Spitfire Mk 18 Griffon engine run up, Duxford 2008.

Spitfire MK18 ready for engine and run up test, at Duxford JULY 2008.. Rebuilding is nearly completed..
The Fighter Collection operates, rebuilds and maintains Europe's largest collection of airworthy WWII aircraft and is based at Duxford Airfield, in the UK. Run by a professional team of engineers and pilots for both airshow and film work, the aircraft fly all over Europe during the summer months to attend airshows from Austria to Switzerland. The fleet comprises of aircraft from the UK, USA, Germany, Russia and Italy - and the collection is constantly expanding as new aeroplanes are acquired.
The TFC is one of the premier collections of warbirds in Europe. Based in Duxford's Hanger 2 (and parts of hanger 3), The Fighter Collection is owned by Stephen Grey, whose intention it was to own an example of every allied fighter type flown in WWII.
- Duxford airfield dates to 1918 when many of the buildings were constructed by German prisoner-of-war labour. The airfield housed 8 Squadron in 1919--1920 which was equipped with F.2Bs. The airfield was then used by No. 2 Flying Training School until, April 1923 when 19 Squadron was formed at Duxford with Sopwith Snipes.

By 1925 Duxford's three fighter squadrons had expanded to include the Gloster Grebes and Armstrong Whitworth Siskins. No.19 Squadron re-equipped with Bristol Bulldogs in 1931, and in 1935, was the first squadron to fly the RAF's fastest new fighter, the Gloster Gauntlet, capable of 230 mph (375 km/h). The station was enlarged between 1928 and 1932. In 1935, Duxford was the venue for the Silver Jubilee Review before King George V and Queen Mary, the resident squadron still being 19. This squadron gave a special demonstration over Duxford for the King.

In 1936 Flight Lieutenant Frank Whittle, who was studying at Cambridge University, flew regularly from Duxford as a member of the Cambridge University Air Squadron. Whittle went on to develop the jet turbine as a means of powering an aircraft, this enabled Britain to produce the Allies' first operational jet fighter in 1943 - the Gloster Meteor.

In 1938 No.19 squadron was the first RAF squadron to fly the new Supermarine Spitfire, the first Spitfire was flown into Duxford in August 1938 by Jeffrey Quill, Supermarine's test pilot.

On 3 September 1939 Britain declared war on Germany and Duxford was ready to play a vital role. By June 1940 Belgium, the Netherlands and France were under German control and the invasion of Britain was their next objective (Operation Sealion). Duxford was placed in a high state of readiness, to create space for additional units at Duxford, 19 Squadron moved to nearby Fowlmere. The dominance of the skies over Britain would be totally critical to keeping German forces out, this became known as The Battle of Britain. Hurricanes first arrived at Duxford in July with the formation of 310 Squadron, which consisted of Czechoslovakian pilots escaped from France. At the end of August Air Vice-Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory ordered the Hurricanes of 242 Squadron, down from Coltishall to join 19 and 310 Squadrons on daily standby at Duxford.


A real bouncing bombOn 9 September the Duxford squadrons successfully intercepted and turned back a large force of German bombers before they reached their target. This proved Duxford's importance, so two more squadrons were added to the Wing, No.302 (Polish) Squadron with Hurricanes, and the Spitfires of No.611 Auxiliary Squadron which had mobilised at Duxford a year before.

On average sixty Spitfires and Hurricanes were dispersed around Duxford and RAF Fowlmere every day. On 15 September 1940 they twice took to the air to repulse Luftwaffe attacks intent at bombing London. RAF fighter Command was victorious, (with the Navy and Army).. the threat of invasion passed and Duxford's squadrons had played a critical role. This became known as 'Battle of Britain Day'.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• eric
• goujon
• christophe
• jacquard
• patrice
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• airshow
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• force.
• must
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• fun
• sport.
• film
• video
• clip
• issued
• from
• digital
• camera
• CASIO
• EXILIM.

[okajima75]

Nice!

[ericgoujon]

Thank's...

[dl5270]

massive engine, terrific-looking plane

[navnig]

beautiful plane

[navnig]

the ultimate spitfire, awesome bird.

[VMFA115Starloric]

3-Point landing much?

Look at that prop!

[Anacinc]

Not really sure how this radical firing orde came about. Your right about the site where the info concerning firing orders is available, that;s where I got the info as well. Never could have guessed that they had a different approach for each V12 engine but ok... always awesome to hear them!

[planedrawer]

Your right. I've seen a schematic on a website(think it's Aero Engine History) of all the V-12 firing orders, including the E-type jag engine, which is identicle to the DB600's! I was surprised to see that they were all different, even though all but the Griffon sound alike. When you look @ the Griffons firing order it is the most different. I think it was an attempt by RR to stop the big crank breaking between the strain of the prop & supercharger.

[Anacinc]

Why should it be a pitty? Lot of the WW2 era planes from the allied forces used the Merin engine and speaking in terms of war it didn't matter what an engine sounded like but these days I would love to hear a Griffon engined fighter among all those Merlin or even Packard Merlin engined planes. Keep in mind that the Merlin, DB's, Allison, Jumo, Klimov all had different firing orders. Probably the Griffon had a pretty radical change in firing order which gives it's distinctive sound ;)

[Anacinc]

Really?.... Not again! We lost a fair amount of special aircraft to the US already, and I would like to see a stunning flightline again like they had during the 90's!

[halffliffe]

its funny how the video make look like the props are moving slow

[wamb17]

Afraid sm969 has gone to usa guys....