Spitfire - Turning On A Sixpence!

[Bradburger]

I thought I'd share this video filmed yesterday (not by me) of Spitfire IX, TA805 'Spirit Of Kent', doing a display at Manston, Kent, as part of the BoB celebrations, and flown by Dan Griffith.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9kxhyPM3Tbw

Whilst some might say "Oh no, not another Spitfire display", you'll note that it's not the usual high energy aerobatic display that we are usually accustomed to, and whilst that may disappoint some, I think it really does shows extremely well the Spitfires ability to turn tightly and manoeuvre at high power settings and lower speed, plus its remarkable docility.

And all done with the fingertips! (Well, the pitch part anyway).

No wonder Spitfire pilots, old & new, say there is no other WWII Fighter to touch it's remarkable low speed handling and turn performance.

Cheers

Paul

Last edited by Bradburger on Mon Sep 15, 2008 6:00 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[JohnTerrell]

Quite amazing, Paul, thank you for the link! Having never seen a Spitfire display quite like that, it is rather interesting to see the aircraft skid through the sky on some of the turns and vertical pulls...like you mention it can really turn sharply - good thing that it has such nice wings to support it. I can't picture a 109 or Mustang doing that without snap rolling rather quickly.

[mlenoch]

Dan Griffith is an ex-RAF Harrier pilot.........he is accustomed to low speed/high power.
FYI,
VL

[JDK]

Dan Griffith is an ex-RAF Harrier pilot.........he is accustomed to low speed/high power.

Ah, yes the famous Spitfire 'hover' and 'VIFF'!

[Dave Cheeseman]

Amazing display, thanks for the link.

Cheers DaveC

[AIRIC]

That has to be one of the tightest warbird aerobatic displays I have ever seen. Very nice.

Eric

[CH2Tdriver]

Paul,

It sounded like the announcer said the Spit staged out of another field? Is Manston no longer an active airfield? Was that an old control tower in the background?

Thanks for the vid!

Pete

[Ztex]

Lovely!

IF you have to have something other than the ambient sound of the airshow, I really like the idea of the music during the display much better than an announcer yammering on for the whole show.

[Bradburger]

Dan Griffith is an ex-RAF Harrier pilot.........he is accustomed to low speed/high power.
FYI, VL

Thanks of the info Vlado.

I knew he was in the RAF at some point, but not sure what he flew.

Good to see everyone enjoyed this footage, as it's not often you get to see this part of the Spitfires flight envelope from the ground!

Paul,

It sounded like the announcer said the Spit staged out of another field? Is Manston no longer an active airfield? Was that an old control tower in the background?

Thanks for the vid! Pete

Pete,

As far as I know Manston is still very much operational, and has a VERY long runway, as well as plenty of grass. However, it may be that the display area was away from the main runway and possibly why this display much tighter and non aerobatic than normal. TA805 is based at Biggin Hill btw.

Quite amazing, Paul, thank you for the link! Having never seen a Spitfire display quite like that, it is rather interesting to see the aircraft skid through the sky on some of the turns and vertical pulls...like you mention it can really turn sharply - good thing that it has such nice wings to support it. I can't picture a 109 or Mustang doing that without snap rolling rather quickly.

Indeed John, although as far as I'm aware, the 109 is actually quite benign and does not flick out of tight turns, although it seems the Spit & Hurricane will eventually, if the wing is asked to do to much. Having said that, the 109 is much heavier in pitch than a Spitfire (as is the Mustang), so any turning or pulling manouvers are going to be much harder on the pilot's biceps!

And talking of the Mustang, here is a video of Alister Kay flying OFMC's 'Ferocious Frankie' at last months Military Pageant at Old Warden, showing that a Mustang can turn quite tightly if need be!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=i1EknnzgokQ

The chap who filmed this was a lucky one, as the Mustang was booked for him by his father as a combined birthday & wedding anniversary present!

I was at this show too, although sadly I didn't film any of it despite having the camcorder with me. But having said that, it was great to see this display live rather than through a viewfinder!

Cheers

Paul

[Mudge]

Out-dam-standing.
Youse troops have no idea how the sight and sound of "wringing out" a warbird makes me feel. (Well, being warbird freaks, maybe you do.) Makes me wish I had started flying lessons 50 years ago.
I would give just about anything to be able to do what fighter pilots can do with an a/c.
When I was flying, and would put that little Cherokee into a steep turn, my instructor would say, "Ease up. This ain't no fighter plane." Well, I was trying to make it one.

Yeah...yeah...I know. Poor...poor pitiful me. The cheese is being served now.

Mudge the daydreamer

[SPANNERmkV]

Mudge-Meister...

This is the land of the free because of the brave...

so the likes of you and me can try and live our dreams!!!

go for it, but don't break that Cherokee!

SPANNER

[CH2Tdriver]

Yeah...and when I instruct my students on the importance of keeping the windscreen clean and bug-free for traffic/collision avoidance, I can say:

"BEWARE OF THE MUDGE, IN THE SMUDGE!"

[Bill Greenwood]

Mudge, yeah think how good a pilot you could have been if you had started when you were young. Only problem, wasn't that shortly after the wheel was invented and long before the airplane?

[JDK]

"BEWARE OF THE MUDGE, IN THE SMUDGE!"

That's great. Now we need Fritz the Fox to illustrate it...

[Mudge]

"BEWARE OF THE MUDGE, IN THE SMUDGE!"

CH2Tdriver...Now THAT'S funny. I don't care who ya' are.

Mudge the spotless