Posted on 05/19/2016 6:16:57 AM PDT by DFG
Soaring into the skies above the green and pleasant land they so spectacularly fought to defend 76 years ago, they are the last of the few airworthy Spitfires left. Now an air-to-air photographer has completed an exhilarating project - getting up close and personal to the legendary fighter planes in order to capture them like never before. Using the skill and experience of former RAF pilot Tim Ellison, John Dibbs was able to fly to within 15ft of different Spitfire marks.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
And the question remains: Merlin or Griffon?
There are 55 Spitfires left? That is wonderful!
I wonder how they get the parts to keep ‘em flying?
I ask the same question about the old Chevy's in Cuba........LOL!
China
I own a tool and die business, there is good money to be made for specialty machined parts for all sorts of antiques. Not enough to do it exclusively, but between jobs its good cash money.
There are all sorts cottage industries set up to manufacture replacement parts from scratch. Many warbirds these days really push the boundaries between “restoration” and “reproduction”, with some aircraft (including more than a few of these Spits) being “Data Plate Restorations” — essentially brand new aircraft that incorporate a small amount of material (and the data plate ;-) ) from an original airframe.
Metal 3D printing from CAD drawings is the next step for doing this.
It was a privilege to have been able to see these pictures. Thank you.
Many WWII aircraft were works of art.
Awesome.
Many of these photographs capture the last thing some hapless German would see.
We are privileged to witness the LAST thing seen by so many Luftwaffe pilots.
Sad how badly the “FEW” are needed once again. The battle they won is being flushed down the drain.
“There are 55 Spitfires left? That is wonderful!”
Actually that isn’t to bad. I think there are only two flyable Zeros, both which just flew over my house for the Chino air show. There are only about nine airworthy P-38’s with a few more in the restore process.
I suppose it would be easier to use a high speed movie camera and then pick out some individual frames for the better shots.
The pic of the Mark IX in Polish Squadron livery is awesome. The Brits have designed and built some of the best stuff the world has ever seen but they have little money.
Too many pointless wars, socialism, and unfettered immigration have destroyed them. A fate that awaits a certain other world power if it doesn’t change course soon.
In the 1969 film “Battle of Britain” it seemed like there were barely enough airworthy Spits & Hurricanes to keep the movie going, and the “German” aircraft were mostly built in Spain.
I recall reading Punch magazine in the early 1970’s where there was an ad for a charity for R.A.F. fighter pilots who had fallen on hard times. Often the case following Britain’s wars, which Kipling wrote about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzkoTulqA1U
It is stunning, as all Spit's are. Pictures of me showing one to the youngin's the cockpit and what this plane meant to England and Stopping the Nazi's? priceless...
BTW the latest aero stuff say yes Eliptical Curve is good, but back in the day the sort of got it backwards the rear curve on the Leading Edge is the way to go now. Still that wing is forever gorgeous...
Wow, incredible images! Thanks so much for posting this.
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