MkVIII two seater is being restored to flying condition. This is her in 1974 when she was still flying in the UK. These are the original manufacturer's colours.
Mk VIII Spitfires had a retractable tail wheel. MkIX's had a fixed tailwheel.
You will notice that some of the two seaters flying today have a "blown" 180 degree vision canopy over the rear seat and some have a "low-line" canopy. When originally converted back in the late 1940s, the high visibility blown canopy was the standard fit. During restoration work on these two seaters in later years, many were altered to have the low profile rear canopy.
This has been done because these "low profile" two seaters can be used for film work less obtrusively than those fitted with the original hood.
I have read recently that the original MkVIII two seater is being restored to flying condition. This is her in 1974 when she was still flying in the UK. These are the original manufacturer's colours.
Mk VIII Spitfires had a retractable tail wheel. MkIX's had a fixed tailwheel.
Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 13th September 08:42
I have it in my mind somewhere that David Jason is himself a qualified pilot. Is that so?
2 seat Spit is marvelous but I thought it was a pity that Jason was seated in the rear cockpit.
surely the BoB 'experience' would have been better from the front. Camera position maybe or perhaps weight distribution?
2 seat Spit is marvelous but I thought it was a pity that Jason was seated in the rear cockpit.
surely the BoB 'experience' would have been better from the front. Camera position maybe or perhaps weight distribution?
52classic said:
I have it in my mind somewhere that David Jason is himself a qualified pilot. Is that so?
2 seat Spit is marvelous but I thought it was a pity that Jason was seated in the rear cockpit.
surely the BoB 'experience' would have been better from the front. Camera position maybe or perhaps weight distribution?
Apparently owned and flew a Skylark Glider. Nicholas Lyndhurst had a PPL as well.2 seat Spit is marvelous but I thought it was a pity that Jason was seated in the rear cockpit.
surely the BoB 'experience' would have been better from the front. Camera position maybe or perhaps weight distribution?
http://forum.keypublishing.com/archive/index.php?t...
Follow this link for some clips. (UK viewers only)
http://player.stv.tv/programmes/david-jason-battle...
http://player.stv.tv/programmes/david-jason-battle...
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