Spitfire
Author
Discussion

cuprabob

Original Poster:

19,491 posts

243 months

Wednesday 25th September 2019
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Just noticed that there is a documentary on the Spitfire on BBC 4 at 21:00 tomorrow night.

Boatbuoy

1,975 posts

191 months

Thursday 26th September 2019
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It's a good Documentary Film, with some excellent videography. I saw it at the Cinema last year.

RobM77

35,349 posts

263 months

Friday 27th September 2019
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I really enjoyed this last night. The aerial shots and sounds of the Spitfire were wonderful; I should imagine they were particularly stunning in the cinema. I was particularly touched by Mary Ellis being re-united with the Spitfire she signed all those years ago.

Eric Mc

125,605 posts

294 months

Friday 27th September 2019
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Wasn't able to watch it last night. Is it available on any watch again type facility?

I've just finished reading a book about the very important influence Canadian Beverley Shenstone had on the design of the Spitfire, especially its very sophisticated wing.

Krikkit

27,933 posts

210 months

Friday 27th September 2019
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Eric Mc said:
Wasn't able to watch it last night. Is it available on any watch again type facility?
Yes, on iPlayer for another 29 days.

Eric Mc

125,605 posts

294 months

Friday 27th September 2019
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Brilliant.

Will be on my "catch-up" schedule over the next few days.

RobM77

35,349 posts

263 months

Friday 27th September 2019
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I have to confess there was more on WWII history than I thought there would be, and much less on the engineering of the Spitfire itself. Nevertheless, it was a very good programme. The 1hr30min format was good too.

DavidY

4,492 posts

313 months

Friday 27th September 2019
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Met Mary Ellis in 2000, she was helping the guy out who did pleasure flights from Sandown Airport, at first we thought she was his Mum, but on talking to her discovered that she had been an ATA girl, and loved aeroplanes so much that she just came down to Sandown nearly everyday because she loved being around them!! It was in her blood. Spent a good time talking to her over a cup of tea, and heard some stories about delivering planes in the war, including the Spitfire that she clearly loved.

RegMolehusband

4,113 posts

286 months

Friday 27th September 2019
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I caught it by accident last night. I thought it was brilliant in every way. I may find it on catch-up and make Mrs Molehusband watch it.

JeremyH5

1,834 posts

164 months

Friday 27th September 2019
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DavidY said:
Met Mary Ellis in 2000, she was helping the guy out who did pleasure flights from Sandown Airport, at first we thought she was his Mum, but on talking to her discovered that she had been an ATA girl, and loved aeroplanes so much that she just came down to Sandown nearly everyday because she loved being around them!! It was in her blood. Spent a good time talking to her over a cup of tea, and heard some stories about delivering planes in the war, including the Spitfire that she clearly loved.
I’ve read her book “Spitfire Girl”, recommended. Mary was Commodore at Sandown airfield for many years post war and lived in a bungalow just down the road.

Edited by JeremyH5 on Saturday 28th September 10:56

The Don of Croy

6,439 posts

188 months

Friday 27th September 2019
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Agreed on the 'cinematography' - beautiful. Clever direction too - in one of the tracking shots you could not see a casual reference to anything modern even though they covered some ground (no cars, tractors, aerials, etc.).

The quiet enthusiasm of the talking heads was nice - even the references to war time bloodshed, seen from the perspective of young men flying outrageously fast machines...with real guns.

The later model with clipped tips and the big motor looked purposeful, but lost some of the grace inherent in the 'wing', imho. Still a heck of a machine though.

Who do I need to ask for more episodes? Can we have one on the Mosquito? Pretty please?

RobM77

35,349 posts

263 months

Friday 27th September 2019
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Yes, wouldn't it be great to have a series of these programs? Hurricane, Tiger Moth, Lancaster, Vampire, Lightning, Hunter, Jaguar, Tornado... spin

Eric Mc

125,605 posts

294 months

Friday 27th September 2019
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The Don of Croy said:
Agreed on the 'cinematography' - beautiful. Clever direction too - in one of the tracking shots you could not see a casual reference to anything modern even though they covered some ground (no cars, tractors, aerials, etc.).

The quiet enthusiasm of the talking heads was nice - even the references to war time bloodshed, seen from the perspective of young men flying outrageously fast machines...with real guns.

The later model with clipped tips and the big motor looked purposeful, but lost some of the grace inherent in the 'wing', imho. Still a heck of a machine though.

Who do I need to ask for more episodes? Can we have one on the Mosquito? Pretty please?
The clipped wing was only used on Spitfires which were intended for low level roles. Both Merlin and Griffon engined variants could have clipped wings and in some versions, the clipped wing was interchangeable with a "standard" wing by dint of the fact that the wing tips were detachable.

227bhp

10,203 posts

157 months

Saturday 28th September 2019
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There was a PH pass around on the DVD about 6 months ago, maybe more. Practically zero interest..

johnymac

442 posts

200 months

Saturday 28th September 2019
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227bhp said:
There was a PH pass around on the DVD about 6 months ago, maybe more. Practically zero interest..
I have the PH pass around DVD (somewhere) which unfortunately only works in region 1 players, if anybody wants it.

Eric Mc

125,605 posts

294 months

Monday 30th September 2019
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Watched it.

Great photography.

Quite moving in places.

Would have liked a bit more technical; history - 7/10.

227bhp

10,203 posts

157 months

Monday 30th September 2019
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johnymac said:
227bhp said:
There was a PH pass around on the DVD about 6 months ago, maybe more. Practically zero interest..
I have the PH pass around DVD (somewhere) which unfortunately only works in region 1 players, if anybody wants it.
It does, but what you can do is copy it onto your computer/laptop to watch it on there, or plug that into your TV and do it that way.

johnymac

442 posts

200 months

Tuesday 1st October 2019
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227bhp said:
It does, but what you can do is copy it onto your computer/laptop to watch it on there, or plug that into your TV and do it that way.
Thanks for that. I didn't realise I could use my laptop, however I have an old region 1 player which I was able to watch it on.
I can pass it on if anybody still wants it.

Yertis

19,705 posts

295 months

Tuesday 1st October 2019
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Eric Mc said:
Watched it.

Great photography.

Quite moving in places.

Would have liked a bit more technical; history - 7/10.
On the other hand my wife actually stayed in the lounge and watched it, instead of clearing off like she normally does for this sort of thing.

I don't think the forma would work for any other aircraft, except maybe Concorde.

anonymous-user

83 months

Tuesday 1st October 2019
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RobM77 said:
Yes, wouldn't it be great to have a series of these programs? Hurricane, Tiger Moth, Lancaster, Vampire, Lightning, Hunter, Jaguar, Tornado... spin
.....Chinook.