Spitfire crash

[@jiggermast]

Well done sir, she pays a most skillful, graceful and beautiful compliment to real thing and I'm quite sure any spitfire owner would be proud to own or fly her! 'Wish I could do the same thing and upscale an Airfix Vincent Black Shadow!! just out of curiosity, is it a V12 Jag engine you installed?

[@2598111]

Thanks! A Vincent Black Shadow? Now that brings back memories! I used to ride a Vincent Lightning. And yes, it is a Jaguar V12.

[@jiggermast]

A Vincent Black Lightning, WOW! I'm very impressed! and in actual fact an even rarer beast than an airworthy Spitfire, so in terms of motorcycling, that does indeed sir make you... "one of the few!!"

[@2598111]

I wish I'd kept it!! I'm still riding a 650 Suzuki but getting a bit old for it now! What do you ride/fly and?

[@jiggermast]

Clive Ducros Sad to say I don't have the nerve to fly, I stick to the sea, but I am always filled with admiration for some of history's legendary aviators, especially Herr Ernst Udett for one! The nearest I get to horizontal flying is riding a 74 Kawasaki triple H1 and a much more sedate lovely old single pot 61 Tiger cub. Do you still have the Spitfire, and/or is it flying?

[@2598111]

Wow, that brings back memories, the Cub was one of my first bikes! The Kawasaki sounds quite a beast! What do you sail? The Spitfire no longer flies but I am very pleased that it is now a static exhibit in the Kent Battle of Britain Museum, run by Dave and his volunteers and one of the best BoB museums in the world! And Ernst Udet was certainly one of the aces of aces.

[@BAGHEAD1995]

Quit with the "Uhh it doesn't sound like a merlin" etc - when you build a spitfire from scratch and fly it, then you may criticise!. What a fantastic, inspiring story!.

[@2598111]

Thanks for the kind and sensible comments!!

[@kevinburns5762]

Clive Ducros did you ever get it flying again? I'm amazed you actually built a full size working spitfire, a real achievement!

[@citicolina]

So you spent 10 years building this beautiful aircraft and had the chance to fly it? You are my hero, sir. Truly inspiring.

[@2598111]

Thanks Jorge! It is much appreciated to get nice, sensible comments once in a while on here. When are you going to start building yours??!!

[@2598111]

Great that you enjoyed the book! And yes, Pete was a legend in his own time and I had the priviledge of being taught to fly by him. If you get time I would really appreciate if you could post a review on Kindle, Amazon about the Ebook version of Birth of a Spitfire. Many thanks.

[@smaze1782]

Seemed underpowered.

[@2598111]

No with the half the weight and half the power it had the same power/weight ratio as the original Prototype

[@ColinMill1]

@@2598111 Not to mention that halving the wing loading reduces the power requirement considerably!

[@2598111]

Good to hear a sensible statement on here!

[@mikebeeton4982]

Well done sir! despite some unkind remarks I see have been made. Hope you are airborn very very soon.

[@2598111]

Thanks Mike! She won't fly again and now resides as a static exhibit in the Battle of Britain museum in Kent.

[@leviercosmicwind]

Clive, Really enjoyed your book which I have read several times. What a brilliant effort all-round. Apart from the last flight of course which was a great shame. I knew Ray Hilborne slightly, a very pleasant chap. Many thanks for this inspiring project and book.

[@2598111]

+leviercosmicwind Hi, thanks for your kind comments. The Spit is now in the Kent Battle of Britain museum, a very good home for it. Have you been there? If not, its well worth a visit. Ray Hilborne, ah, happy memories and they don't build them like that anymore!! Do you fly yourself or have you built any projects? Best regards CD

[@leviercosmicwind]

+Clive Ducros Yes, I fly a Skybolt biplane which I rebuilt with a group of friends and am building a single seat Pitts Special. I am an aircraft stress engineer by profession. Thanks once again. Both your book and John Isaacs' book have been inspirations to me.

[@2598111]

+leviercosmicwind Hi, what is the Skybolt stressed to? The Spit was stressed by Ray to +6/-3 and we didn't have to proof load the wing before flight. As we literally glued the wings on, I obviously had every confidence in Ray's calcs! I'll always remember his catchphrase: "all problems are soluble in beer"!! Good luck with the Pitts.

[@tectorama]

Is this the same aircraft which is now in the Tangmere museum ?

[@2598111]

No, it's with the Kent Battle of Britain Museum at Hawkinge.

[@johnyted]

Beautiful project! Beauty post! However, if you want a Spitfire you have to give soul to it and the soul of a Spitfire is your Rolls Royce engine, its another unmistakable feature! Bravo!

[@2598111]

Thanks for your comments! But a Merlin would have been too heavy for the airframe. The Jag engine sounded pretty good in real time, it's sound has been distorted on the video copies taken to upload here.

[@hectorkeezy1499]

I missed the Merlin sound. But a beautifull scale Spit it is.

[@2598111]

Thanks Holger! The Spit is actually full size, not scale.

[@gilleslebrun7779]

Perhaps the two-blade prop. was the source of the sound different from that of a genuine Spit. Nevertheless, this was a very fine example of aircraft workmanship.

[@2598111]

Hi Gilles, The original Mk 1 used a two blade prop, the sound difference was because the Jaguar V12 engine ran at twice the rpm of a Merlin when on full power. Thanks for the compliment!

[@ErikViktor]

NOt a Merlin sound but great sound anyway... Just different.

[@lilaage9060]

My grandfather's brother Kristian Aagaard drove one of these. He died in 1953, the plane burned mid-air. Have you ever heard of him?

[@2598111]

Hi Martin, yes I have heard of him. He got killed after the war in a Spitfire accident?

[@imperialfragments]

Aloof and underestimated like true English nature this aeronautical artwork smote it's foes in terrible numerical circumstances, simply a beautiful presision machine. Thank you for sharing.

[@BenjaminEsposti]

Except for the problems they had with the engines cutting out and sometimes not being able to be restarted after doing negative g's.

[@imperialfragments]

Benjamin Esposti indeed the fuel starvation issue plagued it's service

[@BenjaminEsposti]

Must have been pretty damn scary when that happened to the pilots. O.o

[@2598111]

What? It didn't have any fuel starvation problems!!

[@imperialfragments]

Clive Ducros carburetion issues, my bad. flooding, flat set, bowl splash, fuel distribution problems at certain angles an velocities. I'm no expert, just a guy that watches documentaries on old aeroplanes 😆

[@2598111]

Thanks! Couldn't have done it without Pete

[@gillesguillaumin6603]

Simple problem about structure, not strong enough. Easy to answer, it's a very nice work.

[@2598111]

It was plenty strong enough. The structure survived a stall 40 feet above the ground!!

[@oldreddog1237]

Clive, Thank you for posting the video. It is much appreciated. I purchased your book several years ago and was fascinated by this story and the beautiful photographs inside. I don`t remember ever reading what the aircraft`s actual empty weight came out except that you say in the comment section that it weighed about half the Weight of the original. Can you tell me what this might be in pounds? I also understand that the plans for making original drawings available fell into some kind of conflict and was wondering if drawings could again be made to happen. No one can dispute the sound of a 60 degree V12 whether its a Merlin or a high revving Jag. I believe that maybe some of our larger American V8s with the right gearbox could turn a scale propeller and fly as well as your original if plans could be made available again. Jurca`s is beautiful but most of us can`t afford an Allison and the subsequent stronger, more expensive airframe.....It Would be wonderful to see this ship and more like it begin to reappear. A full sized fighter with an affordable engine is just the answer for us replica fighter types.

[@2598111]

Hi! Thanks for your kind comments. I think the all up weight was over 3000lbs, but it was a long timed ago now!! I stopped selling the plans because the airframe was only designed and stressed for 500 hp and some people wanted to put larger engines in. Where abouts are you in the States and are you building a project? I'm coming over to Florida in November for a holiday.

[@oldreddog1237]

Clive, Thank you, I appreciate it. Yes, it seems like builders have always wanted to change things from the original plans and it is understandable, if not frustrating. It seems like 500 hp would be more than enough for your design and if one wanted to install bigger engines, then there was always Marcel`s version. I`ve been involved in many projects and several restorations over the years but am not currently working on a project of my own. I have been a replica fighter enthusiast for quite a long while. My recent focus has been on research and development of large diameter, scale propellers for replica fighters, something I feel they have sorely lacked. I`ve found that scale props can indeed work well but very few gearboxes or chain drives offer tall enough ratios to swing them yet allowing the engine to rev up to potential. Also, not many manufacturers are willing to produce scale propellers. I built my own blade carving machine. K5054 was fortunate in that in its original form, it did indeed swing a large two blade prop,(Rotol?) almost ideal for an auto conversion. (It looks like it was fixed pitch, as well) I live in Iowa, approximately in the middle of the country. My family will be visiting in Florida around thanksgiving time in November, up in the panhandle region of that state. Where might you be visiting?............thanks again, Jim

[@2598111]

Hi Jim, In its early days the Jag engine was producing 370 hp with a smaller diameter HS prop. The plan was to increase the power output to 500 hp and fit a larger prop, but unfortunately we didn't get the chance to do this after the landing accident. The reduction gearbox we designed and built was stressed for 500 hp and worked really well but cost a fortune to produce! You live in Iowa, that's corn and John Wayne country isn't it?!! I'll be in Florida all of November, in fact I'm getting married in Sebring! Are you coming down with your family? Clive

[@oldreddog1237]

Clive, Thank you. Yes, Iowa is indeed the land of corn and the original birthplace of John Wayne. That`s actually a little-known fact and its always surprising when others know of it. Thank you. I remember reading a little about your specially-built gearbox and even today, its cost could be considered a small fortune. At this moment, I haven`t decided whether I`ll be in Florida with the rest of the family in November but one of the first things I learned when I got married was that plans are frequently subject to change. I`d be thrilled to try to get together if it works out. In any event, if you haven`t had the opportunity to visit Kermit Week`s museum in Polk city Fla., it would certainly be worth one`s time. Although much further away, the huge Naval aviation museum in Pensacola contains a few aircraft that are the only remaining examples left in the world and certainly worth one`s time. ..........Looking forward, Jim

[@2598111]

Hi Jim, I went to Kermit's museum back in '94 shortly after the Spit had flown. I had been invited to give a talk about it at Sun & Fun which is where I met him. I will have a couple of days of free time in Florida so if you do decide to come down it would be good to meet up! Best regards Clive

[@janettemolina7948]

Buen piloto,gracias a ello se salvo el avion,demasiado peso y quizas falta de potencia,lo presumo por el peso y el colapso del tren de aterrizaje,la relacion peso- potencia porque se come demasiada pista para despegue,finalmente la baja velocidad de sustentacion lo hizo bajar sin querer.Bonita replica,buen trabajo ,solo hay que hacer correcciones,el pilotaje impecable.

[@2598111]

Thanks for your comments. Janette

[@gekolizzard]

For me the Spitfire is the most beautiful aircraft ever built.

[@2598111]

No the replacement prop was fine. In fact it was better that the original one fitted having a slightly larger diameter which helped with cooling the underwing coolant radiator. Afraid it was down to good lod pilot error.

[@g4yvm]

Clive, I remember seeing you at Old Sarum during the build but have rather lost contact with the aircraft; where is your Spit now and what's happening to it?

[@2598111]

+david perry Hi David, good to hear from you and did we last meet when I flew the Miles Messenger into Old Sarum?? That's a few years ago now! The Spit has gone to a very good home at the Battle of Britain museum in Kent and will be ground run on certain days during the year. The museum is the best BoB in the country and well worth a visit. If you do tell Dave Brocklehurst the Chairman you're a friend of mine and you will get a great guided tour. Have fun!

[@TheOriginalCoda]

Dave Brocklehurst... :)

[@corblaak8051]

No Rolls in it that brings bad luck

[@fritzkatz]

+Cor Blaak Luck and superstition are religious conceits from the Dark Ages. You make your own luck with training and practice.

[@2598111]

What a load of rubbish! Jag engine worked really well and plane flew like a dream!

[@ridersinthescrub9405]

STD go away! you wouldn't know shite about anything that's british. you've got your trumps America glasses on AGAIN

[@skipdow3]

Please post your all metal version so we can compare. If we didn't have "the dumb ass Brits" as you so crudely put it., would we have an America today? You sound like Donald Trump- a guy on a fifth grade level, bumbling through life, and getting no respect. My last dog could do more than Turnip. When he's through, you may be begging to move to Great Britain. You have cut off all your options- speaking of a Dumb Ass. !! I( guess you have no knowledge of Tony Blair helping this country with Bush's little folly of a war, that thousands of good people died in.) And to think, you voted for Bush twice.

[@certaintngs2000]

Mosquito 'The Wooden Wonder'

[@poodumrover1]

That Jag V12 engine sure must be heavy compared to a trusty Rover V8 power to weight ratio better too .. but sure what do I know ha ha what a tremendous project and fair play to you. Best Wishes for the future !

[@2598111]

Thanks!

[@TCSC47]

Very impressive achievement!

[@2598111]

Thanks Tom! When are you going to start yours?!

[@caesarillion]

Congrats on a great and inspiring build.

[@2598111]

+caesarillion Hi, thanks for the kind comments! When are you going to start building your own one? It makes a change to get sensible remarks on here!!!

[@caesarillion]

I worked for Ken Rand and Rand Robinson Engineering and also built my own KR2 with a 36hp VW. I was upgrading to 1834cc to take passengers when I decided to sell. I also built about 20 sets of wings for other builders as I had a jig I used. I'm doing an RC amphibian now just for kicks. I also collect old model airplane engines and fix them. Maybe some day I'll get back into the biggies but just armchair stuff for now. Warbirds are way cool.

[@zephy1001]

i do have one question not sure if you can answer it but i am worried i may get too tall to realise my dream and fly a spitfire what would you say was the tallest person who could fit in a spitfire?

[@tomasinacovell4293]

What's the wing loading and power loading difference, I assume it's 1:1 scale?

[@peterschmidt7543]

Really too bad it ended this way, all that work.. Suppose the risks were known anyway ? But at least it did took to the skies, that must have meant something ? What exactly went wrong ? Engine ? What’s it “doing” today ?

[@2598111]

Hello Peter, She flew very well and the landing incident was unfortunately due to pilot error. Now residing on static display in the Kent Battle of Britain Museum in Kent, which is well worth the visit as it celebrates the lives of both RAF and Luftwaffe pilots who flew in the Battle.

[@christianbuczko1481]

It's not a spitfire with that engine and only a twin prop. They originally had a twin prop in the early prototypes but they upgraded that for good reasons, same as requiring a powerful engine to drive it. Seems this aircraft is trying to make the same mistakes which got corrected before they were used in anger 80yrs ago.

[@2598111]

Certainly its not a Spitfire! But it's a pretty accurate full size replica with a V12 Jaguar that after being converted for aviation use, i.e. twin plugs and ignition systems, dry sumped oil and purpose built reduction gearbox, performed very well. I guess you're referring to a twin blade propellor, as its only got one engine? There was nothing wrong with these props on the original prototype and early Mk 1 production models, apart from the fact they were fixed pitch. The prop I fitted was constant speed, if you know what that means, and gave the Spit a respectable performance. Suggest you do a little more reading about about both the early Spitfires and my replica before posting any other comments!

[@richardstone8268]

The airplane needed a different propeller, that particular constant speed propeller seemed wrong for that airplane. Propeller needed to be larger with more area.

[@2598111]

The Hamilton Standard constant speed prop worked fine and we did fit larger blades that worked much better.

[@Beautybychance01]

Looks like this one is destined to remain on the ground as a display piece! Jman

[@WindOnMyWings]

A master piece

[@2598111]

Thanks!!

[@32ewing]

thats not a crash thats under carriage failure there was something not right about that plane from the start engine sounded awful what year was this ?/

[@nicknacl1840]

Hi Clive, impressive achievement. Wonder what's the weight of your replica? A lot lighter than the original?. I remember reading somewhere that the original K5054 had an engine of about 800 hp and it weighed around 4000lbs empty. Nick

[@2598111]

Thanks Nick. The all up weight was 2,200 lbs so it was half the weight and power of the original with a lighter wing loading so it performed pretty well!

[@nicknacl1840]

Woo.hoo.. that's very light for a full-sized, 37 feet wingspan aeroplane abt 10lbs/sqft. I'm guessing it is v. docile in the air. Gorgeous thing. By the way I'm very curious to know if it did use the original airfoils for both the wing and tailplane? and was it pitch/elevator sensitive?

[@2598111]

Yes, she was a delight to fly Nick and easy to land with a stalling speed of just over 40 MPH. The wing rib profiles were built using NACA 2200 as the original, same for the tailplane. It was pitch sensitive and during the flight trials had very similar characteristics to the original Mk 1, according to the test pilot Pete Thorn who flew with the RAF Battle of Britain flight.

[@nicknacl1840]

Hi Clive, I really like the K5054 version of the spitfire. It has that sublime "race horse" look. The other contestant being the N17 speed spitfire. I got hold of some mkI (type 300) blueprints, no where near complete. Did you ever have access to the original blueprints of K5054? I would love to know where I can track those down.

[@nicknacl1840]

Oh and these days an aviation worthy 650hp inline liquid cooled is not impossible to find

[@davidcolon7781]

I didn't read the book. it some one check engine internals after the belly landing? the HP on the engine wasn't a problem at all. the first flights it flew flawlessly. if the engine wasn't powerful enough it would never flight at first. but in the last flight it seems like a power loss

[@2598111]

The engine and reduction gear were checked, especially the quill shaft after the landing incident. All was fine thanks to the pilot cutting the engine. The engine developed enough horses and it flew very well! The last flight power loss was due to the pilot not using the friction nut on the throttle during the attempted go-around!! Give the book a try, I'm told it's a good read!

[@ohger1]

One thing I didn't like about the Spit was the spacing of the landing gear. Too narrow causes fatal ground loops.

[@2598111]

Very true and the 109 had the same problem. I should have built a Hurricane with its much wider UC!

[@ohger1]

Further reading suggests the Spit, despite it's narrow UC, had no tendency to ground loop! books.google.ca/books?id=lNQsDQAAQBAJ&lpg=PA124&ots=v07E0NNp3T&dq=ground%20loops%20in%20wwii%20fighters&pg=PA124#v=onepage&q=ground%20loops%20in%20wwii%20fighters&f=true

[@2598111]

It wasn't just the narrow undercarriage track but the gyroscopic load of the prop and engine torque that made it a bit of a handful on the ground.

[@skipdow3]

Are you sure you don't mean the Steerman ?

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

You should build a new one, with two engines, and call it "the 2017 Ducros Twin Spitfire" as a joke on all the car manufacturers

[@ryansta]

Sad to see.

[@hughes2397]

Ls2 Corvette Engine

[@Biggerbadwolf]

Jaguar V12.

[@colinmartin2974]

So under powered it could barely lift off the ground...who did the maths ? and got it so wrong !!

[@2598111]

Once in a while it makes a change to get a comment from someone who has absolutely no idea what they are talking about!

[@outwiththem]

chump left the engine on while on one tire only... cut that dam mixture. save the engine...

[@2598111]

OK if you need any info let me know

[@Etrichtaube1]

Mist ! Schade um die großartige Arbeit an dem Vogel. Hoffentlich nur begrenzter Schaden.

[@spurgear4]

Nice job building a peice of history. The Jag engine sounds a bit underpowered , a Merlin would be nice, anyone got one to donate.

[@2598111]

You're right there!

[@oscarnine2078]

There is no way that's a merlin

[@fritzkatz]

Would have been completely unsuited to THAT airframe but don't let mere facts, reality, and engineering dissuade you from continuing to rant.

[@fritzkatz]

Only in the minimind of relentless manic troll FrDoofy could my consistent presentation of relevant verifiable facts (coincidentally endorsed by the designer/builder) be considered "ranting" when juxtaposed against his unsubstantiated emotional denigrations. Either present some factual support for your bizarre insistence a Merlin would have been superior to a geared auto V12 in this application ( little things like size, power to weight, weight and balance, fuel efficiency, parts availability, etc) or STFU and back in your hole, troll.

[@Horizon344]

So, it had a lawnmower engine inside it & its wheels kept collapsing on landing causing it to prang & crash all the time, ... but apart from that it was just "great" ...? =/

[@2598111]

Were you born a "Pratt" or have you just become one recently?

[@KINGSBLACKBELT]

Bigger Motor..

[@fritzkatz]

+KINGSBLACKBELT The motor was ENTIRELY appropriate for the airframe... weight and balance, power to weight, little irrelevant things like that.

[@Beautifultruthofficial]

IVE SAT IN THAT SPIT

[@2598111]

Sure was a dumb question

[@scottstudd3700]

whycal

[@johnhowards2846]

4:01 did he swear?

[@ErikViktor]

It is more like "Damn", "Pity about the great work on this bird. Hopefully only limited damage"...

[@2228lam]

He is a dare devil to fly this show piece !

[@gekolizzard]

nice plane, crap motor

[@fritzkatz]

Uhhh...weight, cost, parts availability, profile, fuel efficiency...and because it is NOT 1935. Seems like the Jag ran fine the entire time so what's yer point?

[@2598111]

Spot on Dave! All the reason why I used a Jag V12. It's great to get some good comments on here!

[@fritzkatz]

You wereNOT ""simply asking a question" when you had other posts insulting the lack of a monstrous pointless merlin and this latest post of yours proves it. You want to see a merlin...go to museums..,hear one? Warbird airshows...want to know why he didn't use one? Learn to fucking read...it was NOT a hulking metal armed and armored Spitfire..lt was a lithe light wooden tribute reproduction. Back in your cave, troll. Begone.

[@fritzkatz]

FR : You are a regular Donald Drumpf thinking if you keep repeating the same unsubstantiated BS and ignoring rational, referenced responses you will eventually prevail...but only with likeminded trolls.

[@2598111]

You are so full of shit it's not even worth replying to you, you moron

[@SNAFU..]

Amateur hour....

[@danielbohan638]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha

[@richuar]

I've always thought that this was an ingeniously engineered and elegant solution to making an authentic looking airworthy replica of K5054, something we'll probably never see any other way. Makes me wonder why more full scale lightweight replicas aren't often built.

[@2598111]

Thanks, that's exactly what I thought and why I built her!

[@2598111]

Thanks for the kind comments! It was this sort of encouragement that kept me going during the project and helped me finally achieve my dream.

[@2598111]

Hi Nick, it wasn't too badly damaged and was repairable, but the new owners didn't want to get it repaired. I nearly bought it back but decided it would be safer for the museum to have it to keep it in one piece!

[@stevecowham1017]

Discretion, the better part of valour. Well done Sir. It flew, you flew it, it was handmade...like my paramotor. I'm still alive too.

[@2598111]

@@stevecowham1017 Thanks!

[@stevejauncey3086]

Spitfire now on display at Tangmere Air Museum I do believe that the original also crashed.

[@2598111]

Thanks, although it is a replica, but a prototype in its own right. The Jag engine was underpowered at 365 HP but the plan was to increase it to 500 HP. Never happened as the CAA test pilot crashed it!

[@tomview1]

Well - if you're not prepared to crash them - don't fly them.

[@HeavensGremlin]

Another Twat comment.

[@tomview1]

Thank you

[@HeavensGremlin]

He meant about my comment you dufus.

[@tomview1]

My point still stands.

[@HeavensGremlin]

Twat.

[@MillieSadie1]

Hello Clive , I wish you sold plans to it , I would have loved a crack at it , stunningly beautiful craftsmanship you did.

[@2598111]

It is a static exhibit with the Southampton Aviation Museum. p.s. the book is a good read!

[@1936cord812]

It's amazing how so many armchair expert/heroes are so good at telling people who get off their backsides and actually produce something how they should have done a project. Well done Clive, Aviation progresses due to people like you, we need more like you and less of the armchair experts.

[@2598111]

Fair comment Chris and thanks for the compliment.

[@gzappa]

Not the same in wood and without a Merlin, but you got to admire the effort.

[@johnbatchler8551]

great plane nut structural failure

[@chadmeyer9500]

What is that, a 4000-rpm Merlin?

[@2598111]

No actually it's a 4500 rpm Jaguar. Get a life!!!

[@konsvarka7376]

guys the right landing gear gave away not the pilots fault...he actually did a great job it could have been worse...

[@2598111]

Spot on! We found out later some kids had got in the Spit and operated the gas emergency lowering UC system, aerating the hydraulics which is why the starboard gear failed to lock. Thanks for the sensible comment!

[@andteasklein5049]

Next time Sir , use the landigear please

[@LJDRVR]

Lovely aeroplane and quite an accomplishment, Clive.

[@2598111]

Thanks!

[@basimpsn]

2:40 and 4:32 good RPM but low ground speed? wrong replacment Prop cause the crash ?

[@keithnoneya]

Hardly a crash more like a hard landing. But i'm glad it was still intact and supposedly the pilot is ok. Thanks for sharing. Best Wishes n Blessings. Keith

[@2598111]

Thanks for your interest!

[@greatbritishscarface7464]

They never did maintenance.

[@howardroberts6862]

I have seen the video of the aircraft slide off the runway, it seemed that the damage was to the wing tip, prop and the undercarriage leg. Clive, after all the effort building the aircraft, why was it not repaired. I understand it was cut in half, if so I think that was sacrilege. What modifications were dun to the engine and how was the prop driven. I am thinking of building a Spitfire with Jurca plans. I am in no illusion of the enormous task, and there for, I am trying to get as much help as I can. I hope you will reply, but what ever, I will congratulate you on a tremendous achievement.

[@howardroberts6862]

I have seen the video of the aircraft slide off the runway, it seemed that the damage was to the wing tip, prop and the undercarriage leg. Clive, after all the effort building the aircraft, why was it not repaired. I understand it was cut in half, if so I think that was sacrilege. What modifications were dun to the engine and how was the prop driven. I am thinking of building a Spitfire with Jurca plans. I am in no illusion of the enormous task, and there for, I am trying to get as much help as I can. I hope you will reply, but what ever, I will congratulate you on a tremendous achievement.

[@austinmaxi]

would it have been possible to put a Meteor engine in with a Merlin reduction box on for the prop? ive seen a Meteor set up this way before as a ground runner with a prop. 750 HP and 1550 lbf would be enough i think :D The jag engine would be better in a 2/3 scale Hurricane you can get now in kit form.

[@robertkinholt621]

Only thing that hurts that plane it's not running a 12 cylinder Merlin plus that whistling sound as it went by, there's nothing like the sound of that motor, that was one of my favorite fighter's, long with the P51 Mustang, the Corsair, also the ME 109

[@Guderian1939]

if its not got the Merlin engine then it's not a spitfire in my book.the sound of the engine was naff

[@routmaster38]

I doubt that airframe would survive a real RR Merlin engine but its great effort marred by a faulty under carriage.It was under carriage problems and bad pilot visability that made Spitfires un suitable on carriers.The "Seafires" didnt last very long!

[@2598111]

Yes he was. He taught me to fly when he was at CSE Oxford, shortly after he left the UAS at Abingdon. What's OAT?

[@andrewbranch4075]

My birthday is march the 5th 1965. She was 29 when I was born. That is my honour and privilege

[@2598111]

A great day to have a birthday!

[@fredwilson8326]

what about a mustang crash in-stead

[@larslotus]

I heard about this spitfire many years ago in a village called Andratx. I saved the story teller from a parking ticket by bribing the guardiacivil with coffee and llerbas.

[@2598111]

Hi don't worry! The seat adjusts down into the cockpit. I am six feet tall and fitted in!

[@MrWinstonCarlton]

Ha ha! It does sound bad doesn't it?

[@highlo3517]

Was not a real spitfire. and was not a real crash. that is called a malfunction. a minor inconvenience. The pilot walked away and after a little work the plane will fly again. Everyone keeps calling little shit a crash.

[@cliveducros9054]

Won't ever fly again, it's currently with the Kent Battle of Britain museum where I understand they are working to make it a taxying exhibit. Good to hear the younger generation is still interested in "Spits", although this one was a replica but a prototype in its own right.

[@FlyCycleBass]

What's the future the Ducros prototype? Desperate to see this bird flying and maybe even on the airshow circuit... It's not just the older generation who want to see an early Spit back in the air, I'm only 17 and I'm sure there's many others like myself ;)

[@josephschmidt439]

What went wrong with the last flight seemed that you could not get enough altitude, the damage did not look real bad. In the museum the visitors must like looking at it. I sure would

[@DazDaMan]

Thanks for uploading this clip. I sat in the plane a few years ago after it had become a travelling exhibit with the Solent Sky museum. The book is a great read for anyone contemplating building their own aircraft, too!

[@zephy1001]

theres a book? i first found out about k5054 in the book story of the spitfire southhampton is pretty close to here too shall try to get and see it soon

[@tigerseye73]

Yours wasn't the only Spit to crash. What a fantastic job you did sir. Glad your'e not the worst for wear.

[@jonny96]

Was Pete Thorn the pilot? He trained me to Spin at OAT (now OAA). Legend!

[@squeeth2895]

Marvellous aeroplane, third time lucky eh? Regards....

[@2598111]

Thanks!

[@kingpav]

It states quite clearly both verbally and visually that it was a replica build and not an authentic version.

[@2598111]

Not if the prop was stopped in the horizontal plane beforehand!

[@zephy1001]

brilliant im only 5'10 at the moment but look set to get about 6'0-6'2 so i should fit awesome

[@nickjaxe]

What a shame...why was this the a/c final flight....did not look to badly damaged. Nick.

[@grahampalmer9337]

'ALL POWER TO HIS ELBOW' for the sheer commitment of the builder. It looks - & sounds - awfully underpowered. I suspect it's using a Lycoming or similar. On an associated tack. Over-&-above the number of specialist companies re- & building 'new' Spits I believe there is an Australian company that markets a scaled down copy (of a XIV?)

[@silvergtotwinturbo9984]

I think it was powered by a Jaguar engine. Read it somewhere. :)

[@johnharvey6129]

silverGTO TwinTurbo

[@johnharvey6129]

silverGTO TwinTurbo .

[@yahatinda]

WOW! awesome sound. Mitchell is jumping up &dow in his grave.