Spitfire!
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Martin Overall flying Spitfire Mk 1a N3200 over Cambridgeshire, England 12th June 2021. My first ever 'air to air' shoot - absolutely brilliant it was!
Another photo from the 100 year anniversary of Biggin Hill Aerodrome.
Two Supermarine Spitfires that took part in the air display, alongside Hawker Hurricanes.
Both Spitfires & Hurricanes were stationed at RAF Biggin Hill during World War ll, as part of '11 group fighter command'.
Being just 14 miles southeast of central London, it played a huge part in the Battle of Britain.
"Il était une fois le Pas de Calais libéré 2021" - Haillicourt (62) France
"Once upon a time the Pas de Calais liberated 2021 " - Haillicourt - France
This is Spitfire Mk IX MK912 that I was extremely lucky to catch taking off from Sywell Aerodrome.
Built in 1944, this is a genuine survivor of WW2, and took an active role in supporting the D-Day landings on 6th June 1944. Now painted in the markings of RAF No. 312 (Czech) Squadron, complete with the black and white identification stripes applied to all Allied aircraft just ahead of the D-Day invasion.
The Spitfire living up to it's name.
It took three attempts to start so it had quite a bit of unburnt fuel in the engine.
This is Stu Goldspink at the controls of Spitfire Mk IX, serial MH434.
The Mk IX Spitfire was rushed into production in 1942 when it became clear that the then current Spitfire Mk V was being outclassed in battle by the Focke-Wulf Fw 190.
The Spitfire Mk IX was essentially a Mk V fitted with the new, more powerful, Rolls-Royce Merlin 60 engine with its two-stage supercharger, which put it on a more equal footing with the Fw 190. Spitfire test pilot Jeffrey Quill described the Mk IX's performance as a 'quantum leap' over the Mk V.
Based at Duxford, but seen here at nearby Old Warden on a rainy August day. ('Nearby' - about 40 minutes by road, but only 5 - 10 minutes by Spitfire!)
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, using several wing configurations. It was also the only British fighter produced continuously throughout the war. The Spitfire continues to be popular among enthusiasts; around 70 remain airworthy, and many more are static exhibits in aviation museums throughout the world.
Registration: G-ALGT
Construction Number: 6S-432263
Code Number: RM619 / AP-D
Model Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIV
Operator: Rolls Royce
Today marks 80 years since the first historic flight of this iconic plane around Southampton Water. The sound is no longer the same but the shape is certainly recognisable to most people. There should be at least one flight today around the original route to mark the occasion but the weather won't be good so they did this extra flight yesterday under blue skies just in case. I took this from the Itchen Bridge but the plane was still too high for my lens, just wanted to mark the occasion.
116 in 2016 # 12 Spinning
As we're waiting in for the plumber and as it's two years since my "Fly with a Spitfire" day I thought I'd post another one of the images from that day. Seeing as the images were taken through the windows of the light aircraft we were in I'm very pleased with the quality. I'd like this to be a tribute to the brave men on all sides who gave their lives. This image will enlarge slightly for more detail if you're interested,.
This aircraft flies over our house most days taking people on a flight down the south coast. We often see it doing a loop over The Solent
This ground-to-air shot is of Spitfire Mk Vc, serial AR501.
The Mk V Spitfire was hastily introduced in 1940 to counter improved versions of enemy aircraft. Compared to the earlier Mk 1 & II Spitfires (Mk III & IV designations never went into production) the Mk V had an engine that was almost 50% more powerful and was also fitted with a supercharger, which enabled better performance at higher altitudes.
By late 1940, different types of wing armament had become available, and this aircraft is fitted with the 'c' type wing (also called the 'universal wing') that could accommodate some permutation of 4 x 20mm cannon and 4 x 0.303in machine guns - but not all at the same time, due to the weight. This Spitfire had 2 cannon and 4 machines guns - a very common Mk Vc arrangement.
Of interest are the fine wires running from the tips of the tailplane to the red circle on the side of the aircraft; they are aerials for transmitting a radio signal that enabled 'friendly' aircraft to be differentiated from 'foe' more easily on the crude radar sets of the day.
This particular aircraft has had its engine and exhaust pipes replaced at some point, the latter being non-standard for the wartime Mk V, which had the six pipes paired into three 'fish tails' on each side rather than the six individual pipes visible here.
This aircraft served with RAF No. 310 (Czech) Squadron from 1942 and was based at Duxford, just a few minutes flight from its current home of Old Warden.
Spitfire BM597 of the Polish Heritage Flight on a three day visit to the Ulster Flying Club and a chance to get up close and personal with her.
This is a Mk Vc machine dating from 1942.
The pilot is clearly visible through the windscreen.
If you look very carefully indeed, you can just make out two wires, running between the tips of each tail wing to the body of the aircraft. These were used to transmit a radio signal that made friendly aircraft appear larger on the very early radar screens then in use to detect enemy aircraft.
The yellow stripes on the wing leading edges were added to help differentiate friend from foe when the aircraft was seen from head on, as here.
This Spitfire Mk Vc, AR501, is owned and operated by The Shuttleworrth Collection and based at Old Warden aerodrome.
Pilot Gabriel Barton at the controls of this Spitfire Mk Vc, serial EE602. The metallic, circular fuel filling point is clearly visible on top of the cowling.
A reasonably well resolved image - the stencilled 'Walkway' wording is clearly legible.
The six exhausts on each side of the engine are paired into three 'fish tails' - these both suppressed any flames emanating from the exhausts (which could be seen from a great distance in low light) and also created a tiny bit of extra thrust.
Based at Duxford, this Spitfire was photographed at Old Warden in August of 2024.
This Spitfire is a reconnaissance PR Mk.XI, an unarmed version with extra fuel tanks instead of guns. A camera port is visible behind the pilot.
The black and white stripes were applied to all Allied aircraft just before the D-Day landings of 6th June 1944 in an attempt to minimise ‘friendly fire’ incidents.
Pictured here, pilot John Romain makes a high speed pass, captured at a slow shutter-speed to show a full prop circle.
RAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX TD314 displays above Headcorn Aerodrome during the 2020 Battle of Britain Air Show.
IMG_9679 f
The poem, High Flight, has over the years become a mantra to pilots.
It is reproduced here as a tribute to, and in memory of pilots of all generations.
________________________________________
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
No 412 squadron, RCAF
Killed 11 December 1941
Written by John Gillespie Magee when he was 19 year old fighter pilot during WW11 - as he soared into the atmosphere during a high altitude test flight of a Spitfire V.
Magee died three month later in a mid-air collision.