September 1, 2003 at 10:13 pm
This week’s listings are proof that there really ARE some things worth watching on Channel5 sometimes!
Wednesday September 3rd,Channel 5 7:30pm “Heroes of World War Two-R.J.Mitchell”: This is the first in the second series of programmes focusing on key figures and organisations in World War Two.Tonight focuses on RJ Mitchell and particularly the design of the Spitfire.Only goes on for half an hour so they’ll have to condense the story a bit to say the least,but should still be worth watching.Followed by…
8.00pm ‘Kamikaze in Colour’:Self explanitory really.This hour long documentary uses both archive colour and enhanced black and white footage to explain the history of the use of Kamikaze tactics by the Japanese in WWII.
Friday September 5th,8.00pm “Greatest Military Clashes-Spitfire Vs Me109”: Half hour documentary on the merits of the Me109 and Spitfire,with particular emphasis on the Battle of Britain. I would usually dismiss this kinda thing as trash,but the story is told largely through the recollections of veterans from both sides, so should be more interesting than it would first appear.
Hopefully this is early enough warning for you to have time to book the remote control,set the video or ring up friends and relatives who’ve got decent Ch5 reception!
By: Bob - 3rd September 2003 at 21:30
Not sure about heads up, but it was head down halfway through the RJ Mitchell programme – dozed off I’m afraid…………………….
By: Bluebird Mike - 3rd September 2003 at 20:37
So much for that then, allowing for removed adverts, my recording of the Mitchell prog came to a glorious 23 minutes, most of which were poo, so I promptly rewound the tape and shall record over it. :rolleyes:
By: SkylineGTS25 - 2nd September 2003 at 23:30
Even so, we don’t often get that many aviation related programs on ‘five’ so they may well be worth a look. There’s probably nothing better on anyway.
By: DIGBY - 2nd September 2003 at 22:40
Lancaster greatest ever Don’t make me laugh That was only a Hurricane engine test bed:D 😀
By: Mark12 - 2nd September 2003 at 19:08
…..and that was just the Morris 11OO!:)
By: trumper - 2nd September 2003 at 18:29
🙂 I suppose they werent designed for a long life,just up ,thrashed ,shoot or shot at and land /crash,replace as and when needed if possible and scavenge from the many available wrecks.
I bet if RJ Mitchell was alive today he would be VERY surprised to see them still flying:)
By: Bluebird Mike - 2nd September 2003 at 18:24
‘Designer of the greatest aircraft ever built’. That’s Roy Chadwick and his Lancaster that you’re on about then?! 😉
Dunno about Morris 1100 starter motors, but I had quite a knack for replacing Mini bypass hoses at the roadside-I had enough bloomin’ practice…
By: EN830 - 2nd September 2003 at 17:45
Warbird UK – re: Ease of maintenance and commonality.
Guy Black surprised me when I was at Aero Vintage a little while back, when he told me that the Hawker Biplanes that he is at present restoring have very little in common with each other, even though they are of the same stable (so to speak).
You’d think that there would be something common between the Audex, Hind, Fury, Nimrod and Hart et al. No so apparently.
By: Chris G - 2nd September 2003 at 09:27
Spitfire
Warbird UK – re: Ease of maintenance and commonality.
It is a British aeroplane, you wouldn’t want to compomise and chnger the habits of a nation would you?
Ever tried to get the starter motor /clutch/etc out of a Morris 1100?
By: warbirdUK - 2nd September 2003 at 08:29
Originally posted by DIGBY
a real designer the great immortal RJ Mitchell Designer of the greatest A/C ever built in case you had’nt guessed the SPITFIRE.:p :p :p :p
Blimey Digby, If I get to heaven the first thing I’ll do is find RJ & give him a slap! cos he didn’t design the Spitfire for ease of maintenance or repair that’s for sure! It might have been nice if he had made things interchangable too! 😉
By: DIGBY - 1st September 2003 at 23:34
There you are yak11 a real designer the great immortal RJ Mitchell Designer of the greatest A/C ever built in case you had’nt guessed the SPITFIRE.:p :p :p :p
By: Yak 11 Fan - 1st September 2003 at 23:27
Far too much Spitfire bias for one week I think :rolleyes:
Maybe when I move I may find the mythical Channel 5