Aviation Journalist Insight

You may have wondered what it is like to be an aviation journalist, and interview a well known or respected aircraft engineer or restorer.

This video, from Franklin Poole of the Fort Worth Vintage Flying Museum is exactly like the interview experience. He is outlining how they have come up with some rather significant improvements, using a rare but important 1940s invention, for the Wright-Cyclone R1820-97 on their B-17G.

Improvements to the R-1820 Wright Cyclone engine (Turbo Encabulator) from Franklin Poole on Vimeo.

Having viewed the video, all you need do is write up your understanding of this magnificent achievement in no more than 500 words and by next Tuesday, and be prepared for any corrections sent in by the well-informed readers. And the not well informed ones too.

Should you find the material difficult to summarise accurately, further research will lead you to this video, and this web-page.

Whatever else you note, remember that side fumbling must be effectively prevented.

Shturmovik!

A news item (in Russian) about the return to the air of one of W.W.II's most important aircraft, as well as the most produced - the Ilyushin Il-2:

Add another to the 'rare & unique fliers' list.

Battle of Britain film books

This is a selection of the main books that relate to the 1969 Battle of Britain film and related cinema and television depictions of the battle.


'Academic':
The Battle of Britain on Screen. 'The Few' in British Film and Television Drama. S P Mackenzie. Edinburgh University Press. 2007. 9780748623907. Seven 'essays' one on the film.

The Burning Blue. A New History of the Battle of Britain. Ed Paul Addison & Jeremy A Craig. Pimlico. 0712664750. 2000. Five parts, one on film & media, one essay in that on the film.

From the Wright Brothers to Top Gun. Aviation, nationalism and popular cinema. Michael Paris.Manchester University Press. 0719040744. 1995. Passing refs and an entry.

The contemporary 'making of':
Battle of Britain The combined story of Harry Saltzman's production 'Battle of Britain' and the supremely dramatic events of 1940. With 16 pages of full-colour photographs. Leonard Mosley. Pan Books. 330023578. 1969

The modern 'making of':
Battle of Britain The Movie. Robert J Rudhall. Ramrod Publications. 0951983296. 2000. (Note I understand there has been a subsequent edition with changes not made by the late Robert Rudhall, and some of these have added errors. However that is secondhand information.)

Battle of Britain Film The Photo Album. Robert J Rudhall. Ramrod Publications. 0953853934. 2001.

The books by my friend the late Robert Rudhall are particularly treasured; one being signed and dedicated to me, the other with a letter regarding the (very little) help and encouragement I gave Robert when he was writing the books.

Spitfire from the cockpit

Thanks to the retired Colonels (and no doubt Wing Commanders) of Tonbridge Wells' favourite paper, The Telegraph, you can see the pilot's view from the Spitfire I discussed in the previous post here.



Meantime, with background narration from Andy Saunders and John Romain, here's the Spitfire's flight.

Magnificent.

Spitfire I P9374

Two images of early Spitfires at Duxford, 1939 (above) and 2011 (below). [BBC & Brian A Marshall.]

The newest, oldest flying Supermarine Spitfire. [Brian A Marshall]

Undoubtedly one of the most exciting aircraft restorations is the rebuild of Spitfire I P9374, the earliest configured Spitfire now flying. A great deal of interest has been shown on the early test flights (as yet, no public flying display) and it is clearly a symptom of the health and desire for authenticity that this rare Spitfire has been restored to as original condition as is possible; including awkward systems like the early 'wobble' handle for the undercarriage, as well as the ultra-rare 'bracket' type de Havilland airscrew.

As well as the 'chassis' pump on the right-hand wall (centre of the image) the single strap rudder pedals can be seen on the left, with the 'Supermarine' stamp. [BBC]

The rare and re-engineered de Havilland Bracket type airscrew. [BBC]

John Romain of Historic Flying Ltd, the restorers of this machine, referred to this aircraft in a BBC News audio slideshow programme (where many of these images come from) here in August 2010:

John Romain explaining the process in front of a Hispano Buchon. [BBC]

This BBC broadcast is a good quick insight into some of the detail of restoration. A recommended listen.

And as a guide to the level restorations are at in terms of recovery of very degraded airframes and simultaneous recognition of the achievement in accurate reconstruction, this Spitfire also sets an important benchmark.

As well as of warbird 'benchmark' interest, we must congratulate to John and the team, and not least the owner for funding such a remarkable project.

Here's a sequence of images of the aircraft 'beached' (via Spitfire expert Peter Arnold, and Andy Saunders - who is working on a book about the aircraft with Grub Street. Details of the book here):

Circa 1940, with two German soldiers in their travel postcard. [via Peter Arnold]

Sinking into the Calais sand. [Via Andy Saunders.]

Some of the remains after being disinterred. [Via Andy Saunders.]

Meanwhile, here's a couple of stunning images of this machine in action over Duxford, from Brian's blog here (thanks Brian!).



James

PS: Long discussions on the aircraft here on Key and here on WIX.

PPS: For a pilot's eye view, see the follow up post here.

Airplanista Article

I recently assisted colleague Kathy Mexted with an article in a US aviation magazine, Airplanista, about flying (and its history) in Australia.


Head on over here to read more in the August issue - it's free. And Kathy's blog is here.

Wet 'Bou Signs Out

The DHC Caribou A4-152 retired to the RAAF Museum arrived with some ceremony on the 26 November 2009. Here are some photos from the day.

On taxi-in, with an arch provided by Point Cook CFA, and Rob Fox's Birddog, a fellow 'Vietnam Vet' in the foreground.


Pilot Squadron Leader Victoria Rookyard showers the crew with champagne.

While the traditional military dousing of the crew is carried out by RAAF Museum staff.

RAAF Caribou A4-152’s first pilot joins it's last crew - Flight Engineer Warrant Officers Rod Cairns and Peter Ryter; 38 Squadron’s Executive Officer, Squadron Leader Victoria Rookyard; -142’s first RAAF pilot, Des Lovett, and lastly, Co-pilot Squadron Leader Ross Benson.