DOCSLIB.ORG

Spitfire Heroes Ken Ellis Our February Speaker but Rather Produced Them in Small Entitled His Presentation Spitfire Batches

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Spitfire Heroes Ken Ellis Our February Speaker but Rather Produced Them in Small Entitled His Presentation Spitfire Batches THE ROYAL AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION Rutland Branch March 2013 THE FLYING HORSESHOE Spitfire Heroes Ken Ellis our February speaker but rather produced them in small entitled his presentation Spitfire batches. In 1928 Vickers took over Joe Smith Heroes and I along with many others Supermarine; injecting capital with Joe Smith took over from was expecting to hear about Johnny Vickers gaining flying-boat knowledge RJM as Supermarine’s chief Johnson and the like, pilot heroes and Supermarine gaining metal designer and went on to who were household names from construction techniques. The Walrus design all subsequent their exploits during the Battle of benefitted from Vickers’ production variants of the Spitfire, the Britain and beyond. But no, he took know-how (originally to have been Seagull amphibian, the us completely by surprise on a called the Stingray) of 1938 serious Spiteful and Seafang, then different tact entirely by introducing orders came in for the aircraft the jets: Attacker, Swift and us to:- bringing about the start of production Scimitar. line techniques. In addition at this Reginald Joseph Mitchell the time RJ Mitchell was involved with S- aircraft’s designer. series floatplanes, a quantum leap in R J Mitchell as he was effectually aerodynamics and performance. The known was born in Stoke-on-Trent S.4 designed was flown for five with an insatiable thirst for months for the 1925 Schneider engineering knowledge. He applied to Trophy. S.6 series won the Schneider all aviation companies to find a in sequence 1927, 1929 and 1931 suitable position within which he winning the trophy in perpetuity for could expand his quest for UK. S.6B S1595. This along with the engineering knowledge. In 1916 when trophy can be seen in the Science he was 21 he was interviewed by It was 27 months before the Museum, The race was won at Supermarine and offered a job on the next Spitfire flew on May 14th 340mph which was 195mph faster spot. There was no time to return 1938. than the Sealion had achieved nine home so he sent a Telegram to his The production soon got years previously. parents asking them to send his underway with fuselages Supermarine took the bold move to being stock-piled at build a private venture fighter, this Woolston. Industrialising the was the Type 300. ‘Mutt’ Summers Spitfire was proving to be a the Chief Test Pilot flew it on March nightmare for the small 25, 1936 came back grinning and company. said “Don’t touch anything”. Serious thought was given to This was the prototype Spitfire. RJM having Supermarine build the only witnessed the first flight having much easier Hurricane. One been diagnosed with cancer. He died problem was that the Vickers Supermarine Works producing the aged 38 on June 11, 1937. beautiful elliptical wing which Southampton Flying-boat was very complex, especially Rolls-Royce the complex but gifted Like the Spitfire, the Merlin engine spar-within-a-spar that held clothes down to Woolston. started life as a private venture. First The first aircraft he had a hand in it all together. Only with the flown in a Hawker Hart test-bed on advent of the Ministry of was the Pemberton-Billing Nighthawk February21 1935, ultimately 160,000 quadruplane Zeppelin-killer. Noel Aircraft Production under -plus engines were built went on Pemberton-Billing was the founder of and Lord Beaverbrook did the Supermarine. In 1918 aged 24 RJM to power most of the ’greats’, mass manufacture of the became Supermarine’s chief designer Hurricane, Mosquito, Halifax, Spitfire become reality. The following the resignation of the Lancaster and transformed the Castle Bromwich Aircraft current incumbent F J Hargreaves. American Mustang, among others. Factory was vast and RJM went on to design beautiful Some say that without the Merlin the produced the majority of the flying-boats such as in 1925 the Mustang would have just been 22,000 -plus units that were Southampton Flying-boat. The Sole another fighter rather than the built. survivor of this aircraft type is at superb aircraft it became. RAF Museum Hendon. At this time Continued on page 2 companies were not used to producing large numbers of aircraft 1 THE RUTLAND FLYING HORSESHOE THE ROYAL AIR FORCE Alex Henshaw Medal For Arctic Convoy & Bomber Veterans Alex perhaps the second most important name associated with the Spitfire was born in Veterans who served on Arctic convoys Peterborough in 1912 and and in Bomber Command during World spent most of his life living on the family land at War II are to be recognised for their Sutton-on-Sea, Lincs. He learned to fly and loved it, bravery and service with a new medal and bought an Arrow Active G-ABIX which caused his a w a r d . T h e family concern so much that they decided to buy him Ministry of Defence said it a parachute. In December 1935 the Active caught fire in flight and the parachute proved very handy! had agreed on a design for the Unfortunately as he descended to earth the burning new Arctic Star medal and aircraft came right at him and a collision looked to be Bomber command clasp. The inevitable, luckily they just missed one another! Or honours could be sent out to his story may have ended here. veterans and their families as soon as next month. Surviving veterans and widows will be the first to Alex came to fame with the receive the awards. The families of those who served Percival Mew Gull G-AEXF which is still flying at will also be able to apply. More than 3,000 men died Breighton airfield in in the freezing waters of the Arctic as they worked to Yorkshire. This aircraft won keep supplies flowing through German blockades to the King’s Cup at Hatfield in Britain's ally, the Soviet Union, in Operation Dervish. July 1938 at 236 mph - this The death toll of those serving in Bomber Command speed has still not been was even greater with 55,000 airmen losing their beaten in that contest. lives. Another of his amazing feats was, when in February 1939, he flew the Cape Dash to and from Cape Town Branch Associate Membership 2013 where he achieved a sensational flying time of 106 May I remind Branch Associate members that this hours, 16 minutes only beaten in 2010, several years year the subscription is £5 for the year, and I would after Alex’s death in 2007. be happy to receive your payment as soon as Alex Henshaw became the Chief Test Pilot at possible if you were unable to pay me at the AGM. Castle Bromwich, taking If you prefer to write a cheque – payee is Rutland hundreds of Spitfires on RAFA, or cash is just fine. If you are doubtful their maiden flights along whether your sub is due or not, I will have the with a number of members’ list with me at all Branch Meetings. Lancaster’s. During this period Alex had his moments Thank you again for all who bring their stamps it’s alleged that in 1944 he along. These are much appreciated and are sent off rolled an unladen Lancaster regularly to raise funds for our cause. around a startled Spitfire. Alex Henshaw with Sir Winston Churchill Many thanks Angie Humphreys During a serious crash in a Spitfire on test in July 1942 he found the only field in 2013 Annual General Meeting urban surroundings. It was very lucky the aircraft The Rutland RAFA Branch took place on broke up with the engine ending up in the kitchen of Wednesday 6th March 2013 with 31 members a nearby house. No injuries. attending. The Chairman in his report thanked all As Chief Test Pilot he was who had worked on the Committee for the past Invited by the Lord year and stated that most had agreed to remain (if Mayor to the ‘September elected) for the following year. Peter Hart was 1940 Wings Day’ in resigning as Speaker Coordinator and replacing Birmingham and was Kathryn Manderson as Editor of the Flying asked for a memorable bit Horseshoe. A volunteer was still required for of flying. Henshaw arrived Speaker Coordinator. If anyone is able to take this flying down New Street position please contact the Chairman. Peter Hart inverted alongside the will willingly help anyone interested to get started. mayoral balcony. Not what the Mayor had in mind Duncan gave a brief synopsis of the year’s events and he was not pleased. including many good speakers; Derek Bury’s Ken finished his presentation with a story about walking talk and joke evening and Air Chief D-Day when a Mk.IX spitfire was adapted to fly beer Marshal Sir Clive Loader, Police and Crime kegs under its wings. Commissioner who was adamant that he would I hope I have managed to capture the feel of the not join RAFA. The Treasure said our finances presentation. Many thanks to Ken Ellis for both have continued to be very healthy and we are able coming along and lending me some notes from which to continue operating without any concerns for to write this article. the foreseeable future. 2 THE RUTLAND FLYING HORSESHOE Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit (Peterborough) Editors note:- I have checked this out so, I know it’s all true. The MDHU at Peterborough was opened by The Hon Nicholas Soames, MP (then Minister of State for the Armed Forces) in 1996 after the closure of the majority of the UK military hospitals. The way an MDHU works is that a number of military medical personnel (around 250 at Peterborough) are embedded within the NHS in order to keep their clinical skills up to date should they be required to deploy in support of operations overseas.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Percival Mew Gull
    Le Percival Mew Gull par Jean-Louis BLENEAU Edgar Percival lui-même, reconnaissable à son éternel chapeau, se prépare à effectuer le premier vol du Mew Gull ZS-AHM (E.2H c/n E.22) The Golden City, un des concurrents de la Schlesinger Air Race. Le Major Miller abandonnera à Belgrade et l'avion fut ré immatriculé G-AEXF avant de connaître une très longue carrière. Edgar W. Percival avait dessiné son Model D Gull pour participer à la King’s Cup de 1932, épreuve qu’il termina à la 12e place sur 31 classés. Pour l’édition 1933 le moteur Cirrus Hermès de 130 ch fut remplacé par un Napier Javelin de 160 ch mais le pilote australien ne dépassa pas le cap des éliminatoires, certainement victime de problèmes de mise au point de son moteur. Le Gull fut, on le sait, produit en série et se comporta honorablement dans diverses compétitions sportives. Mais Edgar Percival était d’abord un pilote et la King’s Cup restait un objectif personnel. Il mit donc fin 1933 en chantier un monoplace de vitesse pure dont les principes de construction reprenaient ceux employés pour la réalisation du triplace. En réalité la désignation Mew Gull recouvre deux appareils assez différents pour un total de six exemplaires construits. Un monoplace pour la King’s Cup : Le 26 janvier 1934 furent réservées les lettres G-ACND pour un monoplace de course très compact (7,31 m d’envergure pour 5,56 m de long) entrainé par un moteur 6 cylindres en ligne Napier Javelin de 165 ch.
    [Show full text]
  • 2014 JULY NEWSLETTER Pages. Copy 2
    MEROKE RC CLUB EST.1963 Member - iiiii!&(,(!"#$%&'!(#)%%(*+"%,")*!*+'%(''"-&(.&"# SMOKE SIGNALS Newsletter I recently found out that I have cataracts in both my eyes and will need two surgeries this month to correct the problems. Although this type of procedure is very common these days it still is a scary thing knowing that the doctor will be working in an area we find so precious. I think the following poem expresses better than I can that our sight is a beautiful gift that we should treasure always and never take for granted. With that in mind this will be my last edition until I feel that I can spend the hours on the computer necessary to create the Newsletter.. The Gift of Sight What would life be like without the gift of sight, Imprisoned in a world of permanent night? Have you e'er stopped to ponder a theme such as this, Grasping the immensity of all we would miss? The delicate beauty of a flower, its petals unfurled; The many scenic wonders of our so diverse world - Oceans pounding the coastline, a cascading waterfall, The snow-capped summits of towering mountains so tall; The scorching noon-day sun blazing down from the skies; The inquisitiveness in a little child's eyes; The radiant bride and proud husband, their bliss unconcealed, Their heartfelt vows of love by a tender kiss sweetly sealed. The myriad of colours could not thrill the heart, Nor could we enjoy reading, or viewing works of art; Monuments to man's achievements could not inspire, Even the opposite sex we could not admire; And into our loved ones' faces we could not gaze at all, Ne'er seeing their smiles, furrowed brows nor their teardrops fall.
    [Show full text]
  • Alex Henshaw 1913 – 2007 William Walter 'Dickie' Dougan 1917 – 2007
    obits rrr 17/3/07 8:29 pm Page 48 OBITUARIES Alex Henshaw 1913 – 2007 Far left: Alex Henshaw with his dog Purdy - at 91, he looked and acted 25 years younger Above: an exhausted Henshaw is lifted from the Mew Gull after setting his Cape Town record Left: Henshaw's famous Mew Gull G-AEXF the Siddeley Trophy at the 1933 Kings Cup only two days later. He was to amass a cupboard full of silverware for his air racing achievements. Henshaw learned about flying in the school of hard experience. He once landed in a field lex Henshaw was an Edwardian gentleman having to use the Browning pistol sewn into in a fog so thick that having staggered a few Aadventurer. Well-found thanks to his his shoulder harness on himself. The famous yards from the aircraft, he couldn’t find it father’s good fortune as a prospector in picture of Henshaw being lifted from the Mew, again. Inexcusable, he said, but a wonderful Canada, he lived at a time when, as he fevered, delirious and exhausted beyond education. He was dismissive of rote-learning himself said, “anything was possible if you had measure, gives a flavour of his epic about aviation and scathing of bureaucrats the money.” It might be more apt to say achievement. who are paid to prevent adventure. In an anything was possible if you had the money, He went on to be chief test pilot at the interview with General Aviation magazine in the drive, the courage, the skill and the sheer Spitfire factory in Castle Bromwich, 2004 he said: “I could never have done the bloody-mindedness to do it.
    [Show full text]
  • March 2007 Newsletter No. 94
    FLYING FARMERS ASSOCIATION Newsletter No. 94 March 2007 2 Opening Thoughts Chairman’s Message Inside this issue Spring and summer are coming and the thought of lighter evenings and mornings is most welcome, with the hope of many good flying days in 2007. Opening Thoughts 2 Pressure of time recently forced me to make a night flight into France. Flying on a fine News & Views 3 night adds a new dimension to a journey and at 2500 feet it was most enjoyable. Granville airfield was deserted, but three quick transmissions on the radio bring on the runway lights 2007 Programme 4 and you just help yourself, park the aircraft, walk to the security gate, punch in the code and you are very much in France. We had booked Customs, but as usual they didn’t bother to FFA Events - Winter 06/07 5 come out. I am reminded of perhaps the most memorable night flight that I have ever made, from Polly Vacher (FFA No.770) 7 Stavanger to Bournemouth VFR. I was in Norway on business, and as is sometimes the case GA News 8 nearly everything that could go wrong had gone wrong, so I decided at 1700 hrs in the dark that I wouldn’t spend another night there - I would go home. The met was no significant On a Lighter Note 9 weather, light winds, but towering cumulus up to 20,000 ft. We filled the tanks full and were soon off the ground and climbing to FL100. The moon was full and it was easy to see the Alex Henshaw 1912/2007 10 beautiful white cumulus clouds and steer a path around them - well, easy for a while, because our only means of navigation then was the VOR, tracking an outbound radial for as long as PCAS 11 you had reception, but with more than 150 NM before you could pick up the next, UK, sta- tion.
    [Show full text]
  • MAIDENHEAD HERITAGE CENTRE Transcript
    MAIDENHEAD HERITAGE CENTRE Transcript of the Diaries of Capt. J A (Arnold) V Watson O.B.E. By kind permission of his daughter, Mrs Pamela Mainwaring Arnold Watson - Transcribed Diaries [2013.101.1] SUMMARY Capt. Watson joined the Air Transport Auxiliary in June 1940 having sought permission from his then employer Lord Wakefield (Castrol Oil). Although he held a pilot’s licence at the time, he had fewer than the minimum hours for acceptance but was accepted after a flight test. His entire time with the ATA was spent at the Headquarters at White Waltham. Initially he was ferrying, but his skills were recognised and he was later promoted to Airborne Navigation Instructor where, mainly on Oxfords & Ansons, he passed out upwards of 80 pupils, plus a few that he didn’t! However, the most important aspect of his ATA career was to come when he was asked to take over the role of Flying Technical Officer where he was responsibile for flight testing any new aircraft which the ATA were going to be asked to ferry and to provide technical information regarding the flying characteristics which would be set out in Ferry Pilots’ Notes. This involved testing the low speed characteristics of each aircraft in a wide range of weather conditions and all aspects of engine and propeller settings. From time to time, this gave cause for alarm as at times the manufacturer’s own test pilots had not tested some of these aspects. There is no doubt that Watson’s work resulted in the greater safety of many pilots.
    [Show full text]
  • NEW Clarion 042020 SAM 1066 Newsletter April 2020
    1 Issue NEW Clarion 042020 SAM 1066 Newsletter April 2020 Affiliated to Club No. 2548 SAM 1066 Website: www.sam1066.org Editor:- John Andrews Tel: 01788 562632 12 Reynolds Close Mobile 07929263602 Rugby e-mail CV21 4DD [email protected] Pad users: If you are having trouble opening the New Clarion, hold your finger on it to display a menu, then select ”open in new tab". You will find the new tab to the right of the SAM1066 tab. Contents Page Editorial - 2 Thorns Indoors March John Andrews 4 Topical Twists Pylonius 6 Avro 504 K Ray Malmstrom 7 Engine Analysis: Thermal Hopper .049 Aeromodeller Annual 1954 10 “ Typhoon Diesel R.250 “ 10 Mew Gull Dick Twomey 11 Clarion Past John Andrews 12 Indoor isn’t for Everyone Pt.37 Nick Peppiatt 15 De Haviland 2 (DH2) Model Aircraft April 1960 18 DBHLibrary (Magazines) Roy Tiller 20 Memoirs Model Aircraft December 1957 23 Duplicating Angles Using Wu-Meters AVANZ 24 Email to the editor Dave Etherton 25 1stArea Beaulieu Peter Hall 26 Secretary’s Notes for April 2020 Roger Newman 27 Plans for the Month Roger Newman 28 Events and Notices - 30 Provisional Events Calendar - 41 Useful Websites - 42 2 Editorial The impact of the Corona virus is already being felt in our modelling world. The Free-Flight Nationals has been cancelled and we, SAM1066, are reviewing our own programme. To date: The Croydon Wakefield Day & SAM1066 event on Salisbury Plain on Saturday April 11th is cancelled. Our Cagnarata event at RAF Colerne on Sunday August 9th together with the Croydon Coupe & SAM1066 day on Salisbury Plain on Sunday October 16th, are under review and at this time are not subject to cancellation.
    [Show full text]
  • Guild News Design Grid
    OCTOBER 2009 No.177 THE GUILD OF AIR PILOTS AND AIR NAVIGATORS Guild Diary OCTOBER 2009 8 Aptitude Assessment RAF Cranwell 13 3rd Education and Training Committee Cobham House 15 6th General Purposes and Finance Committee Cobham House 29 Trophies and Awards Banquet Guildhall 31 Flyer Show Sofitel, Heathrow NOVEMBER 2009 34th Technical and Air Safety Committee Cobham House 3 Benevolent Fund Board of Management Cobham House THE GUILD OF 12 7th General Purposes and Finance Committee Cobham House AIR PILOTS AND 12 4th Court Meeting Cutlers' Hall AIR NAVIGATORS 12 Scholarships Presentation Cutlers' Hall 13 Silent Change Guildhall PATRON: 14 Lord Mayor's Show His Royal Highness 16 Lord Mayor's Banquet Guildhall The Prince Philip 18 St Cecilia's Festival St Paul's Cathedral Duke of Edinburgh KG KT DECEMBER 2009 GRAND MASTER: 15th Education and Training Committee Cobham House His Royal Highness 3 Aptitude Assessment RAF Cranwell The Prince Andrew 11 8 th General Purposes and Finance Committee Cobham House Duke of York KG KCVO 11 New Member’s Briefing Cobham House MASTER: 11 Guild Carol Service St Michael’s Cornhill Rear Admiral 11 Christmas Supper The Counting House C H D Cooke-Priest 18 Guild Closes CB CVO FRAeS JANUARY 2010 CLERK: 5 Guild Opens Paul J Tacon BA FCIS 12 5th Technical and Air Safety Committee Cobham House 13 Trophies and Awards Committee Cobham House The Guild, founded in 1929, is a Livery 20 Benevolent Fund Board of Management RAF Club Company of the City of London. 21 9 th General Purposes and Finance Committee Cobham House (Letters Patent 1956) 21 5 th Court Meeting Cutlers' Hall PUBLISHED BY: 21 Court Election Dinner Cutlers’ Hall The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators, Cobham House, 9 Warwick Guild Visits Programme Court, Gray’s Inn, London WC1R 5DJ.
    [Show full text]
  • A-Fn,.., W~:+:J T\T..,E Wt., .. J to Oif- ~U
    A-fn, .., w~:+:j T\t..,e wt., .. J to oif- ~u ~ f( '1 Js 0 '\ +~ ~ 5 ~ tld k i ~ . S .ie.'2] I;tke. of- ~.rt-o t'Jt . THE SOLENT SKY ~Jc PETER TfNEW PRINTED BY SOUTHAMPTON PRINTERS - 1976 CHAPTER 4 covered with the Union Jack, to the cemeter'j chapel . The band from the R?yal Garriso, SOUTHAMPTON'S MARINE AIRPORT Artillery, Portsmouth, played Chopin's FunerEI '. ,-..... AND HAMBlE March and the ceremony was attended by GALLANT CAREER ENDS-SOUTHAMPTON RAF detachments from Calshot and Felixstowe AIR OFFICER KILLED IN FLYING BOAT and included a survivor of the crash. Lt. CRASH c ~..;.: . Pakenham Walsh. The chaplain to the RAF, . .... -: ,.. ... Those were the headlines in April 1920. the Rev . G. H. Collier. officiated. and so ~-::: ' .... ~ : : ..~ ... which shocked the people of Southampton Squadron Leader Major Edwin Rowland Moon, when the death of Sqd .-Ldr. Moon was re­ DSO and bar. and Chevalier of the Legion of ported. What began as a routine training Honour. was buried with full military honours. flight from Felixstowe ended in disaster when At the beginning of April a development, a flying boat from No. 230 Squadron which that was looked upon with much interest, took at the time was carrying five officers and one place when Avro's and Supermarines, together airman. suddenly spu'n into the sea from a with the Beardmore Aero Engine Company and '" <­ height of 1700 ft. The flying boat was air­ Furness Withy Limited, discussed and imple­ borne for about one hour and members of the mented the beginning of an aviation enterprise crew.
    [Show full text]
  • Aviation Heritage Centre
    East Lincolnshire An aviation guide through East Lincolnshire locating active RAF stations, former airfield sites and memorials Whilst every care has been taken to ensure accuracy of the information contained in this publication, East Lindsey District Council cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies contained herein, nor does inclusion in this publication imply recommendation. © East Lindsey District Council 2016 Publishers: East Lindsey District Council. Research and editorial: Howard Heeley, Down to Earth Promotions. Design: Compass Point Business Services Contents Map To Grimsby HOLTON LE CLAY Contents NORTH COATES N Tetney North Cotes Marshchapel DONNA NOOK MAP NOT DRAWN NORTH THORESBY TO SCALE A1 8 Fulstow Grainthorpe North Somercotes Covenham East Lincolnshire | East Lincolnshire LUDBOROUGH Reservoir A16 BinbrookBINBROOK Saltfleet A 1031 Utterby Alvingham | East Lincolnshire KELSTERN North Fotherby Cockerington THEDDLETHORPE A631 Louth Saltfleetby To Market LUDFORD MAGNA Grimoldby St. Peter Theddlethorpe St. Helen Rasen South South Cockerington Elkington Theddlethorpe A157 0 B120 MANBY All Saints Mablethorpe Donington Legbourne Abbreviations North Coates Other Memorials on Bain Trusthorpe A157 PAGE 4 Little PAGES 18 & 19 PAGES 30 - 33 Withern Sutton A Cawthorpe STRUBBYThorpe 16 on Sea Cadwell Woodthorpe East Barkwith Maltby Sandilands MARKET STAINTON le Marsh Introduction Spilsby BBMF Visitor Centre 2 A5 A1 To Wragby Scamblesby PAGE 5 Lincoln Aby 0 PAGES 20 & 21 PAGE 34 Ruckland 4 11 A11 Bilsby Belchford Anderby Bardney
    [Show full text]
  • Dear All What's New Update on Live Talks
    28 April 2021 Editor: Sally Bundock Dear All In this issue: What’s New We are all now moving forward hopefully to branches being able to meet up again. Please do forgive me including the news item on page 4 but it is to serve as a reminder that we are not out of the woods yet by any means, so we still need to take. Because things are opening up or will be from June onwards I just wanted to let you know that regrettably this publication will have to be less frequent, as I will have to spend more of my time visiting branches and trying to open up new ones. On the plus side, it will be good to meet up with folk again. I would like to use this space to remind you about our Facebook page. Many of you I know already participate but if you have not tried it yet then the invitation is there for you. Also, may I remind everyone that the Conference event is planned for October in Manchester and I hope to see many of you there. As you may have guessed I have a special interest in saving our planet and its flora and fauna. I’m continuing to promote my book Daniel’s Magic Tree to support Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital and was able to send £100 to them last week so thanks to those of you who have already purchased the book to help me with this. If you would like now to support with future donations, please just visit the Amazon website to buy the book.
    [Show full text]
  • Issue 13 – April 2017
    April 2017 Dominic JH Berry www.ratcliffespitfire.com that we will use will be for aesthetic purposes only. One of the exceptions to this You must forgive the lack of a Spring newsletter this year; we are making steady rule is where the fin post meets the fin skin as can be seen in the picture at the start progress on the build, but the Spring term is always a rather hectic one in terms of of this section, where the students have been learning the mysterious art of solid fitting everything in, what with coursework deadlines and exams looming, and this riveting. They are cross-referencing blueprints and Paul Mortforton’s excellent years seemed to be particularly busy. As it was, we only managed to have 6 spring book, Spitfire Mk IX - XVI Engineered, to position the rivet lines correctly, as well as meetings, but this Summer term we are looking at a few more so by the end of the choosing the right size and type of rivets to place, with the correct spacing. This academic year I should be able to report on significant, if not major progress. takes some time as you can imagine, so whilst ‘big’ changes may not be obvious, look a little closer and you will notice work going on. The Build When all of the frames are completed, which will include the routing of each Ignoring the few bits of steel, and the fewer pieces of lightening hole to give the impression of pressed aluminium holes, we will be able to wood, Spitfires were essentially made from aluminium, mock-up the entire fuselage, but in order to do that we will need some way to hold with the frames, ribs, structural components and skin them in place.
    [Show full text]
  • Spitfire Legends Honoured at 80 Anniversary Event
    2 February 2016 Spitfire legends honoured at 80th anniversary event Date: 5 March 2016 Time: Talk 1 – 11.30am Talk 2 – 2.15pm Cost: FREE The Supermarine Spitfire, the most famous British fighter aircraft in history first took to the skies on 5 March 1936 and won immortal fame throughout the summer months of 1940 by helping to defeat the German air attacks during the Battle of Britain. The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford will be marking eighty years since the first flight of the Spitfire on Saturday 5 March 2016, with a day of special talks. The talks will pay tribute to Spitfire creator RJ Mitchell CBE and Vickers Supermarine test pilot Alex Henshaw MBE and the men of the Battle of Britain. In the first talk entitled ‘R. J. Mitchell CBE, the Spitfire and the Battle of Britain . .Their Finest Hour’, Tony tells the story of Staffordshire born R. J. Mitchell CBE, the creator of Britain’s most iconic aircraft and some of the men who flew Spitfires in the Battle of Britain. The Spitfire, an evolution from the Schneider Trophy Races, first flew in 1936, remained in production through the 1940s and in service throughout the 1950s. Hear stories from some of the men who fought the Battle of Britain, including a distinguished Luftwaffe ace in interviews recorded with Tony. The talk will commence at 11.30am lasting approximately one hour. The second talk of the day entitled ‘Alex Henshaw MBE. The Flight of the Mew Gull and Sigh for a Merlin’ includes video footage of Alex Henshaw telling his own story.
    [Show full text]