Twelve Spitfires, Absolutely Spiffing New

[Atheist-Lite]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ox ... e-16286762

New Oxford Spitfire squadron being built for 2012

An Oxfordshire flying club is building a new squadron of 12 Spitfires for the new year.

Work has already started on one of the Supermarine Mk 26B Spitfires at Enstone Flying Club, near Chipping Norton.

When completed, each aircraft will weigh 810kg (1,782lb) and will be a 90% scale version of an original three-tonne Spitfire.

Manager of the project, Paul Fowler, 50, said the aim was to "keep the Spitfire legend alive forever".

Twenty volunteers are constructing the first Spitfire, but more volunteers are needed to build the following 11.

'British icon'

It is hoped the new City of Oxford squadron, as it will be known, will be completed by December 2012.

As well as pilots it will include ground crews, engineers, and aeroplane and military vehicle enthusiasts.

Mr Fowler, who has been a pilot for 34 years, said: "We want to hold events, where the aircraft will fly in displays and be the focal point, but we also want to build up a picture of the heyday of the Spitfire, with people dressed up in 1940s gear for example.

"Spitfires are the ultimate aircraft, a British icon - who wouldn't want to say they'd helped build one?"

Mr Fowler said he first became "fascinated" by flight at the age of eight when he jumped off the roof of his parents' shed, with a pair of cardboard wings strapped to his back.

(continued)

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I wish the folks out west would stop playing around with spacecraft and start building replica Tri-Fokkers.

[tattuchu]

Gorgeous planes, that's for sure. But why build them at 90%? Why not full scale?

[Svartalf]

Savings?

[tattuchu]

Savings?

Well if you're already up to 90%, why not go the full monty?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Savings?

Well if you're already up to 90%, why not go the full monty?

You could ask them.

[Svartalf]

Savings?

Well if you're already up to 90%, why not go the full monty?

Because 810 kg still is fairly smaller than 3 tons (even if I suspect it's your English short tons rather than the real deal)

[Gawdzilla Sama]

It could be that they tested it in the computers and 90% was a better size.

[tattuchu]

Savings?

Well if you're already up to 90%, why not go the full monty?

Because 810 kg still is fairly smaller than 3 tons (even if I suspect it's your English short tons rather than the real deal)

I imagine you could save money on materials. I just don't understand why you'd want to. If you're going to go to all this trouble to recreate the Spitfire, I should think you'd want as exact and authentic a reproduction as possible. Flying in a lil version of the plane seems like it'd be kind of a letdown. It'd be like having only a partial erection. Sure it might look nice. But, really, it needs to be at its full and proper size.

[tattuchu]

It could be that they tested it in the computers and 90% was a better size.

Is your dick at 90% erect a better size?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

It could be that they tested it in the computers and 90% was a better size.

Is your dick at 90% erect a better size?

If it was you wouldn't be complaining that your jaw was getting sore all the time.

[Atheist-Lite]

They won't be precise replicas. The engine will be uptodate for starters. They'll need to meet various modern aviation standards some of which will be to do with size constraints.

[maiforpeace]

It could be that they tested it in the computers and 90% was a better size.

Is your dick at 90% erect a better size?

If it was you wouldn't be complaining that your jaw was getting sore all the time.

I love you guys for a reason. I think this is one of them.

[Pensioner]

I have never heard of a 26B spitfire, anyone got a photo of the full size one?

[Gawdzilla Sama]