Spitfire startup & Flight

Classic stuff

[@bobt6031]

One flew over myself and my brother we were about 7 yrs old he flew towards us quite low we waved at him he waggled his wings at us then as he flew over us he barrel rolled waggled his wings again and flew on that was over 50yrs ago and I will never forget it it was magical .

[@marciomaiajr]

Engineers: how beautiful do you want this engine to sound? RR: Yes.

[@Blue-pw8uo]

Ikr

[@qasimmir9455]

The best Spitfire video I've seen, a major factor is that excellent starting procedure.

[@rawnukles]

Qasim Mir yep thats the best spitfire video I've seen too. Surprised I havn't come across it before

[@matthewhackett1710]

But, can you imagine doing all that when a bell rings frantically, and someone is screaming "SCRAMBLE!!!!! - we will let you know what for and where to go if you survive getting airborne. Tally ho!"

[@joshmcdonald5520]

@@matthewhackett1710 Quite a few things in that sequence would be prechecked and streamlined. For instance, the walkaround and visual control surfaces check would be completed when a pilot came on duty and maintained at regular intervals. The Carburetor would already be primed and ready by the crew chief. Rudder Bias and nose trim would already been set, likely by a crew chief. Spitfire crews were a coiled spring ready for action. The pilot is only as good as his aircrew, and the crew chiefs were very particular about caring for their children...

[@amirsyarifudin5287]

@@rawnukles ~

[@sheephelmet]

Nearly 70 years od and still the most beautiful thing to take to the air with the most stirring soundtrack. Long may the Spitfire live.

[@mycide]

Those Merlin engines... the Spitfires sound and the looks, it's perfection.

[@covidius9511]

What about Griffons?

[@crimi.photos]

i can’t believe i never saw this gem of a video until now

[@furbs9999]

Quite possibly the most beautiful machine ever made.

[@mcpaplus]

Beautiful bird, an engine sound like no other, and the young men that flew them, heroes every one.

[@carlosalcazar8651]

Absolutely pure elegance and beauty, that merlin motor sounds incredible... Amazing

[@stevewheatley243]

I've always loved the sound of a Merlin. It's almost musical.

[@wesleycardinal8869]

We lived for a year in Kent, and I remember one magical summer day sitting outside a pub, near Biggin Hill, watching and listening to the sound of one of these carving through the blue English sky as we ate our ploughmans lunch. We went later that year to the airshow at Biggin Hill and saw a couple of Spitfires and Hurricanes as well as the Lancaster fly over and over, but that summers day I remember.

[@vipertwenty249]

I had the privilage of sitting in the cockpit of this aircraft back in 1981. For me, being a small chap, it was very roomy with plenty of elbow room. It was at Booker Airpark by High Wycombe at the time.

[@jjt1093]

I had this back in the day when it was on VHS Best spit documentary in my view

[@timbog2102]

MH434 is still in use at Duxford if anyone is interested - great plane and distinguished career! Apart from 74 missions and downing 5 enemy fighters, she was used in over 10 TV/Film roles including Midsummer Murders!! Take a look at Classic Wings if you want to get Close up and personal - you won't be dissapointed (i'm one of the vollunteers who helps out there!)

[@kiereluurs1243]

Phew, half an hour flight for £2750, or 50 minutes for £4850? That's steep.

[@Gaizhun]

@@kiereluurs1243 A two seat spitfire costs in the region of £1 million per year for regular maintenance/overhaul. It'd cost at least £3 million to buy one. Can you see why they're so expensive to fly in now? 😂

[@sofalugger]

To think of all the young airmen that gave their lives.....

[@beaufighter245]

Indeed, total respect to them. Sad that this post has 22 dislikes. How for goodness sakes!

[@capnordest]

Perfection beautifully explained in 9 minutes and 25 seconds. Could never tire of listening to that engine!

[@cmans79tr7]

3:03 slow cranking sounds a little like my parent's 6 volt '52 Buick starting in the Winter back in the good ol' days.

[@ats-3693]

You can't fully appreciate the beautiful throaty roar of the Merlin V12 until you have heard/seen a Spitfire flying low level manoeuvres, I wouldn't really call myself an aircraft enthusiast but the Spitfire will always be my favourite airplane, what a beast.

[@RG1001]

when i was little my mother used to sing to me to put me to sleep, whenever i hear the merlin engine i am reminded of my mother singing to me. hell of a conditioned response but one i do enjoy.

[@guardianobserver6593]

I lost my mother a few weeks ago. It's a devastating experience.

[@michaellefebvre8292]

thanks for that it s for me the most beautiful plane this plane is just awesome

[@prowelderbill]

Everyone is forgetting the Zero and it's gracefull contribution. It was one very formidable attack air plane enough to strike fear in most pilots trying to guard against its attack.

[@fritzkatz]

=fragile POS

[@myZisfantastic]

No bridge in the neighborhood, too bad! Could have been "a piece of cake"! The great Neil Williams at the controls, awesome! Cheers

[@mothmagic1]

The bridge scene in "A Piece Of Cake was flown by the late, great Ray Hanna.

[@lambdacalculus8316]

In DCS, a spitfire is a plane you can confidently fly into combat. But the take-off and landing are very challenging.

[@eliott.6997]

Wow! I remember watching this video documentary when I was a kid! Never seen it since, but this was ALWAYS the best bit for me... thank you for finding this and putting it on KZbin =)

[@TPath3]

Beautifully done, especially the startup - sequence !

[@AdrianJayeOnline]

totally agreed

[@jimcowley330]

The sound of the Merlin engine was herd alot over Eastleigh Hampshire where I was born of course Eastleigh is famous. because that's where the first spitfire took off on its maiden flight ✈️

[@kakadz89]

This movie is just excellent! I'm getting shivers because of the sound and views in this movie. Just like when I saw this plane two times live, last year. I love the Spitfire!

[@normsweet1710]

Well done and film assembled , I’d never seen all the intracates the pilot goes through to ensure a safe flight. Nicely done, I thank each of you for the education 🙂

[@andysim232]

wonderful aircraft, its so organic, its like something mother nature would have created. It just might be one of the most beautiful machines ever created by humans.

[@fritzkatz]

"might"?

[@Dafelixxx]

nothing and I mean absolutely nothing beats the sound of that mighty Merlin...more than music to my ears

[@HSTMDad]

Still wearing her BoB makeup - spurious squadron markings and cannon barrels removed! Someone else mentioned the late Neil Williams - great pilot - saw him fly Shuttleworth's Mk V - memorable!

[@slicer819]

Neil Williams and the Spitfire was a marriage made in heaven...I saw him display both MH434 and AR501 at Old Warden, just aerial poetry. And to have enjoyed that AND Ray Hanna wringing out MH434 is a privilege beyond price. Great video...oh to see it in 4K......

[@gtrman9706]

So beautiful !

[@MrRichardnorwood]

Iconic British perfection in design, performance (hence virtually no ME109's left!) and sound , also sat in MH434 when I was about 8 and still remains close to my heart 30 years later.....

[@jamesfeuilherade3664]

Interesting with the pilot door, it has an intermediate latch setting, which will leave it slightly open. This is handy to "lock" the canopy open, to ensure it doesn't ride up the canopy rails and slam closed in a take off accident. Does make closing the canopy a bit more fiddly after take off, so not typically done. With the heavier bubble canopy, a consideration, although it was crank handle operated, so not so prone to sliding forward. Still a great video, with the late great Neil Williams flying.

[@nicolasmezzalira5888]

might show this video to my grandfather to refresh his memory

[@jamesfeuilherade3664]

Yes although old, still a great video, with the great Neil Williams. The in cockpit shots are the closest to the pilots actual eye position that I've ever seen.

[@paulchappell9606]

as one of my favourite music artists said in their song spitfire (public service Broad casting) you can't help but get a kick at the sound of a spitfire, how bloody true, what a Beautiful plane but deadly all the same.

[@DrCrabfingers]

The Merlin engines..just the best sound. The Spit is the most beautiful plane ever built in my opinion...very closely followed by the Sukhoi 27. The 27 is the modern equivalent I guess...stunningly beautiful design and totally fit for purpose.

[@DrCrabfingers]

The SU27 has obviously now been superceded but you get my drift...

[@jasonga]

Incredible, but lets not forget the Hurricane!!!

[@EugVR6]

That noise is so good👌🏽

[@BigLisaFan]

Some aircraft just look perfect and the Spitfire is one of them.

[@KuroHebi]

It's a shame this plane isn't a two-seater so that I could have a joyride with a pilot flying it and me sitting in the back just taking it all in. Guess I'll have to learn how to fly a Spitfire myself.

[@greatbritishscarface7464]

If Ed ever wants to fly a Spitfire, he is gonna have to watch this. :)

[@nurmister]

That start-up check is so charming.

[@donaldparlettjr3295]

Someone is have way to much fun here and I don't blame them.

[@usmctanks1]

There are now more Spitfires airworthy than at any time since the end of WW2 (Yeah) and there is now the ability to build one with only the original data plate.

[@nurmister]

That's so great to hear!

[@thanosleeds]

This is one of the best videos I have ever seen.

[@jimsmith1856]

The sound of victory.

[@marcoortiz4579]

One of the best planes ever...

[@neil2905]

jesus christ what a beautiful plane

[@craigpennington1251]

A true beauty.

[@gglen2141]

Little hidden gem, this video.

[@ChrizRockster]

I always thought the trim would have to be adjusted on the rudder before take-off - glad to find my thoughts were correct.

[@peterblake4837]

Until Charlie Church took to agricultural flght, we often saw one or more Spitfires doing low-level flights over my house in Hants. All gone now.

[@chrishyde1216]

Great video, with excellent shots of start up, in air and from the cockpit. Great if this could be re-filmed with modern wide-screen HD cameras.

[@Stickman2030]

What a rush! Nothing like that motor sound.

[@techmantra4521]

That is an eargasm and an eyegasm.

[@peterelmer9114]

That sound ; pure magic 👌🏻

[@shadisammoun1393]

This makes me want to play Il-2 - awesome video

[@leiker06]

oh, no doubt it is a sleek looking plane. good craftsmanship. same goes for the 109. good engineering by both.

[@fritzkatz]

Over 8 years and no one mentioned that @8:13 the undercarriage is already extended, yet @8:20 the pilot selects "down"? Editing snafu in amusing contrast with the flawless piloting and maintenance. Always respect and remember: you can't have minutes of the former without hours of the latter !

[@hawker1138]

That's the flaps down lever. Gear down at under 160 IAS, flaps down at under 140 IAS.

[@fritzkatz]

@@hawker1138 R U certain? Flaps are usually selected in increments: 20° 30° etc not all up, all down.

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

Thank you very much! Greets from the Netherlands, T.

[@darthrevan2063]

Such a cool plane.

[@carlofabiomartinoli4629]

El mejor avión estéticamente y operacional mente de la segunda guerra

[@migueltrombettonipipinich1719]

The best video ever!!! Spitfire is the best aircraft of the ww2!!!

[@gilbertoacevedo7525]

What a beauty...

[@eduardomendes2557]

Beautiful aircraft, i like.... Brazilian

[@baselhammond3317]

I know 434 is a Mk.IX, but doesn't it look so wonderful without the guns sticking out spoiling the outline.

[@70sheaven]

Used to be flown regularly by her owner the late great Ray Hanna

[@kevinburns5762]

And what a pilot he was

[@treyno1991]

Either way I'm sure we can agree both are a seriously cool fighters!

[@jimcowley330]

Just to add in the 2nd world war Eastleigh airodrome was h.m.s raven which I believe was an American base that's where my father met my mum because my father was royal navy fleet air arm and he worked on sea Fury's ect

[@RickJones222]

What a beautiful airplane. Nice video.

[@NielsMF]

Great video thank you for uploading

[@24bellers20]

Second landing was the best one.😊

[@xjboy550]

MH434 a real war bird 2 confirmed kills 1 damaged one shared ,was flight tested by the legendary Alex Henshaw and flown in films 'the battle of Britain' ' a bridge too far ' plus many more! the pilot in this film was Neil Williams ,an exceptional pilot with a history I cannot do justice too in this small comment section ! sadly he was killed with his wife and an engineer in CASA 2-111 G-BFFS which crashed on the 11 Dec 1977 in Northern Spain !

[@frankleonard6570]

great old bird! beautifull!

[@user-lb3mt9ld9p]

Once upon a time it was a a tiger in the air 🐯😍

[@PeterFabian]

Hispano 20s were being installed since the late Mk IIs. This is a IX, it definitely had cannons.

[@troppapolvere]

Really beautiful machine. Do you know which kind of plane filmed the external video sequences, flying close to the Spitfire? Thanks!

[@paulchappell9606]

she is a beauty, winder if she still active, don't have time to read all comments

[@erikbilling8160]

The Late Great Neil Williams flying the Spitfire

[@xjboy550]

A dam fine documentary ! I used to have a copy but sadly no more !

[@marcduchesnay5536]

Le plus beau des avions !

[@iancharlton678]

MH434 - exquisite - THE Spitfire....🇬🇧 Wonder who was the lucky pilot..? Assume it was Ray Hanna.... up there still with Mark, somewhere above the clouds...🙂 Echo of my youth.....

[@dazt103]

Thanks for posting this fantastic vid !:) Its been sooo long since I last saw this.

[@williamleadbetter9686]

Wouldn't we all just love to learn to fly a spitfire. I'll just have to settle for my Sonerai. Kinda look a bit like a Spit. Oh well I can pretend and make noises while I'm flying my little VW Plane

[@woooster17]

This is early footage of MH434, later to become more famous when flown by the late great Ray Hanna & the OFMC. Here she is fitted without her 20mm Hispano canons, whereas today she has them. MH434 has recently returned from a trip to Malta under the pilot/guardianship of Paul Bonhomme. A wonderful sight.. & of course, sound!

[@claudiocarbone2225]

Amazing video for an iconic amazing fighter!

[@Mattebubben]

@BigLisaFan the 109 F4 and G2 Also Looks perfect they are all Smoth

[@gamalielneto3647]

simply gorgeous

[@amotupira2221]

..hermoso diseño,gran mniobravilidad,viejo y letal.

[@clivewinters7479]

Wonderful

[@RailwayVideos.]

lovely airplane

[@spitfire690]

I almost forgot to mention, I'd be more than happy to give you any info you need if you'd like!

[@roderickval]

Awesome Video. In minute 2:41 he says "Prop constant speed Control Forward" And he moves the Red lever which is the Mixture Control, The prop pitch is the black one on the right. Ive seen Pilots Hit both starter & Boost Coil then move the mixture forward for ignition. Here looks like the Mixture is forward prior to hitting start. Which one is correct? Or Both work?

[@DazDaMan]

Yes, they did, but the cannons were removed from this aircraft after its service with the Dutch.

[@AdrianJayeOnline]

THIS WAS A TOTALLY FUCIN AWESOMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE VIDEO

[@spitfire690]

lol gotcha, being a rebel eh? I like the 109 too, it looks and even sounds sinister...it was a formidable opponent! But you have to admit, the Spitfire is a beautiful aircraft ;)

[@scAlpha7]

Indeed. A Fantastic video of and Amzing aircraft

[@BeliVolk]

Now that is a great video! Great thx for sharing! S!

[@billthorn8802]

Awesome piece!