Spitfire startup & Flight

[cube101010]

i think the me109/bf109 is better but the brittish pilots of spitfires were better than the german.

[owennerd88]

I find the BF-109 to be cooler and better engineered, but the Spitfire comes second.

[chrishorry]

Wonderful, I hope these birds are kept in flying condition for many more years.

[Layzelle1]

amazing vid

[YanBelley]

Dear lovely bitch. I hope to start your engine only 1 time in my life. I'd be almost ok if I die right after. Most beautiful aircraft ever. Long live in our memories Reginald Joseph Mitchell. Your profile face looks as sharp as your hunter. Thx a lot for that WWII solution. (sorry for my english guys, but you understand!)

[doacarnage]

Only things I think should have been done on this plane to improve it would be, Fuel injection to prevent stalling on areobatic manuvers, and a 20mm cannon or at least 50 cal machine guns. The 303 is fine for killing people or deer hunting, but when you wanna knock down a plane I think something heavier is desirable.

[xjboy550]

A dam fine documentary ! I used to have a copy but sadly no more !

[sheephelmet]

Nearly 70 years od and still the most beautiful thing to take to the air with the most stirring soundtrack. Long may the Spitfire live.

[Sdwr87]

I was born 60 years too late!!

[RG1001]

when i was little my mother used to sing to me to put me to sleep, whenever i hear the merlin engine i am reminded of my mother singing to me. hell of a conditioned response but one i do enjoy.

[VBZ100]

Wonderfoul.

[andysim232]

wonderful aircraft, its so organic, its like something mother nature would have created. It just might be one of the most beautiful machines ever created by humans.

[kakadz89]

This movie is just excellent! I'm getting shivers because of the sound and views in this movie. Just like when I saw this plane two times live, last year. I love the Spitfire!

[tempest62000]

very precious video!!!

[FysikFyren]

The Spit is more pleasing to look at, but I love Bf109 from an engenering perspective. The Spit is a plane where they added weapons. The 109 is weapon that can fly. In 1940 it took 13000 manhours to make a Spit, but only 4000 to make a 109. But the British had geared their production for war by 1940, Hitler still resisted Albert Speer to do the same. Both planes crap when it comes to making the landing gear. During the attack on France, 40-50% where lost to takeoff & landing accidents.

[hisveggieness]

An excellent piece of documentary filming especially the start up procedure.

[Editorialz]

It simply doesn't get better than this when it comes to glorious icons from our past. What a fabulous piece of engineering and a joy to watch.

[terryjohn]

1977

[MrToshTogo]

Very tastefully done! Quite elegant film depicting the marvel of the Spitfire. Thank you.

[devja71]

@MrToshTogo -i agree, this day and age too many people insert dumb music in their vids and ruin the whole damn thing

[Ohotneg]

Кросавчег

[Dafelixxx]

nothing and I mean absolutely nothing beats the sound of that mighty Merlin...more than music to my ears

[ChrizRockster]

I always thought the trim would have to be adjusted on the rudder before take-off - glad to find my thoughts were correct.

[krz9000]

a spit goes "turn and burn" and a bf109 goes "boom and zoom",....its a totally different way to fly/fight

[mikeyboyguitarmad]

@krz9000 thats not the way it happen thuo is it?..

[bluefunkybassman]

Brill, thanks for posting!

[MrRichardnorwood]

Iconic British perfection in design, performance (hence virtually no ME109's left!) and sound , also sat in MH434 when I was about 8 and still remains close to my heart 30 years later.....

[spitfire690]

There are only like under five 109s still flying, anything else in existence are museum pieces...

[mrrmancunian]

2 in the world worthy of flying and only one of those flies once a year.

[thegrunchisdead]

@mrrmancunian What're you talking about? :S There are 4 airworthy Spitfire Mk. IXs in the UK alone, never mind other marks. There are almost 45 airworthy Spitfires worldwide.

[mrrmancunian]

@thegrunchisdead I was talking about the BF109.

[thegrunchisdead]

@mrrmancunian Well, in that case there are 5, 7 if you include the two Buchons re-engined with DB605s. :)

[mrrmancunian]

@thegrunchisdead The last I heard there were only two originals, unless that's changed within the past couple of years or so.

[thegrunchisdead]

@mrrmancunian From what I can tell there are 5, The Flying Heritage Collection E-3 in the US, the Russell Group E-7 rebuilt as an E-3 in Canada, A G-6 in Poland, A G-10 restored by the Messerschmitt Foundation and a G-10 restored as a G-14 at the Evergreen Aviation Museum. So it seems like there have been a few more made airworthy, which is always nice.

[mrrmancunian]

@thegrunchisdead Yeah it is pleasing. I'm glad my info was wrong in the first instance, it's only a shame that there aren't even more.

[thegrunchisdead]

@mrrmancunian Yeah definitely...pity about aircraft like the Tempest, He 111, Ju 88 and Mosquito of which I don't think there are any airworthy examples or the de Havilland Hornet of which there are are no surviving examples at all. :(

[mrrmancunian]

@thegrunchisdead I'm almost sure there's a fly worthy He 111, I saw a video not long back. Regarding the other aircraft though I don't think any of those fly.

[thegrunchisdead]

@mrrmancunian I think it was a CASA 2.111 (Spanish license-built with Merlin engines), but unfortunately that aircraft crashed in 2003. :( There was an airworthy Mosquito, as well, I saw it fly as a kid but unfortunately it crashed the week after! :( Both lost due to an engine failure, the Mosquito while mid-loop and the 2.111 on landing.

[mrrmancunian]

@thegrunchisdead Yeah it was a CASA, still within the Heinkel family as far as appearance goes nonetheless. I wasn't aware that it crashed though!

It's quit ridiculous come to think of it over how many classics have crashed.

[thegrunchisdead]

@mrrmancunian Yeah, it is...but it just goes to show how hard it is to maintain such an old aircraft, I guess. One of the Thunder City EE Lightnings crashed recently due to an engine failure. :(

[mrrmancunian]

@thegrunchisdead It costs a lot to maintain aircraft as it is, let alone classics, I know that much.

It wasn't an engine failure, it was a flame out. His landing gear failed and so did the ejection seat leaving him no option but to crash it - a shame though, even more so for me, it being my favourite aircraft of all time.

[leiker06]

ehhh.... i'd take a 109 over this :D

[spitfire690]

The 109 was a death trap; tiny cockpit (like more cramped than the Spitfire), heavy canopy that doesn't slide open, which makes it harder to open if you need to bail out, and it couldn't pull hard right turns...a 109 pilot once said "Those bastards make such infernally tight turns that it's impossible to get them". How about you get a BF109 and I'll get a Spitfire and we'll go have some fun :P

[leiker06]

ok, sounds good to me. I'm just saying that the 109 is my favorite fighter plane all time. and i dont really like the spitfire because everyone does :P

[spitfire690]

lol gotcha, being a rebel eh? I like the 109 too, it looks and even sounds sinister...it was a formidable opponent! But you have to admit, the Spitfire is a beautiful aircraft ;)

[spitfire690]

lol gotcha ;) so you're gonna be a rebel eh? I like the 109 too, it looks and even sounds sinister and was for certain a formidable opponent! But you have to admit, the Spitfire is a beautiful aircraft :P

[leiker06]

oh, no doubt it is a sleek looking plane. good craftsmanship. same goes for the 109. good engineering by both.

[WhiteLotus619]

I'm writing a book about a RAF pilot, so this video has some great information in it. So glad I found it! Thanks for posting!

[spitfire690]

Let me know when you're done writing it, I'd love to read it! And who's the pilot?

[WhiteLotus619]

Oh it could be a while. It's fiction, so the pilot's name is Kaymen.

[spitfire690]

I almost forgot to mention, I'd be more than happy to give you any info you need if you'd like!

[WhiteLotus619]

Great, thanks!

[ShakyCameraPictures]

I've sat in this spitfire!!!

[ckolonko]

I love the sound of the wobble pump fuel thing.

[pepe190]

Astonishing video!.. remarkbly well edited.Being an ex RR employee makes you proud!......cheers

[Nahojishere]

Awesome! 10/10

[kakadz89]

Veeeery nice video. :)

[BigLisaFan]

Some aircraft just look perfect and the Spitfire is one of them.

[Mattebubben]

@BigLisaFan the 109 F4 and G2 Also Looks perfect they are all Smoth

[terrymod]

Brings a lump to the throat....

[biloxigator]

She's beautiful...

[Mitsimad]

Nice vid

[TheOriginalEAGLE]

Very nice. Gotta love that Merlin. Thanks for sharing, Eh? Wot? ;)

[corpsegrinder1977]

Shear music! Wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

[BeliVolk]

Now that is a great video!

Great thx for sharing!

S!