Spitfire MK XVI - First Engine Run in 17 Years!

--EXTRA CLIP-- See the Spitfire start up and do a taxi run in this other clip on Kermit's channel ...
• Spitfire MK XVI - Star...
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Our Spitfire MK XVI rolled out of the hangar for its first engine run in 17 years!
I had been flying it after we opened Fantasy of Flight, but there was like an AD on the landing gear bolts and we grounded it. It took several years to get the proper bolts but by then we'd moved on to other things and it just sat.
Well we've finally gotten back on it, and here's the first engine run we've done on her in 17 years. At first it didn't want to start. The mixture control is not marked on the throttle quadrant and I may have flooded it . . . so we came back later for another try, and we got it running. Here's the clip.
We still have a bit of work to finish painting the newly covered tail feathers and hooking them all up. Also, Andy's been dealing with some leaky undercarriage legs and it seems we have a leak in the air system as the brake pressure didn't come up as fast as it should. Hopefully, we'll get all that sorted out and we'll be able to get it flying soon.
KERMIT WEEKS
Want more of the Spitfire? Watch this clip next...
• Spitfire MK XVI - Star...
See more Kermit Weeks clips on his channel...
/ kermitweeksblogvideo

[@NealB123]

The sound of a Merlin engine is one of the most beautiful sounds ever devised by man.

[@Stranglerxx77]

Neal B Yes it's a beautiful sound indeed the mighty MERLIN V 12

[@mop714]

My father (fitter engineer)was in the RAF WW2 and he use to repair Merlin Spitfires in North & South Africa. A mild mannered man who never boasted about his abilities. He also repaired Flying Scotsman, Mallard etc over 43 years. He also repaired Hercules, Cyclones, Wasp, Dakota ... a talented man ... And I am biased. Died of asbestosis (industrial disease).

[@Stranglerxx77]

Amateur Flyer What's a rampant rabbit sound. ?? I guess it's something totally sexually oriented Lol

[@mop714]

@@ihateuserids Before my father`s time, and too much of a gentlemen. Amateur comment.

[@torqueofthedevil8145]

You've clearly never owned a Toyota Corolla 1.6

[@edgarnoriega217]

I am glad that there are people out there dedicated on keeping these birds flying thanks to those people!

[@hubristicmystic]

I bet this smelled amazing

[@jakethebritishpatriot]

@@hubristicmystic definitely

[@Warbird-Aviation]

Yes you are so right

[@drewt4451]

Imagine this, but being flown by an inexperienced teenager to protect our country and fight in a world at war.

[@user-ld7vl9sk4s]

this gave me goosebumps just by reading

[@filipbitala2624]

Pretty sure the mk.16 was used at the end of the war, when the “inexperienced teenagers” werent needed

[@Ben_not_10]

Even during the Battle of Britain most of the pilots where in their mid to late 20s. Now aerial gunners and other crewman on larger aircraft might have been teenagers but not pilots of fighter aircraft

[@toddc6682]

It was Germany that had to use old men & teenagers in the end.

[@Cummo1963]

Average age of RAF pilots during the Battle of Britain was just 20. Average age of those killed 22. There are plenty of documentaries about RAF pilots detailing their exploits and deaths at ages 20 and 21. At 25, you were considered old and usually of higher rank. It hits homes when you have kids yourself around this age. During BofB, some replacement pilots had only 6 to 7 hours on Spitfires. Amazing@@Ben_not_10

[@Kxre_]

Stuff like this is exactly why I wanna become a Aerospace Engineer. Glad to see this beauty being restored to it’s former glory!

[@radu6281]

Yeah bro but becoming an aerospace engineer won’t make you fly one of these. Time changes

[@altheliterate]

"So I was flying my Spitfire" Every man in the bar slinks away....

[@vikitheviki]

A spitfire pilot, a US marine and a spetznas walks into a bar..

[@andrewthomson]

...and the girl he's chatting up says "I don't like Pontiacs"

[@FaeraOthronus]

We have a picture of my great grandpa next to a spitfire in England, he flew over D Day

[@toddc6682]

The bar is unaffordable nowadays.

[@nickbarnes7109]

@@FaeraOthronus Reading your comment today 06/06/2024 80th anniversary of D-Day. Respect!

[@techmantra4521]

Such a special plane. You get a real sense of what the heroes went through with these machines. They have a personality of their own.

[@davidmichie6190]

Very special plane of today

[@michaelking6128]

Why must there be so many negative comments when all everyone has to do is be grateful that there is beautiful aircraft like these to watch and admire because of so many dedicated people who love to restore them which we can all admire. So for all those critics just say nothing if you haven't anything constructive and positive to say.

[@jacktattis1190]

Michael: Because too many Americans are jealous of what Britain made

[@jacktattis1190]

Michael: Because The shit Yanks on here are fighting a losing battle The P51 has been proven Not to have been the best, the fastest, with the most kills It was good and made a difference but after DDay the Spitfire and Tempest were there and Range was no longer an issue

[@bluefox9436]

The North American P 51 was one of the best WW2 planes - and why? - yes because of the british merlin engine in it, what was by the way nearly the same engine as the one in the late Spitfires

[@bluefox9436]

@soaringtractor Uiii and who developed the engine? Yes the B R I T I S H and if the americans want to use the engine, they have to produce It, also I don't like the language you use to talk to me so: better think before you write something and if you don't believe me just look at the Internet or a book (and I think you don't know what "build on licence" means) also they would never had developed the Packard without the original merlin engine, pay a bit more respect for this legend of engine

[@ianballinger7644]

@soaringtractor Why did'nt you Yanks stick with the shit Allison engine for the P51 instead of taking credit for BRITISH technology

[@coleanderson8035]

The most beautiful sound that man has created....and by far the most iconic ww2 aircraft......arguably the most important aircraft that changed the tide of the war it's amazing that some of these old birds can still run and be flight worthy to this day. A jewel that will never rot away in history. Such a beautiful aircraft and such a beautiful engine sound great job for restoring this true aircraft

[@ralphcrisp2896]

Agreed. Virtually everything the United States came up with was borrowed from England. For example, the P-51 Mustang has many of the same design features as the Spitfire. The B-17's engines are based on the Merlin engine. Merlin, King Arthur's magician....Now that's classy!

[@peterclapson6785]

Been luckily enough to have sat in this Spitfire on my 60th birthday ! Thank you Andy and Fantasy of flight

[@NickyG-NZ]

That roar. That purr! This will forever be one of my favorite sounds. just amazing.

[@rhys6698]

cant disagree but the avro vulcan takes the cake

[@MarsFKA]

OOOOOOHHHHHH THat US made PACKARD Merlin !!!!!!!! Made under licence from ROLLS ROYCE, in BRITAIN!!!!!! OOOOOOHHHHHH!!!!!

[@JohnSmith-pd1fz]

What a very sad SAD SAAAD little nonentity you are mister soaring tractor.. Sad in that all you have to do in your entire life is denigrate the works of others who you know next to nothing about, ridicule a country which is a million times more affluent and influential than your own and make yourself look and even bigger clown than your really are in the process. In addition your proclaimed expert opinions so far as aviation, engineering, history and the British People are concerned serve only to reinforce and enlarge the already massive chip you have on your shoulder. Good luck to you and your fevered rantings! Long may they continue! Each time you put finger to keyboard you simply demonstrate your envy and hatred for all things British and your blind insular ignorance of the British People. I eagerly await further howls and squeals, exclamation marks and dohs from you. Perhaps you'd like to tell us all exactly how you and your fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts and sundry other cretins singlehandedly won world war two without ever leaving some unknown backwater in Nowhere usa, thereby saving the "ASSES" of the British People in the process? Yes yes! Please do tell.

[@JohnSmith-pd1fz]

And this from a country who firmly believe they invented aviation and thereby world history all on their own. Your truth, mister tractor, is I fear, somewhat different to to everyone else's. But there you go, Keep on believing it and you'll die a very happy little nonentity, won't you? Probably quite soon. Oh by the way - I do hope you are looking forward to the anniversary of Pearl Harbour. That WAS another of those wars you won, wasn't it?

[@MarsFKA]

Sillylittlewillyfartingtractor wouldn't recognise the truth if it stood in front of him and looked him in his one eye. That's enough for the fartinghandjob today - I'm going to have some lunch. Maybe I'll have something like the very nice pub lunch I had near Trafalgar Square on my first visit to London. A thoroughly *British* pub lunch... By the way, has anyone asked the fartingtractor what he thinks about a British Prince becoming engaged to an *American* woman? Let's see if we can get an answer out of him that doesn't involve him sounding like he's having his usual stroke when he says such nice things about Britain and everything British.

[@hackledrummer1543]

All I could think about when watching these guys trying to get this beautiful, awesome, magnificent, Spitfire to fire up... was how similar their experience is... to me trying to get my shitty old lawn mower started!!! Talk about opposite ends of a spectrum!

[@nickbarnes7109]

Haha, i was thinking the same only about my little petrol generator!!

[@perryjohnson8213]

Watching vids like this renews my love for Aviation and makes me appreciate my job as a pilot. Nicely done!

[@markfrancis5528]

I live in the UK and when we have one or two of these girls do a fly past it makes me cry like a baby. This is the sound of freedom 🇬🇧

[@retardedsandwich101]

@@chubbychubs4636 the sound of freedoms allies 😂

[@user-ee4fk9jc5w]

Awezome

[@RCScaleAirplanes]

*_WooooW_*. Needs a huge battery to get the engine running. Great job !

[@JZ-vg6ke]

Yes indeed

[@korieharris4086]

Imagine the starter

[@jurajokasa834]

Starter isnt any bigger or stronger than any other relatives on relative engines ...they just used gearing ratio to have less need of power

[@korieharris4086]

I didn't imagine it would be different than "relatives on relative engines" I didn't imply it was any different than another aircraft of it's kind, just simply curious of its size in relation to your average car starter Mr troll

[@jurajokasa834]

@@korieharris4086 it has 4 regular vehicle sized batteries ;) starter is in size of the semi truck vehicle

[@tomaszkusnierkiewicz4398]

The best engine sound ever... RR Merlin is a symphony!

[@slikster86]

This might have been filmed over 4 years ago but I still urged it with all I could muster. Fantastic job fella’s...

[@Mike-01234]

That sound of the Merlin engine and the wind from the prop must have been so cool to feel that big engine come to life after all those years.

[@VNNZTC]

Wonderful, I had the pleasure seeing a Spitfire doing a solo flight early in the morning before an Airshow in New Plymouth, New Zealand once and will never forget the thrill as the engine started and it took off, actually seemed to leap into the air...bloody fantastic guys...well done...

[@novichead]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I love that sound! I bet you were happy to hear her roar. Thanks for sharing!

[@carlatamanczyk3891]

I for one love and appreciate all of you out there for taking the time and resources in preserving these great machines.

[@vtrmcs]

A true big boys toy.

[@TommyGamerV12]

That's right

[@DougHanchard]

Not really. Pilots with less than 50 flight hours of basic aircraft and another 5 to 10 hours of flight training in type (i.e. Hurricane or Spitfire) went into battle. What takes brains and smarts is taking care of an airplane properly. Having a proper pre-start up procedure planned and prepared. (clearly things guys just 'winged it'.) There's just so many things I wince at during this start procedure that makes me want to kick this billionaire in the balls. Ugh. Oh well, what can you do. He's got the money and that's the way it is.

[@DougHanchard]

+Brisdad53 Repeating what I already said isn't saying much.

[@smokingspitfire1197]

Brisdad53 quite the contrary, a bit of an urban legend that is, RAF pilots had huge amounts of training, on the tiger moth and following their solos on those in a Miles Magister or a T-6 Texan/Harvard depending on what was available, they would then move to operational squadrons when deemed ready, if not they would be "dipped" meaning, kicked off the course. They actually had closer to 200-300 hours. Similar to Fleet Air Arm training

[@ridersinthescrub9405]

im not sure that was the case, as after the debacle in france, a lot of raw recruits were arriving with less than suitable "type" hours in their log books. after the BOB, the training programs were boosted as the pressure was off. once on a squadron, significant training was undertaken before ops were flown. it was only for a short period of the war as they worked to bolster pilot numbers after the BEF got a flogging and the Luftwaffe began its campaign.

[@Kookoocachu]

Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@lelandlewis7207]

The loud jingle at the end scared the crap outta my cat. lol Love the sound of a piston engine. I like watching old Unlimited Hydroplane races with 8 or 10 screaming Merlins and Allisons at 180 MPH in the straights or a video of a piston plane diving or roaring by at 100 feet. Gives me chills and goosebumps.

[@bonchance9241]

Beautiful aircraft thankyou for letting us see her

[@kamasick4632]

*Him

[@tcminor]

I was lucky as a younger man to attend the Cleveland Air Races, Bob Hoover was doing displays shows, This particular year he had come back from a European tour with an Spit he got on loan from someone, forget the particulars so he was touring around with spit, his mustang as well as an Aero Commander. It was so cool to get to see and hear that beautiful airplane as Bob Hoover put it through its paces.... Then he took his Mustang up later in the show... was quite a day.

[@galopgalop4486]

tcminor the whistling guns of the p-51 and the gentle purr of the rolls Royce Merlin

[@spitfireaace]

I met Bob Hoover for an autograph in 1975 at the Abbotsford Airshow he was flying a P-51. I had him sign my program. I wish I still had it but my mom threw it away ... as mom's usually do. Love you mom but that sucked.

[@apuuvah]

Wish I could've been there...

[@VassilliHD]

Dear Kermit, have you ever heard the saying "They hate you because they ain't you?" You have no idea how insanely jealous I am of you right now. To see these majestic birds, let alone be able to fly them? You sir are living the dream. Thank you for keeping the spirit of aviation alive.

[@wmfife1]

Yeah but VassilliHD once you own an airplane you become painfully aware of the cost... from hangar rental due month after month to annuals and insurance, constant maintenance issues then there are the ever-rising fuel prices and those pesky AD's... You know the FAA. And this from someone with a 65 HP Taylorcraft. No Kermie can have his collection and all the headaches that come with it. I'm ok to just watch.

[@cccfifi]

beautiful aircraft beautiful sound thanks for this moment

[@monslayernone8898]

What a beautiful sound............My grandfather was a Royal Air Force Spitfire pilot in the war.Told me as a young boy, before a mission, he would put his hand on dash of plane say "Bring me home Merlin" and Merlin did.You just brought memories of my Grandfather home.

[@michaelstarwars66]

the sound of victory

[@andreavian6777]

The sound of freedom!

[@GlebVysok]

michaelstarwars66 the sound of victory in tanks is a t-34

[@mr.haskell5834]

michaelstarwars6

[@supermarinespitfire9476]

Indeed

[@patb5266]

Amazing video guys, thanks! Found myself saying "come on" as I watched, very positive vibe from everyone :)

[@robertpalmer3882]

When I was very young, Spitfires, sometimes about twenty, would fly over my home near Hornchurch, Essex. The sound was, and still is, unforgettable. Bob Palmer

[@ferdgreenblatt6011]

When I was a child, USN aircraft from Quonset Point NAS buzzed our Rhode Island village. I was supposed to have been a Spitfire pilot.But the baby scheduler made me a few years late.Eventually, I did manage to serve as a USAF corpsman on British soil at Burderop Park, near Swindon. My flying career has been limited to 150s and 152s.

[@rosiehawtrey]

That'd probably be 12 group aircraft, depending on when you mean.

[@xxFormula1989xx]

I hate to even admit how much time I spend watching your videos on my days off. Thank you for sharing!

[@graemefox4788]

wow! such a beautiful, respectful bird. stunning! I wish I could be around one of these.

[@ludslawrenzeogog]

From the sound of a whining baby to a big roaring bear.

[@mikehill23]

Another great acquisition! Good work, Kermit. Fantastic facility. My cousin told me about this place. This was on my "must see" list when I visited from Perth, Australia.

[@jonpettet7085]

love that these people do this work for the love of it!.

[@UKTomsk]

Superb, being British, that sound makes you feel all warm inside :)

[@davechapman490]

Absolutely AWESOME aircraft! That engine sound, even at idle, is iconic and gets my heart racing. I would give my left testicle to fly this aircraft! Any takers?

[@bluemarshall6180]

Huh?

[@bobhearn7853]

Something wrong with your right one?

[@bunnystuff2005]

Love it! Amazing it started like it did....what a cool sound!

[@Painless61]

What a Sound .... ❤️ ... that’s the right way ... standing near by an Listen what the Engine isTalking about ... i love it

[@paulcreed8151]

I met Kermit Weeks about 20 years ago, he owns Fantasy of Flight in Florida. If you get the chance go there go. He spent 30 minutes talking to me and during that time I realised what an amazing man he is. In short he wanted to assist the younger generations to recognise the terrible things that happened in war in the past and how if we forget this it will happen again and again. Top man.

[@margaretroselle8610]

Brilliant!What a beautiful plane the Spitfire is and it’s sounding great! Love that it’s called Winston Churchill!

[@paulsirescu1778]

gorgeos sound, ty for sharing it with us

[@colinmiles1052]

As one previous subscriber said - no battery cart - bloody amazing startup! Bloke over seeing must have gone deaf by now - no ear defenders! Awesome!

[@MisterBlue50]

Beautiful sound. She's an eternal.

[@davidkreutzkamp6602]

congrats to Kermit and the crew at Fantasy of Flight. Great to hear that merlin after 17 years I'm sure. We waited 4 years to hear the sound of a DH Goblin on our vampire and that seemed like forever ;)

[@miiqus_unchained]

That is just beautiful, I never get tired of watching this.

[@mmitra4669]

The best part was the great bird being lovingly pushed into the hanger! Great job guys keep them running

[@LeroyKinkade]

Such a beautiful aircraft!

[@edsmith4995]

That was the once the sound of victory over British and European skies! Not forgetting North Africa and Asia too. Spitfire's lived up to their name, awesome upload!

[@fizzynix1]

That man on the right flank - You can tell he is a genius. He knew what it needed to fire up and didn't bat an eye lid when it did - GENIUS ! 5:50 salute - awesome

[@drstevenrey]

Sorry for the late response, I use 17, yes, seventeen Primer actions. It always starts with about 1 and a half rotations. The Merlin 266 needs a lot of fuel in the intake box. Actually, it's best to flood the darn thing until it just slightly drips from the box. That will be just enough. I do around 130 hour a year in Spitfires, not just my Mk XVI but also IX's and V's and occasionally a Mk I.

[@ejgrae1989]

I loved reading this I have 50s motorbikes and you drown them til fuel runs out the float tickler on the carb and they start first kick. Seems to have been an efficient way to get cold start reliability just drown it and it’ll fire straight away.

[@bernardanderson7569]

Great to hear the sound of the Freedom of the Spitfire "" wow

[@K6III450MHZ]

Must have one hell of a battery to turn that prop during start up.

[@alexabadi7458]

+K6III450MHZ may be connected directly to generator/power line

[@wmfife1]

Yes was going to say what? No APU?

[@Danspy501st]

Well some of these planes need to be pulled to start. In other words, a man need to turn the propeller to start the engine. I dont think the Spitfire had it, or any plane from WW2 if I do recall it, but planes like a bi-plane from WW1 might need a hand to start the engine

[@ostlandr]

I've also seen a lot of the Radial engines being turned over by hand to distribute the oil before start.

[@wmfife1]

That's often true with the bigger radials as oil accumulation in the lower cylinders is unavoidable after the engine has been sitting even a few hours. Generally the largest engines where actual hand-propping is advisable are in the range of 400-450 hp. I personally watched a big burly guy start a Waco biplane with a Wright R-975 this way at Blakesburg. But I don't think I would try that myself. He looked like a tuck driver or wrestler, around 250 to 300 lbs maybe. Bet he could bench press his weight. Definitely not for everyone.

[@Riverboat374]

The sound of that engine is so damn thrilling! I got to hear an Me-109 do a low pass over an airfield in Germany. Same thrill.

[@johnanderton6170]

Absolutely wonderfull Thank you and well done

[@ahmadtheaviationlover1937]

It’s amazing that for decades of inactivity the spitfire once again heralds into action! God bless the genius minds of ww2 aeronautical engineers who made such a beautiful aircraft

[@06retd22]

Best engine sound in all aviation

[@geoffreyboyling615]

And a close second is 'The Vulcan Howl'.

[@sonjagebauer2322]

Ok, the sound is beautiful, no discussion about that. BUT ... it is definately not the best engine sound in all aviation. Did you ever hear the 18 Cylinder P&W Engine in the Corsair F4U? THAT is the best engine sound ever! Nothing, really nothing can compare with that. 😍😍😍

[@carnivore10]

Im in Canada but visited your place about 10 yrs ago, the day i came a silver Mustang buzzed the field i think you said he was a buddy of yours up to see the car races. You flew a brown cub type plane and talked about how slow it could fly...great visit..thank you once again!

[@thejudge-kv2jk]

Runs chills down my spine!

[@stevewilson1600]

Watching this makes me proud to be a Rolls Royce engineer and have made parts for Merlins, I was a Gear Turner and made for Eagles and Condors.

[@robarnold4104]

I was working at EMA in the 70's, Cliff Rogers used to fly the RR spitfire out for air shows etc, I got to help out getting her ready for him, great guy and brilliant pilot, always gave us a good fly past on departure, so long ago but happy times.

[@d.s.conleyjr.5218]

I love to hear roar of an old Merlin come to life. Just beautiful!

[@johnedwards1685]

In 1966 my family moved to East London for a few years. One day in the playground at school in Stratford we heard a huge sound of aircraft coming. Overhead came an orange-painted twin engined bomber followed by a great gaggle of single-engined fighters, and they were very low and very loud. To us kids (I was seven or eight years old) they were obviously all Spitfires but it may have been all the aircraft involved in that day’s filming, Spitfires, Hurricanes, Buchons [Bf109E]. It was part of the film production for the movie “Battle of Britain”. Sorry to be vague about the aircraft recognition but I was busy galloping round and round with my arms in the air shrieking “SPITFIRES!” and of course well over fifty years ago.

[@supmansaccount5360]

Jeez man, you were very lucky to experience those beauties.

[@TheStormysee]

i know its been up for a while but the sound of this makes me tingle

[@colinnixon7055]

the sound of poetry.xxxxx.

[@TheTolz0]

Im a yank and I love our fighter history.....but my god what a beautiful plane!!!!

[@cameronmcallister7606]

A tad late, but American planes were bloody good too, buitl more for the Pacific, and long distance over water, whilst we had the leisure of building ours to only be mid-range. You boys did bloody good.

[@IntelligentHorseworldofrandom]

Hell yeah! So lovely to hear this bird sing again! 🇬🇧

[@mozzzz1000]

What a sound! Stunning.

[@mu2freighter]

Nicely done, that Merlin sounded mighty happy to be running again!

[@davecrupel2817]

Glenn Horowitz 5:21 sounds like the old pistons got the heating exercise they needed haha

[@375GTB]

Griffon!

[@michaelmagdaraog892]

Glenn Horowitz k

[@michaelmagdaraog892]

37

[@acopspi1436]

375GTB It's a Merlin. The MkXVI was pretty much a MkIX but used a Packard-built Merlin 266 instead of the equivalent Rolls-Royce Merlin 60. Later variants (like this one) had a cut down rear fuselage and teardrop canopies. The Griffons came into service with the MkXII. You can tell them apart as they had 5-bladed props and used longer spinners.

[@winchuni22]

I'm wearing really high quality ear phone and it sounds amazing! So much bass!

[@winchuni22]

***** www.johnlewis.com/bowers-wilkins-p5-series-2-on-ear-headphones-black/p1701150?sku=233936333&kpid=233936333&s_kenid=43b2e004-3e97-14c9-c247-00005f9bae3b&s_kwcid=402x347241&tmad=c&tmcampid=73

[@edwardharris9810]

+winchuni22 Same here

[@edwardharris9810]

***** Jesus $900 for headphones (I'm English so that's £630 in our money) when I said I was listening with good headphones I meant I was using a £160 pair of Technics headphones, which are good enough quality for me, there's no way I'd spend £630 ($900) on headphones. I would like to know what a set of £630 ($900) headphones sound like though! right now I'm on a train to London and am using a pair of £40 ($60) Skullcandy headphones and these sound ok, hence why I would love to hear what a £630 ($900) headphones sound like!!

[@winchuni22]

Drugs ProjectReality Nonsense. B&W are a class product. I've worked there and know exactly how they operate and their quality control etc.

[@advancerv12]

+winchuni22 listening with a Kplipsch reference r6i i got for 60 bucks.. sounds awesome.

[@jimmcdonald7863]

I love the sound of the Spitfire Merlin engine running ......beautiful

[@nemesisandy2193]

Awesome work guys, hope you get her in the air soon!

[@yar9716]

What a beauty.

[@volcommadness]

So many insecure men trying to bash him because of his hair. He may have a ponytail but he’s cooler than you and your entire family. Has a insane aircraft collection as well. This Merlin is his!

[@NathanChisholm041]

Having a plane does not make someone cooler you dickhead!

[@NathanChisholm041]

@TominBachRestoring a plane is worthy foresure, but if you think that makes you cooler than the rest of us then your a fucking dickhead!! I'm sure you know all about that....

[@EggNuggets]

Nath C how can you think your on the same level as a man that has a ponytail, a fucking spitfire and probably quite a hefty sum of quids. I can smell jealousy

[@darrenjames4022]

If men like him keep history alive, he could look like my mother in-law and I’d still respect him...

[@fbnick9987]

@@NathanChisholm041 Loving and restoring it does loser keyboard warrior. And I bet he could not give a shit about what people think of his pony tail. It was his choice.

[@michaelking42]

Gorgeous machine!

[@G_Money72]

Rescuing them one at a time! Truly incredible.

[@gaden0114]

Twelve RR cylinders and great history are awakened and playing in beautiful harmony. Great respect and gratitude for this perfect piece of flying iron, and the men who twisted them around in air combats against the Nazists.

[@sharpsdoublerifle1439]

Reminds me of my old 1950 B35 bonanza, when hot it was a bastards to start, you had three hands going at the same time....manual fuel pump, starter, mixture and throttle at once...

[@Brianthehistorynerd]

She sounds amazing!!

[@jameshardy3489]

Brilliant! The Spitfire lives to fly another day.

[@lex1945]

Most beautiful and best sounding fighter of WWII

[@Thunderstixx77]

Listen to that Merlin engine !!! The engine that won WWII pretty much on its own. Used in all kinds of planes the Merlin was a true epic design of the genius of the people of Rolls Royce.

[@barryervin8536]

The engine that won WWll pretty much on it's own? I think the Russians and the US might disagree with that. Not to mention the Typhoon and Tempest and Beaufighter, and all the Wildcats, Hellcats, Corsairs, etc., used by the British.

[@daleburrell6273]

+Barry Ervin It is fair to say that merlin engine won the battle of Britain...if the battle of Britain had been lost, WWII might very well have been lost-!

[@barrierodliffe4155]

Barry. USA had 3 groups using Spitfires in 1943, the Spitfire can be credited along with the Hurricane for the Battle of Britain, Malta was won when they used Spitfires. Air superiority was won by Spitfires over North Africa, the Spitfire was used for air superiority for Sicily and Italy as well as most other major actions. The Merlin was also used to improve the P 51, it was in the Mosquito and Lancaster. the Typhoon was mainly used for ground attack, the Tempest only from 1944, the Beaugfiighter was very good and like the Spitfire and Mosquito used by the USAAF. Wildcat, Hellcat and Corsair did not fight the Luftwaffe. The three most important planes of the war were powered by the Rolls Royce Merlin. USSR used Spitfires too but they never paid for them or anything else. The RAF even went to Russia an flew Spitfires there.

[@craigweigle4482]

Barrie Rodliffe my

[@annoyingbstard9407]

Soaringtractor/deermayer's just upset because his family were interned nazi sympathies during the war. Ironic that a US traitor should be so partisan!

[@scottmurray4689]

Beautiful!!

[@diegoc.5557]

The wine of a engine trying to start just grinds my gears. Its so exhausting to watch and hear😂

[@srmotiarti9639]

Música celestial!! 👏👏👏👏

[@rbwood1978ify]

Still to this day they’re probably the most beautiful bird ever flown.

[@ricardocorbie6803]

Beautiful,, thanks awfully much for bringing back this Majestic war bird 🦅!!! ❤️🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿

[@anonymxs._7570]

This is a true time machine. Works like a swiss watch, never betrays.

[@swingmanic]

My mum was helping to build these during the war at Castle Bromwich..She could still read a micrometer years afterwards...The bloody Germans used to strafe the workers coming out of the factory gates, having worked a night shift. I do miss my Warbird meetings at Duxford and living near the BBMF at Coningsby.

[@scottsheating8349]

What dose strafe mean?

[@swingmanic]

German Stuka aircraft used to shoot the workers as they came out of gates of the factories. - It's called "strafing"

[@scottsheating8349]

+swingmanic thanks for the explanation.

[@JulesD92]

Awesome story.. but at the end even the us Germans were just soldiers eh ? thats their job.

[@josephweaver8985]

And to think. People say there was never a holocaust, well, tell that to the men who liberated the camps, the innocent civilians in London, and the Soldiers at Malmedy, and no I have no interest in the leveling of Germany by allied bombs, perhaps if the Germans would have kept to the treaties they signed, maybe WWll would not have happened, but Adolph could not get over the first world war, as a corporal, he ended up defeating his own Army 20 some years later. Disgusting, the loss of life this man was behind.

[@gibson617ajg]

Come on, own up. Who watched this and said 'come on baby, come on' as that prop was turning over? Who doesn't love the sound of a Merlin? It's literally the sound of Victory.

[@terryirvine7090]

I was, hahaha! I was saying C'mon nearly, c'mon! I'm not into planes, but its a nice piece of engineering from a great time and era!

[@Fordnan]

Yep. My wife got very suspicious, and came expecting to find me with Johnson in hand.

[@mukans]

Its always nice to see and hear running a plane that old and historycal

[@josephbragg5445]

Pulling some serious amperage.great sounding rolls.A beautiful bird

[@DavidTurnell]

To me it´s still the best looking plane ever made (followed by the F16)

[@SageManeja]

to me the hurricane is also very beautiful, and so are the japanese planes the american aircraft in the other hand look like a big mass of metal.. really ugly shape, but effective i guess

[@theairbornepotato6771]

Tell me the P-61 is ugly. I dare you.

[@DavidTurnell]

The P-61 has a big ass and big tits. Very nice until it gets to 20, then becomes a gorilla/whale mutant.

[@SageManeja]

F4U is that obese girlfriend you get as a teenager because you thought it was "good enough"

[@mecallahan1]

The Spitfire is proof of that old saying, "If it looks right, it will fly right". Sleek graceful and deadly all at the same time. But to call the Corsair an obese girlfriend, you go too far sir. That would be the P-47 lol.

[@haydenoneil4975]

Can't Beat that Merlin sound :)

[@briancollins1579]

+Hayden O'Neil except with an Allison sound...

[@winchuni22]

+Brian Collins No way mate, come on.

[@briancollins1579]

winchuni22 the Merlin sound is kind of wheezy and prissy...the Allison has a nice deep growl to it...

[@1339LARS]

+Brian Collins Doo, it´s the same engine Packard/Rolls !

[@briancollins1579]

***** no it is not...the Allison was very different...

[@dgadver]

Awesome!!!! How can anyone not love this video!!!!!

[@Shiddy123]

The most beautiful sound in the world!

[@Rondu01]

I'm like that movie "Flight of the Phoenix." Come on, come on, start damnit! Finally!

[@MoneyMcNast]

godamn it's beautiful

[@re6748]

A classic from the grave moment!!! Big Ups mates. That engine was literally cleaning itself to start. Amazeballs

[@gergemall]

Beautiful sound