Warbird Information Exchange

I had a look at his latest book in the bookshop

"I Know You Got Soul by Jeremy Clarkson

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... 53-1807627

In it he discusses great machines.. But he leaves the Spitfire to last..

His last sentence

"probably the greatest machine ever built"

I can't argue with that.. Though I know a few yanks who will!

Aesthetically pleasing machine? Certainly the Spitfire/Seafire ranks high.

GREATEST machine ever? I think one would need to ask the pilot who is swinging beneath a parachute, his Spitfire augering earthward due to a tiny glycol leak; while the round-motored flier returns home to warm bed and shower, even though his craft has a couple of cylinders completely shot away.

Round rules. Pointy drools.

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Oh crud....

I'll be in the bomb shelter if anyone needs me

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Scott Rose
Editor-In-Chief/Webmaster
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So, the Fairey Swordfish is the greatest machine ever

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Volunteer - The Shoreham Aircraft Museum

Member - The Battle of Britain Historical Society

Robert please,
Although the Spitfire was a great aircraft, all the greatest British warbirds were built by that great British company from Kingston upon Thames in South west London--none other than H.G. Hawker Engineering Ltd.

I give you Hart, Hind, Demon, Nimrod, Osprey, Fury, Hurricane, Typhoon, Tempest, Sea Fury, Hunter, Harrier. Give me another company who's products span that length of time. That little concern from Bethpage, New York comes close but not in front.

Cheers
Andy
PS You didn't expect me not to respond did you??

I'm comfortable with the Swordfish as world's greatest. Certainly world's greatest W.W.I a/c in W.W.II See Warbird Digest Issue II's feature by - gosh- me.. Really? Quelle suprise. (Plug)

Of course RJ Mitchell's greatest was the Walrus... A Mitchell round engined aeroplane dispensing with proper exhausts as well as collant! (Plug: www.mmpbooks.biz - Walrus book by - oh, you spotted the trend?)

Hey, despite the Mustang-only lobby, we can have round and pointy engines (and at Old Warden a half doz more engine shapes too )

Jeremy. Hmmm. Having put a EE Lightning in his front yard in Oxfordshire, he got lots of publicity. After the publicity, he got rid of the Lighning, with -ah- lightning speed. Tells you all you need to know, really. Publicity hungry media himbo? Yup. Reliable reporter on technology? Nope.

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Hi James
is there any chance of a 'signed by author' copy of 'The Book of the Pusser's Duck' when I see you on Tuesday?
It'll be be a kind of memento of you after you leave for the ex-penal colony in a couple of weeks.

Cheers
Andy
PS Your lot were lucky I thought at Twickers this afternoon. Don't forget you owe me tenner in advance for next Summer.

I bought Clarkson's book the other day. It's a cracking read. Starts with Concorde, finishes with the Spitfire, with flying boats, 747, B-52, SR-71 and the Space Shuttle in between - a closet spotter if there ever was one.

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Awfully nice aeroplane piccies available

...and I bet he wrote every single word all by himself!

...that hasn't designed a worthwhile military aircraft since the B-52 over 50 years ago. Now the world's second largest producer of aluminium tubes full of seats. I think that's the one, isn't it Andy?

Sometimes Mike I detect a note of cynicism when you post.
I can certainly respect that.

Oh and Col Rohr.
Boeings are OK--I like B-17's.

[quote="Mike...that hasn't designed a worthwhile military aircraft since the B-52 over 50 years ago. Now the world's second largest producer of aluminium tubes full of seats. I think that's the one, isn't it Andy? [/quote]

Hi Mike
I couldn't bring myself to mention 'the airliner word'--yes fifty years of bus-building.
Cheers
Andy

Nasty, noisy, draughty things. That big open window lets all the wind in, very uncomfortable, and the in-flight service sucks. I wouldn't recommend them.

Andy I found a webpage that says the first Hawker aircraft, the Woodcock, first flew in 1923. The P.1127, which of course became the Harrier, first flying in 1960 and was also the last official Hawker Engineering design.

As for the Grumman, the first FF-1 flew in 1931. If you only count the Grumman Corporation products, and not the Northrup Grumman products then the last airplane would be the X-29A which first flew in 1985.

Thats 37 years for Hawker before it became a part of BAe to 54 years for Grumman before it became Northrup-Grumman.

Pretty good for both companies I'd say. I'm not sure if there are any two companies for either country that lasted longer.

Ryan

Hi Ryan
good post.
I knew Grumman had a long life but I was surprised how long a life it was.
For me personally I can't think of a Grumman design I actually dislike.
The Bearcat has to be a favourite though.
Cheers
Andy