Spitfire in Beijing

prop blades

Actually it looks as though the blades are two and two. Two normal and two reverse pitch. Just seen the picture further on and it looks like the top right hand bladde (as seen from the cockpit) is on the right way but the other three aren’t.

Not correctly fitted no doubt because the Government was afraid a defector might fly it away!! dave55th

No, as you can see it is in reverse to get in the parking spot

Actually it looks as though the blades are two and two. Two normal and two reverse pitch. Just seen the picture further on and it looks like the top right hand bladde (as seen from the cockpit) is on the right way but the other three aren’t.

Whether it was successful or not you’ve gotta love the brutish looking P-61. Interesting that they also have a mural in the background depicting a couple in flight.

Nice photos.

Rob

I’d read of the La-9UTI but not seen it – thanks so much for sharing! Going by the performance of the single seater now with Jerry Yagen, it must’ve been an amazing “trainer”!

The Aircraft in the background is either a Lavochkin La-9 (NATO Fritz) or a Lavochkin La-11 (NATO Fang). Their tales are identical and the biggest ID point is the La-9 has a scoop under the cockpit and the La-11 doesn’t.

It’s a rare UTI La-9……

They also have a La-11 in Korean War markings….

…. as does the museum at Beijing University……

As well as their famous P-61 ‘Black Widow’……

More photos from Xiaotangshan here – the whole trip report (Moscow & Beijing) here.

Ken

The Aircraft in the background is either a Lavochkin La-9 (NATO Fritz) or a Lavochkin La-11 (NATO Fang). Their tales are identical and the biggest ID point is the La-9 has a scoop under the cockpit and the La-11 doesn’t.

Beijing Museum Spitfire

I’m just back from a fabulous trip to Moscow & Beijing.

Ken

Great Photo’s, thanks. Of interest, a friend (Dave Gurton 55th Halton), when at Biggin Hill was given the task in 1955 to ” scour RAF stations for Spitfire parts”. When these were collected, they were then told to build 3 Spitfires for the proposed Battle of Britain Flight. No plans etc. but they were all experienced Riggers,etc. so were able to assemble the “Meccano sets” ( only problem was control cables under joystick) into 3 working aircraft. Besides this Mk XV1, he is sure there was a Mk X11 but can’t remember the last one. Not on Internet, he was so pleased to see photo’s I printed off for him. Incidentaly, I saw the original photo’ of this a/c was outside, maybe they brought it in recently to give it a wash & polish? ( I don’t know whether Beijing smog gets out that far?) dave55th

the ‘Google translation’ system is so easy to use !

Royal Air power is flight circus …..

>> what did you mean with that sentence ?

Isn’t that the one we swapped for the Stirling? 😉

Why not? It’s the most famous aeroplane in the world, and so must be a drawcard to any museum wherever it is. Especially in a country that doesn’t have dozens of them flying and in museums.

I can’t think why a Chinese museum wanted a Spitfire… :confused:

That Spitfire used to belong to the Subritzky family here in New Zealand but in previous lives was with the USAF Museum and the very early BBMF.

sorry foreground,,, looks jetish MIG

It’s a cutaway Shenyang J-5 (MiG-17)………

The high-wing prop job is the Yak-12…

More on the Spitfire prop (I never noticed!)……

Ken

sorry foreground,,, looks jetish MIG

looks like a Yak11 ish

hi,
whats the /c in the forefrount with the yellowish star and bars?

regards
jack…

No, as you can see it is in reverse to get in the parking spot

It appears to be on backwards!

Hope you told them to `fettle` the prop correctly..