fly past ve day
- Thread starter bluesako
- Start date
FrenchieBoy
Well-Known Member
Yes, I noticed that too! The Spits and Hurricanes usually accompany the Lancaster!
There are a number of possible issues:
FWIW
- Single-engine flying aircraft over London are increasingly "unwelcome"
- Their endurance compared to multi-engine aircraft is limited so they have to be carefully dovetailed into the display pipeline whereas the others can be refuelled
- Same goes for helicopters - none in this display
- I understand too that the BBMF aircraft were split into 3 groups to give maximum coverage across the country
- Finally, the displays the Spitfire/Hurricane were tasked to do didn't happen I believe due to high crosswinds at Coningsby
- I think the Lancaster was deployed to Waddington so was better able to handle the crosswinds on their runways
Rookandrabbit
Well-Known Member
Don’t know if they were grounded because of this :
A World War Two Spitfire has been forced to make an emergency landing in Kent after losing power.
Spitfire MJ627 came down in a field on Lower Wall Road, West Hythe, on Saturday evening, said its owner Fly a Spitfire.
Kent Fire & Rescue Service said one of the two people in the plane, which saw action over the Netherlands in 1944, was treated by paramedics.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch has launched an investigation into what caused the loss of power.
Copied from the bbc news dated 04/05/20025
P.s. amazing just how small the plane is never mind the cockpit , got to see one of these amazing machines up close just before it was sold off to its new owners
A World War Two Spitfire has been forced to make an emergency landing in Kent after losing power.
Spitfire MJ627 came down in a field on Lower Wall Road, West Hythe, on Saturday evening, said its owner Fly a Spitfire.
Kent Fire & Rescue Service said one of the two people in the plane, which saw action over the Netherlands in 1944, was treated by paramedics.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch has launched an investigation into what caused the loss of power.
Copied from the bbc news dated 04/05/20025
P.s. amazing just how small the plane is never mind the cockpit , got to see one of these amazing machines up close just before it was sold off to its new owners
8x57
Distinguished Member
Following the fatal crash in May 2024 of one of the Battle of Britain Spitfires at RAF Conningsby the hurricane and the other Spitfires were grounded. It was hoped that this may only be a temporary measure. I believe that there were also some concerns and doubt as to whether the Lancaster would be able to make yesterday's flypast.
BBMF Spitfires and Hurricanes are now cleared to fly post that crash grounding.
Memorial flight Spitfires and Hurricanes return to the skies after fatal crash grounding
The BBMF has confirmed that its Merlin-engine fighters will return to flying displays after being temporarily grounded.
I was fortunate enough to have a 30 minute coastal flight in one from Headcorn airfield on Saturday (Christmas present from the wife) yes the cockpit is a bit small but once strapped in you just forget how small it is. What an experience though & absolutely amazing, 2 victory rolls & a loop the loop that were so smooth. It did get me a bit choked up though when thinking what it must have been like for those young pilots at the time.
Rookandrabbit
Well-Known Member
@Tugmanade Very Very fortunate indeed!!!
What a day you must have had hope you got lots of video and photographs!
amazing machines indeed.Yes they had 2 go-pro’s in the cockpit, one looking straight at me, the other from over my left shoulder. Wasn’t allowed to take a camera or phone with you as there’s no floor under you & they worry that if anything is dropped it could foul the rods & linkage.@Tugmanade Very Very fortunate indeed!!!
What a day you must have had hope you got lots of video and photographs!
Norfolk Horn
Well-Known Member
The practice flew directly over my home but not the Lancaster or any other older planes which at the time we thought strange.
When they practiced for the Queen the complete flight came over.
When they practiced for the Queen the complete flight came over.
This - single engined aircraft were pulled from the display due to the concern over the engine failure two days ago in Kent. Obviously if the worse happens over Kent, there are plenty of open flat spaces to pull off a decent forced landing - less so over London......
Odd wing tips
"To increase the roll rate of the Spitfire and improve its combat fighting qualities, the wingspan needed to be made shorter. Fortunately, ever since the first Spitfires, the wingtips were a separate piece constructed from wood with an aluminum skin, often by Rolls-Royce coachbuilding firms such as Freestone and Webb. They were attached with two bolts and a number of small screws to hold a covering strip where the wing and the tip joined, so naturally, it was an obvious idea to unmount them and fit a simple fairing in its place. All you needed to do was remove the two bolts, undo the screws, remove the tip, remembering to disconnect the wingtip light and replace it with a simple cover fairing, which was held in place by the same screws. With the light reconnected the job was done. Simple, and effective – but just how effective?
Comparative trials
A test flight was arranged by the Air Fighting Development Unit at RAF Duxford, comparing a standard wing Spitfire Mk V with the new modified version at various heights up to 25,000 feet. It was discovered that the clipped Spitfire wing made the aircraft 5mph faster at 10,000 feet and slightly faster at 25,000 feet, but with better acceleration across the board. In a dive, the clipped wing aircraft could pull away from the standard version and in a dogfight, the improved roll rate meant it could shake off the pursuing unmodified Spitfire. Climb performance wasn’t affected much and there was no noticeable change to the take-off and landing performance."
Clipped Spitfire Wings – Why Did Some Spitfires Have Them? - Fly a Spitfire
A thing of beauty – so why spoil it? Clipped Spitfire Wings are often questioned from an aesthetic perspective. The classic elliptical wing of the Spitfire is regarded by many as the key to its beauty and itself the most...
flyaspitfire.com
