Author Topic: "Spitfire Ace" on History Channel! (Read 348 times)

debuman · « **on:** December 13, 2004, 08:29:17 PM »

Anybody else watching this show? Some luck guy got selected out of 4 pilots to go thru 9 hours of training in a 2-seater Spitfire from WWII. Complete witha lot of historical film footage and telling the battle of Britain - very interesting. What I wouldn't give to trade places with the winner! Excellent show if you like the Spit! (Even if it does make you a "spit dweeb"....)

KurtVW · « **Reply #1 on:** December 13, 2004, 11:09:31 PM »

It was good (over in my time zone already)

It wasn't purely a spit dweeb thing, there was lots of good Battle of Britain info in there and a good deal of Hurricane, 109 and 110 footage.

Schaden · « **Reply #2 on:** December 14, 2004, 03:01:04 AM »

They also are doing a Bomber version - on at the moment in the UK - basically people who's grandfather's flew buffs in ww2 are getting a chance to do the same in a B17...... they took it up in last night's episode and suffered an engine failure.....instructor took over to land it...very cool pics though.

Kev367th · « **Reply #3 on:** December 14, 2004, 08:31:39 AM »

Lot of interesting facts -
1) The 'aces' tended to set their convergence not at the recommended 250yrds, but at 150yrds.
2) One guy mentioned flying with a little rudder trim on to make the plane slightly crab along and throw off rear shots on him.
3) 36 kills attributed to LW in BoB were in fact friendly fire.

68DevilM · « **Reply #4 on:** December 14, 2004, 11:03:40 AM »

watched it, was preety cool when they let the veteren spit pilot fly again

6GunUSMC · « **Reply #5 on:** December 14, 2004, 02:57:46 PM »

Awesome show... loved it.

SELECTOR · « **Reply #6 on:** December 14, 2004, 05:43:13 PM »

yep spit ace was last project in uk
at the moment its bomber crew
3 show o0f 4 was on last night,
basicaly there are 3 pilot and 2 gunners who's grandfathers flew in lancs in ww2.the pilots have been competing for the pilots seat in the lanc . they are being tested on their flying skills, but its not about hours flown but how fast they get the feel for the plane.
this wekk the airline pilot was told he couldn't cut it so now hes navigator.
there was a bit of drama this week, they are practicing on a b17 and during a flight to practice engine failiers, just after an engine was shut down the other engine same side quit, so they dragged the pilot out of the seat real fast..
imho this is a better programme than the spit ace programme which was pretty darn good..