Maybe you are a good Spitfire pilot! Not being able to see over the cowling
was a common complaint of the pilots. They felt it was too long and
especially annoying on take-off.
Yes, there is more than the name that they share. I should make a list for
the NASS group.
Sometimes I feel like my Mk III is 'made of wood & wire'. ;-)
Terrence N. Banbury
1967 SPITFIRE MK III
> ----------
> From: Suzie[SMTP:suzie_bear@hotmail.com]
> Reply To: Suzie
> Sent: Monday, April 10, 2000 3:29 PM
> To: NASS; Spit List
> Subject: Re: Spitfire accident - non lbc
>
>
> I have to say, the time I actually got to sit in a Spitfire cockpit, that
> it
> did rather swamp me - but then I'm not the tallest of people. With my lack
> of height I wouldn't have made a very good Spit pilot, I couldn't see over
> the cowling at all.
>
> Some of the bigger guys who got in were struggling though and that was
> just
> being dressed lightly, no battledress, flying jacket or parachute. There
> were also similarities to our cars in the cockpit when I noticed all the
> cables & wires - it did seem put together with 'string & sealing wax' - a
> few more dials though.
>
> Those early aviators really were something though. The Spitfire may have
> been a basic design but just imagine going up in something like an Avro or
> De Havilland bi-plane - literally made of wood & wire. Those really were
> pioneers.
>
> I am proud to own & drive a car that carries with it, more than just the
> name of the Spitfire aircraft, but what seems to me to be the spirit of it
> too.
>
> Suzie
>
> PS. Hood down today for the hour long journey to & from work, I'm quite
> amazed at myself - pretty damn cold though, 40~F, my heater certainly
> isn't
> working at optimum.
>
>
> Terrence wrote:
>
>
> [snip]
> As I have been
> reading, I am struck by the similar "relationship" between the pilots and
> their aircraft and the wingless Spits and their drivers. Suffice to say
> it
> has to do with the responsiveness and the fit/feel of the craft. The
> handling characteristics of the aircraft and the car, relative to their
> 'peer vehicles seem to be alike, ie. not the fastest with the biggest
> guns,
> but the best integration of operator and machine, thereby giving great
> powers to 'fly'. These similarities were not always positive either.
> One
> US pilot who was assigned a Spit to fly, liked many of the qualities, but
> complained that the cockpit was somewhat small for him. I can sympathize
> with that observation, as I think that is my only complaint regarding the
> design.
>
>
>
>
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