Spitfire: The Plane That Saved The World

[tdelahanty]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Also sad and ironic that my beloved and favorite P-51 "Big Beautiful Doll" radio control model crashed in the hands of another pilot that had it on loan from me and shortly thereafter the real Big Beautiful Doll had also met its demise when it crashed in Arizona, February 2016, killing both the pilot and his friend and copilot... I was crushed when the real Mustang perished and unfortunately neither the real Mustang nor my model can ever be restored.


Originally flown by Colonel John.D. Landers in 1944 in the European theater, the Big Beautiful Doll had a second chance at life after it was restored and flown in 1963.

RIP Mr.Pino and Mr.Tramontano and Big Beautiful Doll

"Pilot and owner Jeffrey Pino, who served as president of Sikorsky Aircraft from 2006 to 2012, and Nicholas Tramontano, a fellow warbird enthusiast, mechanic, and pilot, were killed when the restored fighter known as Big Beautiful Doll crashed and burned about 30 miles south of Phoenix."

Simply beautiful!!! One of the huge car dealers in town flies a P51. Every Sunday morning he flew over my house while I was washing my car. The Merlin engine sounds incredible (made by Packard). I might suggest you visit the Air Force Museum in Dayton Oh. It is well worth the trip!!!!!!

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by tdelahanty

Simply beautiful!!! One of the huge car dealers in town flies a P51. Every Sunday morning he flew over my house while I was washing my car. The Merlin engine sounds incredible (made by Packard). I might suggest you visit the Air Force Museum in Dayton Oh. It is well worth the trip!!!!!!

Have not been to the Dayton museum and hope to visit someday but I did spend a whole day at the Mighty Eight Airforce museum in Savannah Georgia recently. Great museum and the walk down “honor fields” and all the memorial plaques of various B-17 bomber crews and airplanes that perished sent chills down my spine. All youngsters with so much to live for that sacrificed their lives so the future generations can live without knowing fear and oppression. The list was virtually endless... countless names of the lives lost. The statistical odds of surviving some missions in the B-17 was roughly 11- 15%. The brave young men flew into enemy territory with determination and heroism that should never be forgotten. Most of them never returned...

[Puma Cat]

Just curious, any of you guys actually watch the documentary?

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Just curious, any of you guys actually watch the documentary?

Not yet but definitely will!

[piolaxo]

I watched the documentary yesterday. Very well done. The sound of that RR engine
is glorious, specially after it got supercharged. I also have to agree that the shape of the
Spitfire has an aura, it is just a timeless beautiful design.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by piolaxo

I watched the documentary yesterday. Very well done. The sound of that RR engine
is glorious, specially after it got supercharged. I also have to agree that the shape of the
Spitfire has an aura, it is just a timeless beautiful design.

Yes, indeed the sound of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine in the Spitfire was absolutely glorious. They had some beautiful planes in superb flying condition.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by piolaxo

Spitfire has an aura, it is just a timeless beautiful design.

Indeed it does but then again all WWII warbirds had a rather beautiful and timeless aura to them. I guess one is either a fan of the warbirds in which case they all look beautiful or one is indifferent about them. To my eyes they are all beautiful.

[crwilli]

I have watched the first hour. Not sure how much there is but will finish it shortly.

I recently attended an AirShow at the Marine Corps Air Station - Beaufort SC. There was a Spitfire and a P-51. They called it the class of ‘47. IPhone pic attached.

I learned that for all its victories, the P-51 was a functional failure for the US Navy. The huge propeller and rearward seating position gave the pilots terrible forward vision when landing.

There were apparently lots of crashes on carriers. It was then decided to be a land based plane only.
IMG_2436.jpg

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by crwilli

I have watched the first hour. Not sure how much there is but will finish it shortly.

I recently attended an AirShow at the Marine Corps Air Station - Beaufort SC. There was a Spitfire and a P-51. They called it the class of ‘47. IPhone pic attached.

I learned that for all its victories, the P-51 was a functional failure for the US Navy. The huge propeller and rearward seating position gave the pilots terrible forward vision when landing.

There were apparently lots of crashes on carriers. It was then decided to be a land based plane only.
Attachment 59185

There's only another 1/2 hour.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Indeed it does but then again all WWII warbirds had a rather beautiful and timeless aura to them. I guess one is either a fan of the warbirds in which case they all look beautiful or one is indifferent about them. To my eyes they are all beautiful.