Sorry news, indeed. There are precious few remaining. Somewhat like our
cars only more so.
I just purchased a new book on the Supermarine Spitfires. As I have been
reading, I am struck by the similar "relationship" between the pilots and
their aircraft and the wingless Spits and their drivers. Suffice to say it
has to do with the responsiveness and the fit/feel of the craft. The
handling characteristics of the aircraft and the car, relative to their
'peer vehicles seem to be alike, ie. not the fastest with the biggest guns,
but the best integration of operator and machine, thereby giving great
powers to 'fly'. These similarities were not always positive either. One
US pilot who was assigned a Spit to fly, liked many of the qualities, but
complained that the cockpit was somewhat small for him. I can sympathize
with that observation, as I think that is my only complaint regarding the
design.
Terrence N. Banbury
1967 SPITFIRE MK III
1988 Honda Accord lX
1998 Ford Expedition EB
2000 Ford Mustang GT
1973 Honda CB350G
> ----------
> From: Suzie[SMTP:suzie_bear@hotmail.com]
> Reply To: Suzie
> Sent: Sunday, April 09, 2000 6:47 PM
> To: NASS; Spit List
> Subject: Spitfire accident - non lbc
>
>
> Those of you OTOSOTP (USA) may not have heard but there was a crash here
> yesterday of a Spitfire at Goodwood airfield. It was one of only 3 known 2
> seater conversions and both pilots were killed.
>
> It registered particularly as I've seen it flying myself when I was at
> Goodwood trying to pluck up the courage myself to learn to fly. In the end
> I
> went to a different airfield (& got 9 hrs under my belt before funds ran
> short) but my dream was always to have a flight in that particular
> Spitfire.
> The last I heard it was running at something like £2000 an hour, if not
> more
> so I never seriously expected that ever to happen (the closest I was ever
> likely to come to that was when I once sat in the cockpit of a Spitfire in
> an aviation museum) but because of those personal connections it was more
> of
> a shock to hear about it & to see the pictures of it upside down and in
> pieces on the airfield.
>
> Sorry this isn't a cheery snippet of news, but, I know that to some
> listers
> the connection between the aircraft & our cars is an important one so I
> just
> thought I'd pass the news along.
>
> Suzie
>
>
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