jdgm Posted September 17, 2019 Author Share Posted September 17, 2019 (edited) @P - No I'm sure you're absolutely right. Whoops - and ten points! THIS is a Merlin, at Hendon - I've lightened it slightly for more detail: I think it is Duxford which has a fine display of vintage and modern aero engines in one of the hangars. When I was there the 1st time I discovered the Cirrus Minor was an engine produced by Blackburn and not just a Pink Floyd title. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackburn_Cirrus_Minor And I mentioned Tangmere. What I used to see mostly was Blackburn Beverleys taking off and landing - STOL precursor to the Hercules. Edited September 17, 2019 by jdgm 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted September 17, 2019 Share Posted September 17, 2019 (edited) 14 minutes ago, jdgm said: I think it is Duxford which has a fine display of vintage and modern aero engines in one of the hangars. When I was there the 1st time I discovered the Cirrus Minor was an engine produced by Blackburn and not just a Pink Floyd title... I was fortunate enough to be on a photo shoot a few years ago 'backstage' at Duxford. They had somewhere around 16 Spitfires in storage / being repaired / prepared for flight. Chatting with one of the mechanics I mentioned that it was somewhat unusual to see so many Spits in one place at the same time. 'Not at all!', he retorted. And, of course, he was absolutely right. The skills required to work on these WWII Warbirds is no longer taught 'proper' in regular engineering school. All the mechanics at Duxford have learned their craft - and it is a very skilled craft - the hard way. They, in turn, pass this experience on to their apprentices and / or those who come after - as they, themselves, had learned from their own masters - and because so much of this skill and knowledge is concentrated in Duxford it follows that Duxford is one of the most logical places for these aircraft to be restored, fettled and hangar'd. Pip. Edited September 17, 2019 by pippy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted September 18, 2019 Share Posted September 18, 2019 9 hours ago, jdgm said: That is very interesting, M.E. What did you do? Production Engineering for the machine shop. Started as machinist at B.A. Weybridge (also the site of the Brooklands racing circuit) with my Dad. Have worked on all manner of military & civil projects, both UK and USA. Happiest working closer to shop floor TBH. Made working visits to most UK Aerospace sites at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted September 18, 2019 Share Posted September 18, 2019 12 hours ago, pippy said: ...as in the manufacturers of the Folland Gnat? The aircraft used (amongst other roles) by the Red Arrows in the days of my youth? That's heading back to my Airfix days once more. FWIW I have always greatly preferred the Gnat over the Hawk. VERY elegant craft. Pip. Yes. The Red Arrows had done a 'fly past' as thanks/acknowledgement around the time I transferred to Hamble. The Gnat was the last complete aircraft we produced. This is the one near the to the site main entrance in Hamble Lane 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanHenry Posted September 18, 2019 Share Posted September 18, 2019 It's always good to see some of those old lads flying in a Spitfire again. I do think the two seat conversion looks like a bit of a dogs breakfast, but it is what it is there's no other way of doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted September 18, 2019 Share Posted September 18, 2019 Don't forget the Hurricane, which was Merlin powered, who's primary role was to take out the bombers and anything else that got in its way.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted September 18, 2019 Author Share Posted September 18, 2019 (edited) There were over twice as many Hurricanes as Spitfires in the B of B. Slower but said to be the better gun platform, it was designed by Hawker's Sydney Camm who went on to design the Typhoon, which in turn led to the Tempest and Sea Fury aircraft. Camm was even involved in the early design stages of the VTOL Hawker Harrier - quite a guy. This was taken outside the Hendon RAF museum some years ago now, these are full-size models: And let's return for a moment to the Spit XVIII identified by Pippy - here is another view. Note the lettering on the side.....the same as the Airfix kit in P's 1st post in this thread. Edited September 18, 2019 by jdgm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted September 19, 2019 Share Posted September 19, 2019 (edited) 11 hours ago, jdgm said: ...And let's return for a moment to the Spit XVIII identified by Pippy - here is another view. Note the lettering on the side.....the same as the Airfix kit in P's 1st post in this thread. ... ...in which case - and in the interest of accuracy - I should point out that I was indeed wrong about the type! It's a clipped-wing Mk XIV - which was (and I quote from the 1962 edition of Owen Thetford's pretty comprehensive 'Aircraft of the Royal Air Force since 1918'); "...an interim production version (of the Mk XII) released to bridge the gap until the fully re-designed Mk XVIII became available..." I was fooled by the bubble canopy - thinking that this first became a feature on the XVIII whereas it turns out that whilst the Mk. XIV had a regular canopy when introduced the later examples of the Mk. XIV had the more aerodynamic 'bubble' modification. I had actually seen that particular JEJ example somewhere before but only after I googled it this morning did I discover that it is a Mk. XIV and not the XVIII as I had assumed previously. My Bad. FWIW the XIV was intended for operations at high altitude (hence the Griffon 65 and clipped wings) and was the most successful Spitfire Mk. in shooting down the V1 flying bombs - accounting for over 300 of the 429 claimed Spit 'kills'. Hope that helps clarify things a bit more! Pip. EDIT : Here's where further details about the Johnson tribute Spitfire can be found; https://www.flyinglegends.com/aircraft/vickers-armstrong-spitfire-fr-xiv-g-spit-2.html Edited September 19, 2019 by pippy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted September 19, 2019 Author Share Posted September 19, 2019 Excellent, accurate information. Many thanks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanHenry Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Some interesting atmospheric images from a Battle of Britain recreation at the Duxford airshow: https://home.bt.com/news/in-pictures/in-pictures-battle-of-britain-atmosphere-recreated-at-duxford-air-show-11364396774768 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Some lovely snaps! It must have been quite something to be let loose with all that History and Hardware lying around. Lucky old Mr. Joe Giddens! Thanks for posting the link. Pip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01GT eibach Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 On 9/16/2019 at 5:29 AM, Hector said: ... Hitler's party was named "National Socialism" and what they promised the populace is not far off from what today's candidates are promising... Yes, Nazi is short for "National Socialist German Worker's Party". But let's not confuse the Nazi brutal fascism with Bernie's "medicare for all"... whether we like the idea or not. That is all I am saying ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanHenry Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 (edited) Another interesting little snippet from the Duxford air show, it's quite long though🙂 Edited September 25, 2019 by IanHenry 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 9 hours ago, IanHenry said: Another interesting little snippet from the Duxford air show, it's quite long though🙂 Oh no... The Nazi 109's got Merlins now... I know there were a few countries built Merlin powered 109's after the war.. Nice video..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 (edited) I could be wrong, mihcmac, but Ithink you'll find that they are Spanish-built post-war 109s equipped with Hispanio-Suiza engines. I don't have my reference stuff to hand but I don't believe any 109s survived the '39-'45 conflict. Yes; nice video, Ian, but a bit long to watch in one go for me. I'll watch it in bite-sized chunks! Thanks for the post. Pip. EDIT : Google was my friend!... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispano_Aviación_HA-1112 And yes, indeed, a great many of the completed aircraft were made using Merlin engines in place of the H-S powerplant so I've learned something new today. Apologies for doubting your word, mihcmac, and thanks very much for prompting my on-line search; it was an eye-opener! Interestingly, pictured in the Wiki entry, there is a privately-owned example which has been fitted with the 'correct' inverted liquid-cooled V-12 Daimler-Benz 605. Nice! Pip. Edited September 25, 2019 by pippy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 (edited) Hispano Messerschmitt built after the war until 1954... HA-1109-J1L 1945 - the initial 25 Bf109 G-2 aircraft, from German production, with Hispano-Suiza 12Z-89 engines fitted, in lieu of Daimler-Benz DB 605A's, using VDM or Escher-Wyss propellers. Not used operationally. 25 built. HA-1109-K1L 1951 - first production of HA-1112-K1L. Fitted with a Hispano-Suiza 12Z-17 engine and a de Havilland Hydromatic propeller in an improved installation, this version appeared in May 1951 armed with two Hispano HS-404 20mm cannon and 80mm rockets. 25 conversions from a HA-1109-J1L. HA-1109-M1L prototype of HA-1112-M1L. A single aircraft modified with a Rolls-Royce Merlin 500-45 engine. One conversion from a HA-1112-K1L. HA-1110-K1L RR Merlin powered two-seat trainer version. Project only. HA-1112-M1L "Buchon" 1954 - the final variant fitted with a RR Merlin engine and armed with two Hispano HS-404 20mm cannon and 80mm rockets. Used operationally. 172 built. HA-1112-M4L Merlin engined two-seat trainer. Used operationally. One built and one conversion from a HA-1110-K1L. Edited September 26, 2019 by mihcmac 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 Hi mihcmac. I've just done the same search! Thanks again! Pip. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 (edited) The Czech Built Jumo and Daimler powered Avia S-99 thru S-199 were built until 1949 mostly from left over parts, many were sold to Israel. I think if I worked at an historical establishment that resides in the UK, for simplicity I would prefer maintaining 109's with Merlins.. Edited September 25, 2019 by mihcmac 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tman Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 Tragedy today. I posted the photo of the B 24 from the Collings collection earlier in this thread. Their B 17 which was one of the most popular planes they had and was constantly flying giving rides to the public crashed today in New England. Fatalities including people who paid to ride. This was it when it was down in Torrance. Absolutely terrible. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanHenry Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 Very sad to hear this Tman, loss of a valuable historic iconic aircraft and terrible loss of life. RIP to the people lost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 I was hard to believe the extent of the B 17 crash on the news, all those people... Very sad.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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