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  1. #1

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    Jul 2011
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    Today in history

    Today is a very big one in history.

    In 1936, the first flight of the prototype of the new and radical Supermarine fighter, the Spitfire, at Eastleigh with pilot Mutt Summers.
    This little airplane, became one of the most successful and important ones in history, and along with the Hurricane was responsible to defeating, by a narrow margin, the German air assault on England that fateful summer of 1940 in what we now call The Battle of Britain. This one stage of battle certainly did not win the war, but it was the first time that the Germans, who with air power, tanks, and infantry had swept through much of Europe, finally and for the first time been turned back.
    The first Spit, weighing only about 5800 lbs and with about 1000 Rolls Royce horsepower, was a very effective interceptor, fast climbing, agile, easy to fly, and with 8 guns. It was improved over the years and ended up having almost 23.000 buiilt and all the way up to Mk 24 and Seafire 47. The latest models had devastating firepower of 4 20 mm cannon, and 2000 hp and top speed of 450 mph. They served on carriers, were excellent long range photo recon planes with a ceiling of over 43,000 feet, and it was the longest contiually produced allied fighter. The last one was retired from the RAF in 1958.
    It is respected by most everyone who has ever flown one, and is widely seen as one of the most beautiful planes ever built for any purpose. One may stand next to a MK V or maybe a IX and not readily see any line or curve that would look better some other way.
    Mar,ket price of a top Spitfire nowdays is likely around $3 million, and even now, 77 years later the Packard copy of the Rolls Royce Merlin V-12 engine with modifications, still powers Strega the race Mustang that rules the pack at Reno Air Races.

    It is not named a Spitfire, but the further development of the Spit, the Spiteful, and Sea Fang with large Griffon engine of 2375 hp was perhaps the fastest piston fighter ever at 492 mph top speed. Sadly of a few dozen of these perhaps overdone and overpowered beasts that were built none survive to fly today.
    Last edited by Bill Greenwood; 03-06-2013 at 09:59 PM.

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