The late, great Ray Hanna

JDK · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 7:46 am

'The master'.

Seen in action on the occasion of Spitfire MH434's 50th birthday.

Going up. Squadron Leader Raynham George Hanna AFC* RAF Ret. 28 August 1928 - 1 December 2005. RIP, unequalled.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 12:17 pm

A true legend

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3333

Indeed James.

Thanks for the memories Ray. Not only one of the finest airshow pilots I've ever seen, hugely respected by his peers, but a top bloke as well.

Ray's final display, leading Cliff Spink in his usual immaculate style in a flawless display of Spitfire formation aerobatics at Duxford some 6 weeks before his passing.

The final landing.

And finally, Ray as all those of us who were lucky enough to know him and see him in action will remember him.

RIP

Ztex · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 1:15 pm

Yep...

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 2:15 pm

Nice photos guys! Mike I love the ones of the Spits inverted, you rarely get to see them in that attitude. That wing looks as beautiful whichever way is up. As for the "last landing" , it is a nice shot, but I think it is a takeoff. I don't think a skilled British vintage warbird pilot would be landing a Spit with the rear end way up in the air like some silly airline pilot. And notice the flaps are up and it seems by the prop blur that he still has a good bit of power on.

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3333

Bill Greenwood wrote:

As for the "last landing" , it is a nice shot, but I think it is a takeoff. I don't think a skilled British vintage warbird pilot would be landing a Spit with the rear end way up in the air like some silly airline pilot. And notice the flaps are up and it seems by the prop blur that he still has a good bit of power on.

You are of course quite correct Bill. Here is the photo that I meant to post, but picked up the link to the wrong one by mistake.

daveymac82c · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 5:54 pm

Hey Bill (or anyone else),

How effective are the flaps on a Spit and how many increments are there?

Cheers,

David

JDK · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 6:01 pm

daveymac82c wrote:

...and how many increments are there?

Available in 'up' or 'down' (90 degrees).

During some of the Malta relief flights, taking off carriers (inc USS Wasp) they lowered the flaps, put in wooden wedges, raised the flaps, making a forced 20 degrees or so, then after the carrier take off, dropped out the wedges by lowering the flaps briefly.

As to effectiveness, I can't say. But then, I'm not called Bill.

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11336

Mike wrote:

Hey Bill! I thought that Merlins never leaked like a Skyraider? :shock:

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 7:12 pm

Davey re Spitfire flaps: As you can see they deploy pretty far, 80* so they are fairly effective. But they are not as deep vertically as on a 51, so not as much drag. Unlike most every other plane, Spit flaps are all or none. My practice is not to lower flaps until turning final at about 90 knots, with only a trickle of power on, slowing to 80 k at the end. You don't want to be too fast, more than 5 10 knots or she will float some. Go around on a Spit could hardly be better, it is fully controllable at 75 and will hold altitude at plus 4 lbs boost (38") dirty and easily climb away at +7, while you raise the gear and flaps. It seems to me T-6 flaps are somewhat more effective. You can see Spit flaps block the rear of the radiators so you don't want to drag them around the pattern with a lot of power, or go around with them down. For a real short runway I might lower flaps earlier such as before turning base as the Brits seem to. Some day I hope to land one at Duxford.

T33driver · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 7:33 pm

Bill Greenwood wrote:

Nice photos guys! Mike I love the ones of the Spits inverted, you rarely get to see them in that attitude. That wing looks as beautiful whichever way is up. As for the "last landing" , it is a nice shot, but I think it is a takeoff. I don't think a skilled British vintage warbird pilot would be landing a Spit with the rear end way up in the air like some silly airline pilot. And notice the flaps are up and it seems by the prop blur that he still has a good bit of power on.

I feel your pain...makes me wince when I work with a taildragger guy who tries to 3-point the 767. :lol:

Bradburger · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 8:16 pm

How can we ever forget 'The Master'.

Thanks to Mike & James for posting these pictures.

I found this video clip from a New Zealand news programme on YT the other day about OFMC's P40E returning to it's homeland, and it includes an interview with Ray:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0oNIG40dUZY

And regarding the Spits flaps (pedant mode on), the actual angle when down was 85 degrees.

The prototype had them originally set at 57 degrees before they were increased to 85, whilst the Marks 21, 22, 24 & later Seafires with the new wing design reduced the travel to 75 degrees.

As for the wooden wedge mod for the Seafires, James was nearly correct - the angle the flaps were set at was 18 degrees.

Bill, interesting comments as always.

I sure hope you get to land a Spit at DX one day too!

Cheers

Paul

JDK · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:12 pm

Thanks Paul. So I was a cumulative seven degrees out, I think, which allowing for conversion from F to C... isn't much really.

While there's nothing to compare to watching a Hanna display for real, we are lucky there is a fair amount on film and photograph.

Remembered, not forgotten.

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The late, great Ray Hanna

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