Inside the Spitfire factory

[Ayahuasca]

Ep4 is good. Could do with a bit less of the pub anecdotes and the boss sweeping the floor, and more of the Greek Spitfire.

In particular how the wing tips were joined to the wings. The initial fit seemed a bit ropey. How do they fair the joins?

The mystery of the peened bolts was solved - any protruding bolt is ground off until it is flush with the nut, then peened.

Not sure about the man-love for the Thunderbolt. Wait until there is a flying (Hawker)Typhoon ...

Excellent display at the end by Dan Griffiths!

[and31]

Ayahuasca said:

Ep4 is good. Could do with a bit less of the pub anecdotes and the boss sweeping the floor, and more of the Greek Spitfire.

In particular how the wing tips were joined to the wings. The initial fit seemed a bit ropey. How do they fair the joins?

The mystery of the peened bolts was solved - any protruding bolt is ground off until it is flush with the nut, then peened.

Not sure about the man-love for the Thunderbolt. Wait until there is a flying (Hawker)Typhoon ...

Excellent display at the end by Dan Griffiths!

I’m quite a big fan of the Thunderbolt-8 .50 cals and that great big radial engine !!

[Yertis]

My wife: "Oh look, now they're making programmes especially for you..." (Promptly cleared off upstairs, leaving me alone with my whiskey and thoughts around thwarted ambition.)

[Dashnine]

CanAm said:

You couldn't build a new replica. But just like the car world, you can "rebuild" an existing one

Tell that to Aston Martin! DB4 GT & GT Zagato Continuations, DB5 Goldfinger Continuations, etc.

[Eric Mc]

If I was assigned to ground attack duties, I'd have chosen a P-47 over a Typhoon without doubt.

It was an immensely robust aeroplane and could withstand substantial damage, especially its massive air cooled radial engine - unlike liquid cooled engined aircraft.

[Yertis]

Would you choose a P47 over a Sturmovik?

[Eric Mc]

The P-47 was better built - so, yes.

Also, the P-47 was a pretty handy fighter plane too - and it was fast.

[eccles]

Ayahuasca said:

Ep4 is good. Could do with a bit less of the pub anecdotes and the boss sweeping the floor, and more of the Greek Spitfire.

In particular how the wing tips were joined to the wings. The initial fit seemed a bit ropey. How do they fair the joins?

The mystery of the peened bolts was solved - any protruding bolt is ground off until it is flush with the nut, then peened.

Not sure about the man-love for the Thunderbolt. Wait until there is a flying (Hawker)Typhoon ...

Excellent display at the end by Dan Griffiths!

In some of the shots you saw the strips that the tip attached to (they came with the tips, long yellow things with anchor nuts on). The strips get riveted or screwed to the wing, then tip slides over them and is screwed to the strip.

[aeropilot]

Eric Mc said:

If I was assigned to ground attack duties, I'd have chosen a P-47 over a Typhoon without doubt.

It was an immensely robust aeroplane and could withstand substantial damage, especially its massive air cooled radial engine - unlike liquid cooled engined aircraft.

While true, in that the Jug was a formidable close support aircraft, and a lot tougher, and you at least had the better ability to defend yourself against any enemy fighters than a Tiffie.........but the Tiffie was the better aircraft at the role in terms of armament with the 8x60lbs RP's under the wings as the US attempt at the 6 x rocket tube fit on the P-47 wasn't quite as effective.
You really can't appreciate the size of a P-47 until you are next to one!!
Such a shame there is now one less airworthy one in the world after 'Tarheel Hal' being grounded last week.

[aeropilot]

Yertis said:

Would you choose a P47 over a Sturmovik?

Without question....!!

[Eric Mc]

aeropilot said:

While true, in that the Jug was a formidable close support aircraft, and a lot tougher, and you at least had the better ability to defend yourself against any enemy fighters than a Tiffie.........but the Tiffie was the better aircraft at the role in terms of armament with the 8x60lbs RP's under the wings as the US attempt at the 6 x rocket tube fit on the P-47 wasn't quite as effective.
You really can't appreciate the size of a P-47 until you are next to one!!
Such a shame there is now one less airworthy one in the world after 'Tarheel Hal' being grounded last week.

I always look on the Typhoon as an aircraft that was put into service DESPITE all its problems. It had lots of "killer" flaws (tails falling off, carbon monoxide in the cockpit etc). It was a formidable piece of kit, but had lots of issues. It was withdrawn from service with undue alacrity as soon as hostilities ceased.

[aeropilot]

Eric Mc said:

I always look on the Typhoon as an aircraft that was put into service DESPITE all its problems. It had lots of "killer" flaws (tails falling off, carbon monoxide in the cockpit etc). It was a formidable piece of kit, but had lots of issues. It was withdrawn from service with undue alacrity as soon as hostilities ceased.

That's a fair assessment of the situation.

[and31]

Eric Mc said:

If I was assigned to ground attack duties, I'd have chosen a P-47 over a Typhoon without doubt.

It was an immensely robust aeroplane and could withstand substantial damage, especially its massive air cooled radial engine - unlike liquid cooled engined aircraft.

My thoughts exactly!

[Eric Mc]

It's partly because of the issues the Typhoon had when it was an operational aircraft that I am quite interested in the plan to restore one to airworthiness.

[CanAm]

Eric Mc said:

It's partly because of the issues the Typhoon had when it was an operational aircraft that I am quite interested in the plan to restore one to airworthiness.

I believe they're using a Tempest tail section.

[Yertis]

Eric Mc said:

I always look on the Typhoon as an aircraft that was put into service DESPITE all its problems. It had lots of "killer" flaws (tails falling off, carbon monoxide in the cockpit etc). It was a formidable piece of kit, but had lots of issues. It was withdrawn from service with undue alacrity as soon as hostilities ceased.

The ‘thin-wing’ Typhoon, aka Tempest, carried on for a few more years (as you know). We think of them as discrete types but really the Tempest is ‘just’ a Typhoon with many of the flaws addressed.

[CanAm]

Yertis said:

The ‘thin-wing’ Typhoon, aka Tempest, carried on for a few more years (as you know). We think of them as discrete types but really the Tempest is ‘just’ a Typhoon with many of the flaws addressed.

A bit like the Lotus 40 compared with the Lotus 30.

[Eric Mc]

Yertis said:

The ‘thin-wing’ Typhoon, aka Tempest, carried on for a few more years (as you know). We think of them as discrete types but really the Tempest is ‘just’ a Typhoon with many of the flaws addressed.

"Addressed" doesn't mean "fixed". It means, old method abandoned and a completely different approach used.

[aeropilot]

Eric Mc said:

Yertis said:

The ‘thin-wing’ Typhoon, aka Tempest, carried on for a few more years (as you know). We think of them as discrete types but really the Tempest is ‘just’ a Typhoon with many of the flaws addressed.

"Addressed" doesn't mean "fixed". It means, old method abandoned and a completely different approach used.

Yes, the two aircraft are actually so different that's why they changed the name from Typhoon II to Tempest, as it was considered a distinctly different type.

[Yertis]

Obviously, that’s why they changed the name. Nevertheless the Tempest was developed directly from the Typhoon, and even you two zealots must recognise that apart from wing and fin shape you’d be pushed to tell them apart, in Sabre form anyway.