Aircraft recognition!!

[jack brew]

Either a Spitfire or a Hurricane has just overflown my gaff, but being the numpty I am I don't know which it was. It was painted white or grey, if that helps!!

I can say it was definitely not the Lancaster.

So, without insults please can someone point out the obvious visual difference between the two?

Muchos Gracias!

 

[MontyPlumbs]

Hurricane and Spitfire comparison: http://www.303rdbg.com/ac-british.html

Be aware some later marks of Spitfire did not have elliptical wings! But for the most part that guide is accurate.

MP

 

[I Look Like Kevin Costner]

If it was grey, it is possibly the Spitfire PR19 from the BBMF.

 

[Ex-Bay]

If it was grey, it is possibly the Spitfire PR19 from the BBMF.

If a Spitfire, could be the grey PR9 out of Warton?

 

[Gillo]

Either a Spitfire or a Hurricane has just overflown my gaff, but being the numpty I am I don't know which it was. It was painted white or grey, if that helps!!

I can say it was definitely not the Lancaster.

So, without insults please can someone point out the obvious visual difference between the two?

Muchos Gracias!

Trust from your avatar your Chopper recognition is a tad better. Top tip both Spit and Hurrie are open line if you ever get the chance.DT_Xtremez_44:

 

[SupportiveCivvy]

If a Spitfire, could be the grey PR9 out of Warton?

Warton, Spitfire, grey, PR.Mk.9 - are you sure? Certainly haven't seen one operating any day this year. The only PR9s that have operated out of Warton were Canberras. BBMF's PR.Mk.19, PS915, rebuilt at Samlesbury and flown from Warton was blue and that was >20 years ago.

 

[Cake or Death]

off topic slightly, there was something with a merlin engine hammering around the skies in benson on friday evening if anyone could enlighten me on that. couldnt see it but a most enjoyable sound track it provided

 

[MAINJAFAD]

Warton, Spitfire, grey, PR.Mk.9 - are you sure? Certainly haven't seen one operating any day this year. The only PR9s that have operated out of Warton were Canberras. BBMF's PR.Mk.19, PS915, rebuilt at Samlesbury and flown from Warton was blue and that was >20 years ago.

Rolls Royce have a Spitfire PR 19, lives at Filton if memory serves and was at Farnbough this weekend. PR 19 has a Griffon engine in it though, which don't quite sound like a Merlin. BBMF PR19 has D-Day invasion Stripes on it.

 

[Ex-Bay]

Warton, Spitfire, grey, PR.Mk.9 - are you sure? Certainly haven't seen one operating any day this year. The only PR9s that have operated out of Warton were Canberras. BBMF's PR.Mk.19, PS915, rebuilt at Samlesbury and flown from Warton was blue and that was >20 years ago.

I remember that a Spitfire (a PR ) was re-built by the Apprentices at Warton (similar support from Rolls and De Haviland Canada) "a million hours, a million bits" was how it was described to me. I saw it fly (and I've lost my little book on it). At a time when Tonkas rolled out the hangar on a regualr basis, the Spit was the only plane which had EVERYONE leaning out of the windows.

I don't know where it went or to whom, but I just wondered if it may have been the one seen by JB.

 

[Heilan]

off topic slightly, there was something with a merlin engine hammering around the skies in benson on friday evening if anyone could enlighten me on that. couldnt see it but a most enjoyable sound track it provided

Would that have been about 8 - 8.30 Fri Evening? If so, it was the flypast for the Officers Mess Summer Ball. Didn't see what it was as I was at work, but was either a Hurricane or Spitfire.

 

[MeRlIn HaTeR]

off topic slightly, there was something with a merlin engine hammering around the skies in benson on friday evening if anyone could enlighten me on that. couldnt see it but a most enjoyable sound track it provided

Hurricane, for the Finale he did a dive over the crowd and passed no more than 20 feet over the NAAFI. The best display I've seen in a long while, FJ displays never really do it for me.

 

[Heilan]

Hurricane, for the Finale he did a dive over the crowd and passed no more than 20 feet over the NAAFI. The best display I've seen in a long while, FJ displays never really do it for me.

It sounded as if it was going to hit the Spar stockroom!! Was in it at the time & just about shat myself!!!DT_Xtremez_35:

 

[MAINJAFAD]

Sounds like the aircraft was PZ865 (the last Hurricane ever built), which is painted in a patten of Dark Green/Ocean Grey/Night (Matt Blue Black), in the markings of a 1 Sqn Aircraft flown by a Czech ace Flt Lt Karel Kuttelwascher DFC which was known as the "Night Reaper". Kuttelwascher mane a name for himself in shooting down German aircraft over their own airfields during night intruder operations over France from his base at RAF Tangmere during 1941.

 

[Heilan]

All I know is it was loud & low, very low!!! Kept ducking when it was flying over!! DT_Xtremez_42:

 

[Cake or Death]

ah yes i forgot about the sgts mess doo. as later that night they relised the fire works, i thought there was a heavy contact at the main gate at first! that hurri was indeed low but oh did it sound so so nice.

 

[SupportiveCivvy]

Rolls Royce have a Spitfire PR 19, lives at Filton if memory serves and was at Farnbough this weekend. PR 19 has a Griffon engine in it though, which don't quite sound like a Merlin. BBMF PR19 has D-Day invasion Stripes on it.

You're right. Originally BBMF had three PR. Mk. XIXs (got the format right this time) PM631, PS853 and PS915. 915 was orginally in PR blue but BBMF change their aircraft schemes from time to time. 853 was sold to fund repairs to Hurricane PZ865 and was later bought by RR Heritage to replace their Spitfire Mk. XIV. Both 853 and 915 have Griffon 58s modified to suit the a/c. Subject to correction, 631 still has a 66 Griffon. The Griffons sound nice but don't have the rich timbre of a Merlin.