Flying Legends - this weekend

[Coco H]

Well worth the visit.

Lots and lots to see - including BoB Memorial flight, the French Hawk, the 'tubby' bi-plane, the Mustangs etc
And the divine sounds of spitfires.

Did anyone else go?

[Eric Mc]

Would have loved to have gone but was away elsewhere.

I went to "Legends" when it was held at Wroughton back in 1993.

I really want to see the Curtiss 75 Hawk. These radial engined planes were the precursors to the later P-40 Kittyhawks/Tomahawks etc and it is a really rare beast.

[prelude4ws]

Didnt go as such....watched from bedroom window!

Was actually going to go on sunday, but my 2 year old was to tired so stayed at home to watch.

Very impresive display, the sound of 8 spitfires roaring past in formation and watching the Lancaster take off for BoBM flypast,what a magnificent machine that is in flight (brought to the eyes, my grandfather RIP used to fly these in WWII).

Then at the end the low fly past of 23 (i think)aircraft including Spits, Mustangs etc now that is a sight and sound you dont forget in a hurry!

[hwassall]

Went on Saturday and really enjoyed it. All the aircraft you mentioned plus the guy with 2 Merlin engines strapped to trucks. The noise when they were running was simply fantastic.

[maxf]

We went with my girlfriends dad - great day (some great photos too). The twin prop Spitfire was awesome, as were the Mustangs.

It turned out that her dad learnt to fly in Mustangs when stationed in Singapore!

[Eric Mc]

Which Spitfire was that?

[alexkp]

I was there on Press Preview day last Friday.

Always a good show, and Duxford is a great day out.

[Mukes]

Eric Mc said:

Which Spitfire was that?

Griffen powered with two contra rotating 3 bladed props - result - no yaw when power applied apparently - sorry can't remember the Mk.

[Extra 300 Driver]

Eric Mc said:

Which Spitfire was that?

Like this,



The last production Spitfires were the Mk. 21, 22, and 24. The Equivalent Navy models were the Seafire F Mk. 45, 46, and 47. The Seafire Mks. 46 and 47 came with a contra-rotating propeller to negate the tendency to swing on takeoff. None of these Spitfire and Seafire models were produced in large numbers. All came with a teardrop canopy, and for the first time the wing was redesigned. The new wing was similar in plan, but was stronger, carried more fuel, housed a longer landing gear (which allowed a larger diameter propeller), and carried four 20mm cannon. The Seafire Mks. 46 and 47 had improved folding wings, while the Mk. 45 had fixed wings. The Seafire 47 served in the Korean War. Top speed of the Spitfire Mk. 22 was 450 mph and best climb rate was 4,900 ft./min.

[Eric Mc]

I wasn't referring to the particular Mark of Spitfire. What I meant was "Which INDIVIDUAL" Spitfire was it? In other words, does anyone know who owns it, its registration/serial and/or where it lives?

I hadn't realised that there were any contra-prop Spitfires based in Europe at the moment.

A Seafire FR47 was restored to airworthy condition in the US last year.

[hwassall]

Words from a friend of mine who knows these things:

-----

It is ex RAF and Thai Spitfire PR19 (Photo Reconnaissance) PS890..

It was restored in California around 2001 - To fly with a NON Standard (for the Mark) Contra-Rotating Griffon engine (out of an Avro Shackleton)

www.warbirdregistry.org/spitregistry/spitfire-ps890.html

It is now owned by a guy in France (by the name of Christophe Jacquard) with the Civil Reg F-AZJS

See: http://lfac.info.free.fr/news.php

Spitfires and Seafire did have Contra Props but only later Marks (and one Seafire Mark 47 Fly in the US with the correct engine)

---

Picture of it I took at Duxford:

[Extra 300 Driver]

Eric Mc said:

I wasn't referring to the particular Mark of Spitfire. What I meant was "Which INDIVIDUAL" Spitfire was it? In other words, does anyone know who owns it, its registration/serial and/or where it lives? I hadn't realised that there were any contra-prop Spitfires based in Europe at the moment. A Seafire FR47 was restored to airworthy condition in the US last year.

Sorry

[Le TVR]

Some good pics are here:
www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=181647

ps: this is 'good' as in 'understatement of the day'

[mybrainhurts]

Too right, Bruce.....

[hwassall]

Wow, they look amazing. He must have quite some lens to get those. I have a Sigma 70-300 APO lens and captured these:

www.wassall.me.uk/images/FlyingLegends05/index.html

I must try much harder...

[Eric Mc]

Spot on answer. Exactly what I was interested in knowing.

Thank you.

[anonymous-user]

I've posted a few pictures from the VE/VJ flypast here:

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=192661&f=109&h=0