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 ...
Always wanted to know the story about rear view mirrors on Spitfires. In these photos it seems that they were used on Spits with faired fuselages, while Spits with the full canopy didn’t need them, like later model Mustangs.
Funny, I couldn’t help but think the very same thing while reading this. Today the Brits are busy surrendering to Islam and PC as fast as they can. They, like us, are doomed if we don’t change course soon.
Breathtaking!
I used to work where I had a complete machine shop, breaks, tubing benders, water jet, and welders. The boss loved machinery. Word got around that we would make one off parts. I got to make some very cool stuff.
If someone wanted to make a fortune they’d invest in making these types of great airplanes again at a reasonable cost.
I had a friend who worked part time for the FBI identifying counterfeit parts for aircraft. He told me, "It's amazing what a guy in a small metal-working machine shop can build."
Beautiful.
They led me down a hallway to their study and as I was walking along I spotted pictures of her husband as a member of the RAF standing next to a Spitfire.
Upon closer examination of the pictures, I noticed the top button of his tunic was unbuttoned, which was characteristic of Spitfire pilots during the Battle of Britain.
I remarked to him, "You were a Spitfire pilot?" More statement than question.
His reply, "Yes. As an 18 year old, one matured rather rapidly during that time."
Speechless does not begin to describe how I felt.
Air porn :P
Magnificent. Thank you.
High end Nikon slr shoots 10 fps
Thanks for posting. That was really cool!
There hand made for the most part
Wouldn’t it have been wonderful if the story about the hundred or so new, unboxed spitfires buried in a Burmese jungle turned out to be true?
Like model Ts and Mustangs. I beleive you can buy every to build one from a JC Whitney catalog.
I like the modern restoration/replication. Keep the best features like design and dynamics but bring modern benefits. My buddy restored a 69 Chevelle SS. It looks vintage showroom. Even used bias ply tires. But it has ABS, airbags, and modern engine and trans. It is incredible.
I am very surprised there are even two Zeros left.
The saddest airplane story I know is about G4M Betty in the Air and Space Annex.
They shipped a Betty home after WWII - some idiot union goons cut it up to make it fit the shipping car- and lost the pieces. The last intact G4M Betty in the world was lost...
A lot of the Spitfires flying now were used as “gate guards” at bases across the UK. In the 80’s the elements and vandalism were rotting them. They were replaced with Fiberglas replicas and the gate guards were restored to flying status.
This is the story of the one I used to see frequently near Chester in the 60’s -
It went from a somewhat sad looking gate guard at RAF Sealand - faded paint and an aluminium canopy - to it's present flying status.
I had no idea they made them in so many sizes.
Absolutely joking. Always loved forced perspective in model making to improve the illusion of distance in narrow spaces. This photo shows how convincing the effect could be using various scales of aircraft model kits.
Thanks for sharing.
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