Readie
Chief Master Sergeant
Six handles and three new heads but, still the best axe he ever had...
Now, before you think I have gone completely mad I'm referring to the English icon, the Spitfire and why I love them.
For the Spitfire the BoB was only the beginning. J Smith's view that the design should be developed rather than replaced was proved right. Spitfires were armed with cannon, for ground attack missions they were fitted with rockets and bombs and a maritime version was fitted with folding wings. When Spitfire production finally ended in 1949 more than 22000 machines had been produced- not bad for a design that came close to being strangled in its infancy by red tape.
It's hard to say whether the final Spitfire the MK24 was in any sense the same machine that had fought in the BoB. It kept the name but, the engine was twice as powerful, it weighed about a ton and a half more and was 100mph faster.
It had changed from a finely balanced rapier- described by one over confident German pilot as a ' pretty little toy' into a fearsome broadsword. the big engine and big guns were revealed by bulges in the sleek outline. A tear drop canopy and low back gave it a completely different shape, Its huge 5 bladed propeller was efficient but, ungainly and required an oversize tail fin to counteract its torque.
But, through most of the changes Mitchell's wing design survived, very much as he had conceived it in the 1930's.
Only in the final version were the last vestiges of Mitchell's design replaced. It had become like the woodman's favourite axe.
The machine had changed beyond recognition but, the name survived because no one wanted to say goodbye to the Spitfire. It represented Britain's finest hour and at a critical moment in history was the best tool for the job.
The Spitfire finally passed into history with the coming of the jet age but, not before a MKXIV became the first RAF fighter to shoot down a ME262 in combat.
The RAF flew its last operational Spitfire mission on the 10 April 1954 and the type was finally withdrawn from service in 1957.
In my view the Spitfire is unique and still is a potent symbol today.
People of all ages will stand and stare at the outline and listen to the Merlins and Griffons and, for a few minutes at least, be proud to be British.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJXkg4CrozA
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YioXYhbVPA
Cheers
John
Now, before you think I have gone completely mad I'm referring to the English icon, the Spitfire and why I love them.
For the Spitfire the BoB was only the beginning. J Smith's view that the design should be developed rather than replaced was proved right. Spitfires were armed with cannon, for ground attack missions they were fitted with rockets and bombs and a maritime version was fitted with folding wings. When Spitfire production finally ended in 1949 more than 22000 machines had been produced- not bad for a design that came close to being strangled in its infancy by red tape.
It's hard to say whether the final Spitfire the MK24 was in any sense the same machine that had fought in the BoB. It kept the name but, the engine was twice as powerful, it weighed about a ton and a half more and was 100mph faster.
It had changed from a finely balanced rapier- described by one over confident German pilot as a ' pretty little toy' into a fearsome broadsword. the big engine and big guns were revealed by bulges in the sleek outline. A tear drop canopy and low back gave it a completely different shape, Its huge 5 bladed propeller was efficient but, ungainly and required an oversize tail fin to counteract its torque.
But, through most of the changes Mitchell's wing design survived, very much as he had conceived it in the 1930's.
Only in the final version were the last vestiges of Mitchell's design replaced. It had become like the woodman's favourite axe.
The machine had changed beyond recognition but, the name survived because no one wanted to say goodbye to the Spitfire. It represented Britain's finest hour and at a critical moment in history was the best tool for the job.
The Spitfire finally passed into history with the coming of the jet age but, not before a MKXIV became the first RAF fighter to shoot down a ME262 in combat.
The RAF flew its last operational Spitfire mission on the 10 April 1954 and the type was finally withdrawn from service in 1957.
In my view the Spitfire is unique and still is a potent symbol today.
People of all ages will stand and stare at the outline and listen to the Merlins and Griffons and, for a few minutes at least, be proud to be British.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJXkg4CrozA
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YioXYhbVPA
Cheers
John
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