Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
I just read this report...
http://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/burma-signs-deal-to-dig-up-60-buried-spitfires.html
Great news. Seeing that there are only 35 flying examples in the world this will give a big boost to that.
Pity in a way that these are Griffin engined examples, not the more famous Merlin engined Spits. The Griffin was a more powerful engine introduced towards the end of the war.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i remember reading about this a year or two back, would be great to see them on display back in the u.k.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
Very interesting informative read, I didn't realize there were 60 Spitfires I thought it was 'only' around a dozen Wow!
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
I have just read that as well as the Griffon engined MkXIV Spits there are 8 Mk VIII Spitfires.
The Mk VIII were Merlin engined and are now very rare. Some pilots considered these to be the best of all the Spitfires to fly and are certainly among the nicest looking, sleek with a retractable tail wheel.
The Mk VIII was actually a more advanced version than the Mk IX which was meant originally to be a stop-gap to combat the FW190 menace. The Mk IX went on to be the main Spit type in Europe right to the end of the war while the Mk VIII's, when they were produced, were sent out to the Far East.
I must say that the 8 Mk VIII's are far more exciting than the 60 Mk XIV's as a find.
Here is a pic of a Mk VIII
Here is a MkXIV - The larger Griffon engine required bulges over the exhausts that spoil the lines and the larger heavier front of the aircraft required modification at the back.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
A Beautiful fighter in my view, no matter which engine powers it. I must admit though the sound of a Merlin engine is something special, not sure if I've heard a Griffon powered Spitfire but you never know
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Yes - it seems they have not found anything. Such a pity.
But - all is not lost on this yet, this is only part of the story. Fingers crossed.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i always wondered about the logistics of the exercise, firstly building the huge crates then burying them without having modern day earth moving equipment.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
I doubt they would they have had to build huge crates Howard, surely they would have been transported from the UK in parts so would already be in crates prior to assembly at the airfield.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 767- Registered: 30 Aug 2012
- Posts: 458
Calm down! Sgning up is not the same as digging up, we won't know what we've got until someone digs a big deep hole. I would love to see them recovered but feel that we need to keep a calm eye on this. Flypast stated recently that some 50 airframes are in flying condition world wide with many others in static/museum condition. The airworthy figure is constantly changeing as new aircraft join the list while others leave the list while undergoing service etc.
Iam reminded of a story some years ago concerning crated Spitfires in Russia, and sadly nothing came of that either. I think we all need to wait until digging begins, and ends.
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
Phil-hopefully what is found will be restoreable. It would be great if this find turned out to be the Barry Scrapyard of Spitfires-it's really exciting-good luck to the aero hertitage prospectors!
Never give up...
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
Barry-is the Griffon a V12 convig?
Never give up...
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Yes, it is an inverted V12 of about 37 litres with two super chargers, compared with the Merlin's 27 litres. Powered some Spits and more recently, Shackletons. Originally developed as a marine engine for MTBs I believe.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 767- Registered: 30 Aug 2012
- Posts: 458
Richard, a few details on the later mark Griffon Spitfires for you.Mk 14 (as hoped for in Burma) Griffon65, 37 litre liquid cooled V12, 2,035 horse power. 439mph at 24,500ft.
F24, Griffon 61,64 or 85, as before but 2,340hp, 454 mph at 26,000ft.
Just for interest sake the MkXIX(19) was the last so called, from the Mk19 onwards Spitfires became the Mk F20 before becoming the Valient, the Spitful and the Seafang, hope this helps.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Anyone got any g/km co2 figures for it?
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
Thanks Phil and Peter - absolutely fascinating. Phil-Did the Valient,Spitful and Seafang look like a Spitfire?
Never give up...
Guest 767- Registered: 30 Aug 2012
- Posts: 458
No! The Seafang was the last vervison of the Seafire, Valient was a prototype only while the Spitful was a great last version of the Spitfire. In looks think of a very late Grffon Spitfire with P51 Mustang wings, the Spitful was the fastest ever production pi0ston engined fighter produced, but along it came it's nemisis, the jet.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
For anyone following this thread, the following link is worthwhile:
(After the ad is over)
Guest 767- Registered: 30 Aug 2012
- Posts: 458
Sorry about spelling in my last few posts, I really should know by now that opening that second bottle of Lagavulin 16 year old single malt is never a good/always good/idea! The Spitfire grew into several airframes, the Spiteful being the best,but the jet age was upon us, however it is a Spiteful that holds the worrld record for a piston engined aircraft in level flight, at around 480 mph, I will confirm this later just to get the facts right. For the model makers amongest us (Barry!) doe's anyone produce a Seafang or Spiteful model?
Spiteful RB518 was converterd in1947 to be the sole F16 with a three stage, two speed Griffon 101, in level flight it reached 494mph, but the jets had arrived!
