Author Topic: Interesting or unusual planes? (Read 394481 times)

TimC · « **Reply #475 on:** 11 October, 2013, 11:56:09 am »

Yes, there were. There were also lo-backed IXs, and I challenge any of us to tell the difference between a IX and XVI! But I'm pretty sure nines didn't operate in that theatre. XI Sqn definitely operated Fourteens, but that picture isn't of any variant of the XIV. I have found some reference to them operating XVIs, but the Sqn History on the XI Sqn Association website doesn't refer to that. However, as I say, there's no reason why Leo's pictures should be of his own unit's machines - none of the others you show are (I assume)!

pcolbeck · « **Reply #476 on:** 11 October, 2013, 12:07:52 pm »

I think they are just random pictures he took of aircraft over the years that he found interesting rather than any that are particular to his squadron. There are a load of pictures of aircraft that he flew but I don't have digital copies yet. There is one that says "my Spit" for example but I can't remember what mark it is. I will try and borrow the photo album off my Dad this weekend.

TimC · « **Reply #477 on:** 11 October, 2013, 12:15:37 pm »

It would be interesting to see them - and might help the detective work on the XVIs. I did try to make out the serial numbers, but the combination of the scan resolution and my iPad defeated that!

pcolbeck · « **Reply #478 on:** 11 October, 2013, 12:35:19 pm »

Yes the scans arent much cop. I'm just amazed that he scanned them at all.

TimC · « **Reply #479 on:** 11 October, 2013, 12:39:52 pm »

Yes - good effort from him to do that. I wonder if I can persuade my dad to do the same. He does have a scanner...

clarion · « **Reply #480 on:** 11 October, 2013, 03:14:28 pm »

Is there any chance the original negs/slides/prints are still around?

pcolbeck · « **Reply #481 on:** 11 October, 2013, 03:18:57 pm »

No idea. My Dad has chucked a lot of stuff as the house was cleared and sold a few months ago and he and my Mum have enough junk of their own without taking on anyone elses. I will find out.

Steph · « **Reply #482 on:** 14 October, 2013, 07:53:11 pm »

Quote from: TimC on 11 October, 2013, 11:20:13 am

Quote from: TimC on 11 October, 2013, 10:48:00 am
Quote from: pcolbeck on 11 October, 2013, 10:31:54 am
Tim the Spits are almost certainly X1 Squadron as that was my Uncles outfit during WWII. They flew Hurricanes in Burma then Spitfire XIVs in Malaya and Japan after the armistice. I have some photo's not scanned as yet of them in transit on an aircraft carrier which must have been scary for non naval pilots.

Ah, ok. Perhaps they did heavy maintenance or R&R at Seletar then. I can probably find out more - my Dad is (or was - I can't keep up!) president of the Xl Sqn Association, and he can probably dig up more info.

Further - as you say, XI operated LFXIVs in Burma. They never operated XVIs, according to the Sqn History and contrary to what I said earlier (which came from another good source, so there may be some doubt about this). Those in the picture are definitely not XIVs (which were Griffon-engined and hi-backed). So I reckon Leo was getting some schadenfreude recording the mishaps of other outfits at his base!

There are at least two marks of Spit in those pics, as one at least has the 'old' round fin shape and the first one shows a later more pointed and larger fin. Looking at the top of the cowlings, there are two longitudinal bulges that look like the cylinder-head shapes of the Griffon engine, but I can't tell if the spinner top line floes smoothly from the top of the cowling (Merlin) or is stepped down slightly (Griffon)

TimC · « **Reply #483 on:** 14 October, 2013, 08:01:23 pm »

None of those Spitfires has a Griffon engine, which was always fitted with a 5-bladed prop on the Spitfire and has a much longer engine cowl. They are all Mk XVIs or possibly, but very unlikely, lo-back Mk IX.

Steph · « **Reply #484 on:** 14 October, 2013, 08:09:40 pm »

The up ended one looks like a five-blade prop. What I am looking at is the cylinder-head fairings.

Oh, and love the pic of the HP 115s.

Edited to add:
Griffon
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Supermarine_Spitfire_F_Mk_XIIs_of_41_Sqn.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Spitfire_22.jpg

Merlin
http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2001/12/images/detail_spitfire_ix_05.jpg

TimC · « **Reply #485 on:** 14 October, 2013, 08:14:45 pm »

Quote from: Steph on 14 October, 2013, 08:09:40 pm

The up ended one looks like a five-blade prop. What I am looking at is the cylinder-head fairings.

Only if it has an extra blade between the four at 90 degrees!

Steph · « **Reply #486 on:** 14 October, 2013, 08:20:14 pm »

The two bladea at the top of the shot look less than 90 degrees to me. It is the cylinder head fairings I am looking at.

Anyway, without a word from the source...

matthew · « **Reply #487 on:** 14 October, 2013, 11:28:39 pm »

Quote from: pcolbeck on 11 October, 2013, 07:59:34 am

I also suspect this may have been a 5 bladed prop, looking at it the outer two of the three remaining blades don't appear to line up.

Andrij · « **Reply #488 on:** 23 December, 2013, 02:12:24 pm »

I'm sure this will be of interest to some of you lot: De Havilland Heritage Museum.

clarion · « **Reply #489 on:** 23 December, 2013, 06:09:14 pm »

cool. Thanks for the link.

*thinks - St Albans should be rideable when I'm fitter...*

Steph · « **Reply #490 on:** 08 February, 2014, 08:49:49 pm »

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-plane-that-saved-britain/4od

Panoramix · « **Reply #491 on:** 08 February, 2014, 10:31:13 pm »

Quote from: Steph on 08 February, 2014, 08:49:49 pm

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-plane-that-saved-britain/4od

Can't watch it from France unfortunately.

As a timber engineer the most humbling (and maybe frustrating) thing is that apart from glues we haven't invented much since the Mosquito in term of structural timber. The ideas which were presented as new in the 90's were already there in the Mosquito. And the Mosquito plywood might be the strongest ever manufactured.

Tod28 · « **Reply #492 on:** 09 March, 2014, 10:57:11 pm »

Hoping my identification is correct - USAF KC-10 Extender refuelling a handful of F16's heading west over Exeter 25/02/2014

clarion · « **Reply #493 on:** 10 March, 2014, 08:10:51 am »

Good spot!

Bicycle Repair Man · « **Reply #494 on:** 14 March, 2014, 08:03:52 pm »

I know this is deadfully boring but seen above the workshop this week

and

This years display Typhoon working up his display.

Cheers

Dave Yates

clarion · « **Reply #495 on:** 14 March, 2014, 08:36:56 pm »

Yeah, Dave. Tedious.

Torslanda · « **Reply #496 on:** 14 March, 2014, 09:01:28 pm »

shit! Dave. Life's a bitch, innit . . .

clarion · « **Reply #497 on:** 23 March, 2014, 09:14:09 pm »

Bit of a cheat, as it's a photo of an old photo, but these HP42s are just such wonderful things, I couldn't resist sharing.

P3220041 by TJ Clarion, on Flickr

I believe that's taken at Croydon Aerodrome, but I wouldn't swear to it.

clarion · « **Reply #498 on:** 23 March, 2014, 09:15:09 pm »

Correction: Wikipedia tells me that is an HP45 called Horatius.

T42 · « **Reply #499 on:** 24 March, 2014, 10:21:44 am »

In the same vein:

Bristol Brabazon.

I saw this plane when I was thee or four years old. On its only flight outside mainland Britain (I think) it visited Sydenham airport outside Belfast for a display, and I saw it from my bedroom as it circled over the Craigantlet hills. Well, to be honest, I saw a threadlike line with five lumps on it, and my Dad said "that's the Brabazon".

The UK's Spruce Goose.

The photo was hanging in a gallery window and the best angle I could get was about 45° to the normal, so my perspective correction might be a bit off.