In the Spitfire Mk I Cockpit

[@FoulOwl2112]

The Spitfire and the DC3 are two of the best examples of form=function. Both are just timeless beauty.

[@HarborLockRoad]

The most aesthetically pleasing mark of the entire series. Im always reminded of the first test pilots words, " Don't change a thing, it's perfect as it is!"

[@krausriggentropp1970]

That canopy is a piece of art by itself....gorgeous aircraft, timeless, and a liberator & hero! will never ever be surpassed or forgotten!

[@jerrymail]

The Hurricane and the Spitfire are two legends of the Battle of Britain but also of the Second World War. When I see one of these magnificent piston-engine planes flying, I have the feeling of something much more impressive, elegant and moving than a jet. I went to Duxford once, when I was a teenager. I witnessed the takeoff of a B-17! it was superb! What an experience!

[@petehall889]

A superb aircraft. The first thing I noticed in the earlier part of the video was that the firing button was not on 'Safe', glad that the firing procedure was explained later. I also noticed that the Irvin jacket had a horizontal seam half way down the sleeve. I believe this is the later version? My father's Irvin, issued to him in 1939 and worn throughout the war, has no seam. I still have it, together with many items of his kit, including his flying helmet with Gosport Tubes from his R.A.F. training days on Hawker Hart, Hind and Audax biplanes. His flying gauntlets are still as soft as they were when issued in 1939!

[@kentwurmnest6708]

U

[@markfryer9880]

Treasure them always.

[@petehall889]

@@kentwurmnest6708 U

[@petehall889]

@@markfryer9880 Thank you Mark. I certainly will - they mean a lot to me. Gosh, I miss him!

[@randyedwards3244]

Sounds like a superb gentleman. Was it possible he was one of the "Few"? I have a Polish friend whose father was one of the "Few"

[@oliverbourne9599]

I've done the IWM Spitfire Cockpit experience at Duxford with Liam three times now. Absolutely priceless 1-on-1 experience and Liam is the font of all knowledge and then more !!

[@matthewcunningham8691]

@Oliver Bourne - Only 3 times Oliver?

[@oliverbourne9599]

@@matthewcunningham8691 Always happy to hear people have done it more to contribute to the upkeep of N3200

[@samiam619]

If you aren’t wearing a parachute, what do you sit on in the cockpit?

[@oliverbourne9599]

@@samiam619 A seat was standard equipment in a Mk1 :-) It is all totally original in the cockpit. Restored or original parts. The seats also had a small amount of height adjustment to cater for varying pilot's torso lengths when sat on the chute, so that the pilots could get into the correct position

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

@@samiam619 When the bullets and cannon shells started coming in I would imagine that there were not many without something soft to sit on!

[@M17_Max]

Can never learn too much about these aircraft! Can only imagine how groundbreaking they were at the time, and how uplifting it was for people to see the RAF flying something so incredible

[@Janus-fn2uz]

"I" can never learn .....

[@nicwilson89]

I remember seeing 16 Spitfires, a Lancaster, and a bf109 fly in formation and mock dogfight and stuff at Duxford a number of years ago. Most amazing thing I've ever seen, and heard! Hearing the rumble getting louder and louder and then seeing 16 Spitfires and a Lancaster flying in formation over the airfield gave me goosebumps

[@allgood6760]

Awesome! .. we had a Spitfire fly over yesterday... 80 years since the beginning of the RNZAF.. thanks mate! 👍🇳🇿

[@liquidslow]

I think the Mk.I is the most beautiful iteration of all the Spitfires, very elegant and well-proportioned. Brilliant video, thanks for sharing it, I dream of visiting the museum someday.

[@johnjephcote7636]

If that is the one that was rescued from being dragged out of the sand, in bits, then the re-manufacturing of the airscrew and pitch mechanism, let alone sourcing the early Merlin was an incredible feat in itself.

[@whiteonggoy7009]

My uncle was a navigator in 617 squadron.i wish I had listened to him more but now I gain from your videos.thank you sir.

[@ianthomson9363]

I've sat in the cockpit of N3200 and can thoroughly recommend the 'Spitfire Cockpit Experience. You get a 20 minute talk about the Spitfire in general and this particular aircraft, and then about ten minutes in the cockpit. It's well worth it!

[@ondrejdobrota7344]

If you are wealthy :-)

[@ianthomson9363]

@@ondrejdobrota7344 It's £45, not a huge amount to find or save up.

[@ondrejdobrota7344]

@@ianthomson9363 I know the price. I am historian so I would not pay that :-) They would have to pay me :-)

[@ianthomson9363]

@@ondrejdobrota7344 I've been interested in WW2 aircraft for about 50 years now, and I once considered applying to the RAF to be a pilot, so I felt it was worth it. Who knows, some kind philanthropist might read your comment and buy you a sit-in-a-Spitfire experience!

[@ondrejdobrota7344]

@@ianthomson9363 I am not sure about the philantropist at all :-D

[@mikelyons7297]

When I was young, I read a book called "Fly for your Life" about WC Robert Stanford Tuck. He was one of the first pilots to fly the Spitfire Mk1. He was taught by RJ Renolds' #2 Jeffery Quill. Wonderful stories of the spitfire, though he flew a Hurricane in the Battle of Brittan, with 257 squadron. This book made me love British aircraft and admire what the British pilots went through.

[@russellherbert9670]

FANTASTIC

[@aussie6910]

I have that book in my library & a copy of the photo of Tuck & Galland in a 109 Buchon two seater. The aircraft still flies as "red 11". It doubled in value because of those flights.

[@British-Dragon-Simulations]

I was a bit annoyed when I first found out as I am a British patriot. I would love to say the Spitfire was an overall better plane. I don't know about the tactics or the numbers during the Battle of Britain. I just know the performance of both planes. The 109 had better speed and fire power and the Spitfire had a very good turn rate but very poor roll rate. I would rather be in the faster plane so I could fight on my term's. My favourite plane of WWII is probably the Tempest with it's Napier Sabre engine. Happy New year.

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

@@aussie6910 I didn't know that Bob Stanford Tuck ever had his picture taken with Judy Garland!? 😜😁

[@aussie6910]

@@theoztreecrasher2647 You obviously know nothing of WWII history, look up Adolf Garland & learn something before you make an even bigger fool of yourself.

[@duartesimoes508]

One of the most happy days in my life, believe it or not, was when my Parents offered me at last a Spitfire Mk I from Dinky Toys, in the mid seventies. It was metallic, probably between 1/72 and 48 scale, dark earth and dark green, you could manually retract her landing gear and the most marvelous was that you could install a little, hard to find battery in her tail that would power a small electric engine and spin the propeller! That was outstanding. God, how I loved that aircraft! That collection had at least the Spit, the Stuka and the Zero. The Stuka could drop a bomb when you pressed a button on her tail. When I think back, those were simple and happy times indeed. Along the years I must have accumulated nearly 400 scale model aircraft and still have many of them. I have three strong memories of my childhood concerning aircraft: That Spitfire from Dinky Toys, the superb books "Fires in the Sky" and "The Great Circus" from the remarkable French RAF fighter pilot Pierre Clostermann, and the truly outstanding TV series The world at War, certainly the very best ever made about WW II. I knew well a charming Portuguese Air Force Major who had flown the Spitfire in his youth. (we operated the Spitfire Mk I and Mk VB and the Hurricane IIC from the mid forties to the mid fifties, before receiving the heavy, dreaded F-47 and the F-84 and F-86) He loved the aircraft, of course, and remembers that on his first solo, when he ended cleaning and trimming the aircraft after take off and looked outside he was stunned to notice that he was already about 10 miles beyond where he should be! Surely, the Spitfire was no Tiger Moth nor Harvard anymore...

[@h.niemeyer6651]

Wonderful video. I still have the Dinky Spitfire that was my birthday present in the early seventies. The prop motor spins when inserting the battery. I remember after playing you had to remove the battery because otherwise it was empty before you knew. The later issued Me109 had a switch and a normal AAA battery. The Me109 is also in my collection.

[@JiriUL]

Greetings from the Czech Republic and a huge kudos to the authors of this brilliant video ! In 11 minutes it gives so much of interesting information - and I alwasy like to learn some in depth details about this amazing airplane.. I definitely need to visit Britain and see some of the great WWII museums..

[@marvinc9994]

" I definitely need to visit Britain " You will, Mate..............................you will !!

[@rogerpritchard]

Super detailed video. One of the best I've seen. Happy landings! My father who was in 601 squadron would have enjoyed it!

[@nine-0991]

Thailand have spitfire?

[@blameusa7082]

@@nine-0991 yeh its there current doctrine fighter

[@maxcorey8144]

My favorite fighter the Spitfire. The most beautiful, one of the very best overall fighters.

[@lazyj4732]

Myself and my son had the pleasure of sitting in this aircraft yesterday. A very humbling experience.

[@harryblox760]

It's almost unbelievable compared to the modern day that the engineers and designers were evolving this beautiful beast at a fairly rapid rate in order to adapt to changes in warfare. From Mk1 to the Mk9, significant changes were made to improve its abilities, all while in the middle of a war. The thought of what they had then to now just shows the difference in how people thought to overcome problems. Never will we have anything anywhere near those involved in designing, building, and, of course, flying these machines. Lots of people probably have no idea how bloody damn good this plane was and what it could do. Such a stunning piece of engineering.

[@nickname1812]

This is an amazing video. With all this to think about, getting it in the air and combat too - pilots had to navigate back to base in all weathers and times of day. I find that thought fascinating.

[@glennpowell3444]

Its the navigating I have always found inpressive particulaly in night fighter and the heavy bombers.I have actually flown a small aircraft and getting lost is the biggest issue in broad daylight.The bombers had dedicated navigators but these single crew fighters left the pilot alot to have to do.

[@kevinburns5762]

And all with about 8 hours training. It's the equivalent now of handing a newly qualified 18 year old a eurofighter typhoon, could you imagine!

[@MichaelKingsfordGray]

Navigation can be learned.

[@rmstitanic8163]

Big Thumbs Up for this video. Very well presented. And a big thank you to R J Mitchell for giving us such a magnificent aircraft. (and Rolls Royce of course). 👍👌

[@ImperialWarMuseums]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rmstitanic8163]

@@ImperialWarMuseums Very much, thank you. The Spitfire has always been a favourite of mine. Such a beautiful aeroplane.

[@tonykeith76]

Not a plane.. A poetry.. Happy new year from Italy

[@helenabiesma5560]

Brilliant it saved the Netherlands - so ever grateful to see it - so close - so interesting - where would the war have been without it - so be able to thank those young pilots is never enough in my view!!

[@mrhoplite2931]

A truly beautiful plane - and I say this as a German! ;-)

[@vincentking9980]

Did you know that the designer of the Australian C.A.C. Boomerang fighter was originally from Austria? His name was Fred David, and, if memory serves, had previously worked for Heinkel and Mitsubishi prior to the War.

[@roconnor01]

Thank you for your very informative video. Whenever I've visited Duxford,I'm almost as fascinated by the beautiful woodwork used in the construction of the World War One era hangars,as I am with the aircraft themselves.

[@vincentking9980]

This was very interesting, not to mention educational. Thanks for sharing. I had the privilege of making the acquaintance of a W.W.2 Australian fighter pilot by the name of Roy Riddell. Mr Riddell flew Spitfire's against the Germans over The English Channel, and also flew Curtiss P-40's against the Japanese, specifically during The Battle of Milne Bay during The Papua New Guinea Campaign.

[@CheddarTeddy]

Imperial War Museums is making just brilliant videos. Thank you!

[@sextoncardew903]

When I was in the air cadets we visited British airfields in he the late 1940s and apart from taking air trips with very pleasant air crew personnel I was allowed to sit in Spitfires, and a variety of other British military aircraft. They were exiting times for me as a teenager.

[@cassbarker1966]

Absolutely ICONIC aircraft! Just love it when the opportunity arises to view and watch them at shows 😍 brings a tear to your eye when you hear a couple of these beauties winding up for a low pass 🥰

[@ToddBreda]

Excellent video! What a gorgeous warbird...It is absolutely immaculate! One of the finest if not the finest flying warbirds of them all. Truly a treat, thank you!

[@davidrogers8245]

All my life the word Spitfire made the hair on the back of my neck stand up

[@publiusking8004]

With the possible exception of the Corsair, the Spitfire remains one of the most graceful and dangerous-looking war machines I have ever seen. It is really heartening to know at least one is loved and revered.

[@Milkmans_Son]

At least one? Airworthy survivors are by nature loved and revered (there are only 73 of them).

[@adrianprowse7968]

Corsair graceful?

[@Wolfsschanze99]

This will come in handy next time I take one up for a spin. Went to Duxford in 99, loved it.

[@philipfisher6300]

Omg , my fave KZbinrs! Watched you since day 1

[@tempest957]

If you have never been to Duxford, GO, it's a superb place and great for children of all ages! a great day out for all!

[@jasonfarr4013]

Beautiful aircraft, beautifully explained! Cheers!

[@ss4austin]

Not sure why I need to know this, living here in Omaha, Nebraska, but here I am watching anyway.

[@vikj1255]

Truly beautiful. and their engine sound is amazing.

[@bikenavbm1229]

thank you for looking after it and making the vid

[@MWS1960]

You always know when a Spitfire is flying above. What a splendid plane 👍

[@Lordstephen7813]

This was very well done . Thank you so much. You guys and gals do a great job.

[@Janus-fn2uz]

Fyi. Men, not guys. Got it?

[@lindsaymcpherson4744]

Who would've thought the most badass fighter plane ever could be also the most elegant and pleasing to the eye !!

[@MichaelKingsfordGray]

Why do you compare this aircraft with a faulty anus?

[@MooCow_o7]

3:31 "Don't come and tell. Ring this like HELL" lol

[@John-ob7dh]

2 year ago i went up in a ww2 1944 spit .Got to have the stick for about 5 mins .banked the plane and dived it.Awesome .last flight of the day we flew back as the sun was setting.Was well worth the cost .A bit disconcerting only having 15 mins parachute instruction , but not needed .lol

[@stavrosk.2868]

Probably the most beautiful plane ever.

[@jcortese3300]

There's nothing in the sky more beautiful that isn't a living creature than an early mark Spitfire.

[@euanreid6682]

Finally a half decent and interesting Spit Doc... great footage that i haven't seen before.

[@jeremyfdavies]

Another superb video. Keep them coming!

[@thetwogardens6048]

What Amazes me is just how quickly flight Evolved from the turn of the Century to this mean War machine !

[@rubyshoes1032]

Oo I do love a spitty. Thank you for a lovely mini doc on this particular mk1,

[@LEDAClocks]

What a great aircraft! Absolutely love the Spitfire!

[@Hollcall]

Remember my Uncle George [ Mother's Baby Brother } telling me about watching the "Dogfights" overhead when they would be "in-convoy" off the coast of Britain. He was Merchant Marine, then R.C.Navy. Told me...."it is a sight & SOUND you NEVER forget."

[@planespeaking]

Tony 'Taffy' Smith used to fly over Elvington near York at 500ft whilst we were all mucking around with RC model planes there (with permission of course). Quite a sight! Spoiled really looking back.

[@windwpn2433]

I am thankful that today, I can "sit" in the Spitfire cockpit via VR in DCS or IL2 flight simulation, and fly this wonderful aircraft in the virtual space. Also experience virtual battle scenarios with no risk of limb or craft!

[@txhunter144]

That was a very impressive and professional presentation! The presenter is so clear and the video very well shot as well. Simply outstanding!

[@Janus-fn2uz]

On the whole, he is quite informative, but his English grammar could be a lot better. Shame.

[@pocobuen]

my grandfather flew Hurricanes, but that was probably the most beautiful thing I've ever seen

[@carloscuegarcia9600]

¡Qué hermoso diseño!Para mi uno de los más bellos de su época.

[@brianhedges4136]

Absolutely brilliant video - thank you

[@MyllekeBas]

Nice video! Very interesting.Thank you very much!

[@tuc-dh4df]

I love all spitfire variants, but my favourite is the nine.

[@14rnr]

Thank you, I really enjoyed this video, I'll watch this again in future.

[@jps99]

Still beautiful. A real classic. Thanks!

[@TheHelado36]

What a beautiful plane !

[@billkallas4046]

Pumping up the landing gear on the early Mk1a's reminds me of the American F4F where you had to crank up the gear with a chain driven device, by hand.

[@elanthys]

Fantastic presentation, thank you!

[@nakotaapache4674]

great impression, great original footage between

[@e.d.4824]

Great tour and video! Thank you

[@neilharrison1420]

amazing video,thank you so much for sharing.

[@Everett-xe3eg]

NICE! You put on the jacket! Have to have the jacket!

[@stefanos204]

excellent video

[@vinceq1036]

Spitfire Mk1a, the most beautiful thing crafted by the hand of man, period.

[@espr7564]

Beautiful aircraft ❤

[@thatgamingguy21]

Amazing video

[@dronemonkey2038]

Great video, many thanks for the insight.

[@450gmo]

Brilliant video. An excellent description of operation interspersed with interviews and footage at just the right times. Very well done and thank you for sharing this fascinating history.

[@steveaustin6467]

great vid, its on the bucket list

[@Warbird-Aviation]

Thank you for this video! Great

[@victoriaclarke1911]

My favourite plane- just love them

[@simonhellier7281]

Excellent video. I have one of the original photos shown in the intro that was 19 Sqn but taken at Fowlmere.

[@lateralg3169]

Excellent presentation. Well done Liam.

[@naderramadan5587]

It's a beauty. Thanks for sharing.

[@MTG776]

What a great video... I learnt a lot in that 11 mins...

[@captpugwash3510]

@ 3:47 - what is a starting magneto. Starting booster coil yes, but magneto ?

[@gm16v149]

The Merlin engine had magneto ignition, like most if not all aircraft piston engines. In fact most had two sets of magnetos and sets of spark plugs. Two seperate ignition systems independent of each other.

[@7viewerlogic670]

Great video!

[@Dreamsofwings]

Fantastic video 👏🏻👏🏻

[@7ANGLIA]

ENJOYED THAT

[@nolanohana]

Beautiful plane. If it looks good it flies good 😎

[@jurismichal]

Very nice video.

[@DonTruman]

It says a lot that the pilots who flew it in combat loved it.

[@rconger384]

The men love whatever they survived the war in.

[@JamesLaserpimpWalsh]

Weird. Those earphones in the flying cap look IDENTICAL to the ones in the Russian tank crewmen cap. I bought one when I was in Budapest. I'm planning to replace them with modern equivalents so I can listen to Men of Harlech while'st I am in the tractor lol. Cheers for the vid.

[@ewanbaxter9199]

What mark had the 2 blade wooden propeller I have seen in war films??

[@LiamStark96]

Arguably the most important airplane in british history

[@andybakr]

Superb almost perfect video 😀👍

[@babuzzard6470]

Very interesting, thank you.👍👍

[@peterjones2761]

Lovely demostration of truly British engineering. Just out of interest is the a similar vid of the old WW1 bi-planes?

[@jamesbaker7112]

25 years ago I was surprised to find RJ Mitchell's drafting instruments on display at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. He had to hurry with his design because he knew what was coming and he was dying.

[@samburkes7552]

Wow, that's excellent!! He's to be commended posthumously!! Many times over!!

[@tomterific390]

Wait a sec--at 2:21 he states that THIS aircraft was "lost near Dunkirk" in May, 1940. Some clarification would seem to be in order, here.

[@scottperry8354]

Perfect timing. I just got one for Christmas.

[@HO-bndk]

Where do you park it?

[@johnmclean6498]

To use the commentators voice - "I rather fancy yours might be a model, sir!"

[@scottperry8354]

😄

[@markfryer9880]

You must have been a very good boy this year to be given a Spitfire. Must have cost a fortune!

[@scottperry8354]

@@markfryer9880 😆Good one.

[@retrostu1]

Beautiful looking planes, and that merlin engine 👌🏻