Somehow the picture shows the bolt sizes slightly disproportionately,i.e the difference in size between the two, but the number of bolts probably has more to do with access to the bolts.

“isn’t it possible to pin an ignore notice on a person or persons who you don’t want to be involved with?”

Does that work for moderators?

(Hopefully quoting part of your post wont upset the forum’s Keystapo.)

Not as unlikely as you might think, when the old steam powered showmans locomotives had worn out to the point of uneconomical repair, they had huge diesel/ petrol engines bolted on top of their boilers with belt drives to the huge dynamo mounted on the front, that powered the fair ground rides and lights.

The wing span was quoted as 33.76ft, removable wing tips are a nominal 3ft each, and the clipped wing tips are about 6″ so the span of the SS is greater than the later clipped wing marks?

There does seem to be some inconsistencies between the above quoted article, and the specifications in the M&S book, where the engine power is quoted as 2100 hp , also the section on fuel capacity seems to suggest that the top tank (removed to fit the header tank for the total loss cooling) wasn’t replaced, this on an A/C in a PRU flight!

Page 63 of the Morgan & Shacklady book describes in reasonable detail the modifications to a STD mkI wing which include a redesign outboard of the wheel wells, reduced in span, but still the NACA 2200 sections; it gives all of the important dimensions, I haven’t got the time to compare them like for like with a STD wing, but either they weren’t that much different from STD or else the wings were changed, because the A/C saw service, not being struck off charge until ’46

Having looked at the dimensions of both the MKI and the Speed Spitfire, I think the “redesign” was limited to wing tips, certainly the SS span is given as 33.67ft, and whilst the figures quoted tor the ailerons, seem to suggest they are half the square area of a MKI, I think that unlikely.

Merlin wheelcase was cheap, considering how rare they are.

My own view on this, is that there has to be a sacrificial lamb offered up to the gods of aviation; I think I understand Mikes point (I know he’ll set me straight if I don’t) that it’s not an A/C’s safety record (either civil or military) but more the chances of something like this happening again; I’ve heard the argument that those taking part accept the risks, but it isn’t really about them, the gnat crash at the ginger fest (or whatever it was called) would have sparked this whole issue off if it had gone down in the crowd.

The reality is that things go wrong quickly in fast jets, both in the air and on the ground, most of the engines are no longer supported by the manufacturer, and are complex units ironically so because they have essentially one moving part, but the fuel delivery system is way more complex than a piston engine.

An A/C such as the Spitfire has it’s own problems, engine failures on T/O and undercart issues on landing, but it happens at slower speeds and is (A) generally more survivable, and (B) normally not near the crowd.

Any one go to the sale or buy something through the online auction? me, I forgot it was on…….