Spitfire Heaven..............

Here's a link to a comparison between the two aircraft. Each had definite pros and cons.

http://www.historynet.com/supermarine-spitfires-and-hawker-hurricanes-world-war-ii-aircraft.htm

supermarine-spitfires-and-hawker-hurricanes-world-war-ii-aircraft.htm
 
Last edited:
There was a Spitfire on display in Coventry city centre today.
Ok, it might have been a replica but it looked authentic if you stood back a bit:

16hv7q.jpg


n71aux.jpg


There was also the remtard plane as well:

16kw010.jpg




And, just to Godwin the display:

iptm6w.jpg
 
It's really a shame that the various governments scrapped or otherrwise disposed of so many WWII aircraft.

I saw with my own eyes P 51D type Mustangs rotting in Salvador back in the 80's, and they had a bunch of Corsairs in the same condition.

Just shameful.
 
I read an article claiming that the Hawker Hurricane was actually much more important in the Battle of Britain. Is this true?

As already mentioned, the Hurricane destroyed more enemy aircraft. There were far more Hurricanes deployed in the BoB than the Spitfires because they were just more numerous and cheaper to build.

Also, because the Hurricanes were slower and more of a stable gun platform, they were sent after the enemy bombers while the faster and fewer Spitfires kept the enemy escort fighters busy.

The Spitfire was a sophisticated, complex and expensive aircraft at the time. It was almost never built due to politics, cost and labour problems...
 
After I've posted this I'm gonna run for cover.
I have a friend, Ray, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday. His mother felt this should be celebrated in a special way and in view of Ray's service in the RAF she's bought him........................






































a flight in a two seat Spitfire!
Sorry. I'll just go away and hide now.
 
As already mentioned, the Hurricane destroyed more enemy aircraft. There were far more Hurricanes deployed in the BoB than the Spitfires because they were just more numerous and cheaper to build.

Also, because the Hurricanes were slower and more of a stable gun platform, they were sent after the enemy bombers while the faster and fewer Spitfires kept the enemy escort fighters busy.

The Spitfire was a sophisticated, complex and expensive aircraft at the time. It was almost never built due to politics, cost and labour problems...


Your last sentence sounds mistaken, there were almost 20 squadrons of Spitfires available in the RAF order of battle in 1940, and overall, far more Spits were ever produced than Hurricanes. Am I misunderstanding something?
 
Your last sentence sounds mistaken, there were almost 20 squadrons of Spitfires available in the RAF order of battle in 1940, and overall, far more Spits were ever produced than Hurricanes. Am I misunderstanding something?


I think Autolite meant to say that the Spit came close to suffering the same fate as the TSR-2 (as discussed in another thread) that is, being canceled. Possibly you took the meaning as being very few were ever produced.
 
...The Spitfire was a sophisticated, complex and expensive aircraft at the time. It was almost never built due to politics, cost and labour problems...

I think Autolite meant to say that the Spit came close to suffering the same fate as the TSR-2 (as discussed in another thread) that is, being canceled. Possibly you took the meaning as being very few were ever produced.


Ah, there you go, my apologies to Autolite and thanks to SpitfireIX for clarifying the sense of that, which I did mistake as SpitfireIX noted. It's amazing what a pinch of context will do for you.
 
Your last sentence sounds mistaken, there were almost 20 squadrons of Spitfires available in the RAF order of battle in 1940, and overall, far more Spits were ever produced than Hurricanes. Am I misunderstanding something?

No you are right BUT during the Battle of Britain there were FAR more Hurricanes than Spitfires, you also have to take in account that the Spit was more complicated and the Hurri was easier to produce(and repair). The thing is that the Spit was at the beginning of it's life and it kept being updated during the war. The last models had more than twice the horsepower than the first versions. The Hurri on the other hand was "the end of the line. It did get more powerfull engines but the airframe really limited development and Hawker concentrated on new planes like the Typhoon and Tempest. The Hurrcane really was biplane tecnology where the Spitfire was a monococque.
 
Within three miles of where I sit we have the Shuttleworth Air Collection. We see a Sea Hurricane flying quite often - and a wonderful noise it makes.
If you've never been, try to go there. Nearly all the aircraft are in flying condition, including a 1909 Bleriot XI - the oldest flying aircraft in the world.
Also flying -
1916 Sopwith Pup
1916 Sopwith Triplane
1918 Bristol Fighter
1918 SE5a
1935 Gloster Gladiator
1936 Westland Lysander
1942 Supamarine Spitfire Vc
1943 Grumman Wildcat
And many more.
Here's a link - http://www.shuttleworth.org/shuttleworth-collection/aircraft.asp

On a flying day in good weather it's just magic!
 
Within three miles of where I sit we have the Shuttleworth Air Collection. We see a Sea Hurricane flying quite often - and a wonderful noise it makes.
If you've never been, try to go there. Nearly all the aircraft are in flying condition, including a 1909 Bleriot XI - the oldest flying aircraft in the world.
Also flying -
1916 Sopwith Pup
1916 Sopwith Triplane
1918 Bristol Fighter
1918 SE5a
1935 Gloster Gladiator
1936 Westland Lysander
1942 Supamarine Spitfire Vc
1943 Grumman Wildcat
And many more.
Here's a link - http://www.shuttleworth.org/shuttleworth-collection/aircraft.asp

On a flying day in good weather it's just magic!

[envy] You are a lucky guy [/envy]
 

Back
Top Bottom