Spitfire why so popular??

[FOZ_1983]

Originally Posted by The Doctor B

I agree it did a very good job and was quite versatile. However, I think the Mosquito takes the prize for most versatile.

P.S. I do love the look of them and do feel privelliged everytime I see one.

Close call, as both did the job needed rather well. But what makes the hurricane "the most versatile" is the fact it can be launched from a carrier and also from a catapult on board merchant ships

The wooden wonder (mossie) is without a doubt the nicest, most amazing twin engined aircraft ever designed or created. I fell in love with the mossie when i saw her displaying at an air show many many years ago. Sadly our (UK) only flight worthy mossie was lost in a crash a few years back.

[FOZ_1983]

[skullblits]

Dang what happen?? wasnt going steap enuff for it to Stall right?

[FOZ_1983]

Originally Posted by skullblits

Dang what happen?? wasnt going steap enuff for it to Stall right?

Official verdict if i remember stated that something with one of the engines went wrong, (something came loose or broke i think it was) carburetor i think?? could be wrong. It wasnt down to pilot error though, as you can see he tried his best to get it back on track. I think a few hundred more feet and he might of recovered, all be in on one engine.

Tragic waste of a good pilot and a beautiful plane.

[The Doctor B]

Yeah, I saw her at Duxford a few years ago as well. Loved every second of it. That was back when there were only 2 (I think) flying Hurricanes. This year at Warbirds, there were 4. They look so good flying in Vic formation, really gives you a feel for what it was like!

[FOZ_1983]

Originally Posted by The Doctor B

Yeah, I saw her at Duxford a few years ago as well. Loved every second of it. That was back when there were only 2 (I think) flying Hurricanes. This year at Warbirds, there were 4. They look so good flying in Vic formation, really gives you a feel for what it was like!

its good to see more hurries flying, i think in total now the UK has 9 airworthy hurricanes. Would love to see them all flying together. Was gutted to see one from duxford crash a couple of years ago, or maybe last year even?? when doing a mock dogfight with a 109.

What was touching was that straight after hurrie crashed, a group of spitfires took off and flew the "missing man formation" over the crash site. Must of been hard to do. Will post a clip of it...

[FOZ_1983]

[King Jareth]

Originally Posted by FOZ_1983

The wooden wonder

It was always "the balsa bomber" to me

[Robotic Pope]

The MkVIII Spitfire was a better plane than the MkIX and is supposed to be the nicest all round spitfire to fly.

The MkIX was afterall only ment to be a short term fill-in until the MkVIII was ready for production and only had a slightly strengthend MkV airframe which wasn't really strong enough for the extra power of the Merlin with the 2 stage supercharger.

[Soviet Ace]

Actually, the Mk IX replaced it and played more of a major roll in Europe for british pilots, than the Mk VIII. and the Mk IX was a much more successful plane than the Mk VIII which was actually more of a foreshadow plane, as the Mk IX was more enjoyed and thought of as better than the Mk VIII. But most of the Mk VIII's were issued in the Pacific, and fought against the Japanese in Australia and Burma etc. And also, the only Spitfire to outclass the Mk IX was the Mk XIV, because of its engine and handling etc.