[BITList] Nostalgia - For some

[John Feltham]

G'day Derek,

On 11/02/2009, at 6:21 AM, Derek Hargreaves wrote:

 > I get the impression that the number of flightworthy Spitfires  
remaining, significantly exceeds the older Hurricanes which have  
survived.

I expect so. They are more 'desirable' than Hurries.

<< There is no doubt that the former saved our bacon against the  
massed German daytime raids forcing them to change tactics to night  
time bombing. Sadly, and I quote a contemporary senior pilot, "very  
soon the poor forward view and delicate landing characteristics of the  
Spitfire had resulted in a heavy accident rate in night landings and  
they were withdrawn from regular night operations" whereas ".flying  
the sound, stable and easily landed Hurricane was no problem". >>

There were many problems with the Spitfire. One of which was  
considerable is related to the track of the main wheels which were  
much closer together than the main wheels n the Hurrie. This made them  
unstable on the ground.  The German ME109 suffered from the same  
problem, but there's were worse as the attachment points of their  
undercarriage was on the body of the aircraft itself as against being  
attached to the wings as the Spitfires was. And in the Spitfire, the  
decision to mount them further inboard was in order to keep the wing  
thin.

 > PS My wife arrives in Cairns tomorrow UK / today OZ expecting to  
see the reefs. Have they sunk? Is she going to be disappointed?

At least she will be able to eat. It was reported on the TV news  
tonight that the first trucks carrying foodstuffs made it through by  
road.

She'll certainly notice the humidity.



ooroo

If you don't hear the knock of opportunity - build a door.

Anon.



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