UTI Spitfires

I’m not sure, but isn’t the Russian two-seater arrangement simply a second cockpit sunk into the fuselage, with no modification to the forward fuselage at all?

Yes, the Russian Two seaters just droped in a second seat behind the standard cockpit position of a MkIX. The Grace Spitfire ML407 and PV202/IAC161 (and all other surviving T9s) have the T9 arrangement of the front cockpit moved forward the famous 13 and a half inches.
It is still unsure what was installed in the rear cockpits of the Russian aircraft.
Neil Medcalf

The best

I’m in total shock! I’m too stunned for words.. My best wishes to his family.
Neil Medcalf

X1 vs Miles dates

Here are some dates of important steps withing the two research programs.

X1- Spec issue date Dec 44
Mock up completed by Oct 45
First Flight- Dec 9 46
First Supersonic Flight Oct 14 47

Miles M52-
Spec issue date Autumn of 43
Go ahead given to Miles on Oct 8 43
M3B Falcon – L9705 fitted with wing and later tailplane of M52 Flew Aug 11 44
By early 46 90% of the design work was completed.
Feb 46 project cancelled
Feb 9 46 Air Commodore Whittle resigned from power jets.
Sometime in early 1946 the design info was given to the Americans.

Judging by these dates the Americans had plenty of time to go over the M52 data and make ‘suitable’ changes in there design to improve it.
As far as the reason for cancellation of the M52. Derek Wood in Project Cancelled ( which the above info comes from ) mentions the theory that after obtaining German research the though among the desision makers was that a straight wing aircraft could not “break the barrier” and that a swept wing aircraft was needed..

Neil Medcalf

tz-138 in vancouver

Here’s a more recent shot of tz138 in it’s current home of Vancouver. Mr. Jen’s doesn’t fly here due to high insurance costs here in Canada.
Photo credit to Brian Rempel.

Ml411

Although my information is about two years out of date. It did come from Mervyn himself. Perhaps Mervyn may want to update us all since he now has the web site up. Anyway at that time, ML411 was in a container on a farm in Belguim with restoration preceeding on the fittings and other smaller parts. Reportedly MJ147 was sold to help pay for the restoration of ML411. Both aircraft were recovered from a area bordering the Soviet Union. And they were somewhat complete apart from everything forward of frame 5.
Neil Medcalf
Ps – I now have a stable website on my own ISP’s server at-
http://www.pacificcoast.net/~zoman
Type 509 Spitfires.

(if only they’d remove the darn Cessnas etc. from that lovely backdrop!!!)

Alla kazam, Presto they’re gone….

With apologies to Ronnie the photographer.
Neil Medcalf

?

How do you mark the events of a single moment in history – one single incident – one of many that happened 60 years ago?

You just did- I’m sure those of us that read this fourm will know remember these men along with all the others we read about and have known personally over the years.

As far as the memorial is concerned. – “Build it and we come to will honour them”
Best of luck. And keep us posted.
Many thanks for the story- I will remember tonight-
Neil Medcalf

Me

Alright I think I’ve posted enough times now that people might be courious as to who I am. I’m a devoted Spitfire lover in particular the two seaters! However here’s a shot of me about to go for an Acrobatic flight in a SNJ. It was a birthday gift from my wife. I had a very fun filled half hour of acro and no I didn’t lose my lunch. Enjoy- Neil Medcalf