Friday, November 25, 2005
Steve's Video Of The Day: "Supermarine Spitfire" Low Pass (or "Reporter Craps Himself!")
We all know and understand the legend of the Supermarine "Spitfire". The Battle of Britain was fought between 10 July and 31 October 1940. At the beginning, Fighter Command had 27 squadrons of Hawker Hurricanes and 19 squadrons of Spitfires with which to "face-off" against Schicklgruber's (Hitler) Luftwaffe. Between the beginning of July and the end of October, 565 Hurricanes and 352 Spitfires were lost. Both aircraft and their pilots performed valiantly, and went on to help liberate Europe and the world. In a strange twist later, Spitfires actually faced each other in combat during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, when the Israeli Air Force faced the Egyptian and British Air Forces, and all 3 were equipped with Spitfires.
Anyways, there are still some operational Spitfires left flying at the present time, and the sound of the Rolls Royce "Merlin" engine sends a tingle down one's spine, and starts the adrenaline pumping. There are a few "curse words" at the end of the video, but they are an instantaneous and honest reaction to what just transpired.
VIDEO - "Supermarine Spitfire" Low Pass (or "Reporter Craps Himself")!
AUDIO - Rolls Royce Merlin Engine!
SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE SPECIFICATIONS
1943 Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX - Specifications
Length
31 ft. 3½ in.
Wingspan:
Standard (F)
36 ft. 10 in.
Clipped (LF)
32 ft. 2 in.
Height
11 ft. 9 in.
Wing Area
242 sq. ft. (F) or 231 sq. ft. (LF)
Empty Weight
5,610 lbs. (2,545 kg)
Max. Takeoff Weight
7,500 lbs. (3,402 kg)
Engine
One V-12 Rolls-Royce Merlin 61, 1,515 hp, or Merlin 63, 1,712 hp
Maximum Speed
408 mph (657 kph) at 25,000 ft.
Service Ceiling
40,000 ft.
Range w/o drop tank
434 miles (698 km)
Armament
Two Hispano 20mm cannon and either four .303 machine guns or two .50 machine guns; 1,000 lbs of bombs (500 centerline, 250 each wing)
Number built:
Mk IX
5,665
All Variants
20,334
Gives me a "boner"! Love those "elliptical" wings, and big "paddle" prop!
Anyways, there are still some operational Spitfires left flying at the present time, and the sound of the Rolls Royce "Merlin" engine sends a tingle down one's spine, and starts the adrenaline pumping. There are a few "curse words" at the end of the video, but they are an instantaneous and honest reaction to what just transpired.
VIDEO - "Supermarine Spitfire" Low Pass (or "Reporter Craps Himself")!
AUDIO - Rolls Royce Merlin Engine!
SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE SPECIFICATIONS
1943 Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX - Specifications
Length
31 ft. 3½ in.
Wingspan:
Standard (F)
36 ft. 10 in.
Clipped (LF)
32 ft. 2 in.
Height
11 ft. 9 in.
Wing Area
242 sq. ft. (F) or 231 sq. ft. (LF)
Empty Weight
5,610 lbs. (2,545 kg)
Max. Takeoff Weight
7,500 lbs. (3,402 kg)
Engine
One V-12 Rolls-Royce Merlin 61, 1,515 hp, or Merlin 63, 1,712 hp
Maximum Speed
408 mph (657 kph) at 25,000 ft.
Service Ceiling
40,000 ft.
Range w/o drop tank
434 miles (698 km)
Armament
Two Hispano 20mm cannon and either four .303 machine guns or two .50 machine guns; 1,000 lbs of bombs (500 centerline, 250 each wing)
Number built:
Mk IX
5,665
All Variants
20,334
Gives me a "boner"! Love those "elliptical" wings, and big "paddle" prop!
