• The Variants and Technology section was enhanced with two important reference features. A two-part Concise Guide To Spitfire Wing Types provides an overview of of the basic wing types of the Spitfire and the differences between them. Inherently related to Spitfire wing design is also The Hispano Cannon, the weapon which gave the aircraft the punch and a characteristic element of its silhouette.
  
  
• Four new colour profiles added during the month in Camouflage & Markings were NH550, in Royal Norwegian Service accompanied by another Norwegian Reconnaissance Spitfire, EP706 - The Malta Defender Spitfire Mk. Vc and "Bogle" Bodie and his Spitfire Mk. I, X4321.
  
  This adds up to six new reference articles, a good record indeed, with no less than three additional features currently waiting to be published.
  
  
• The pace in the History Articles section was rather more leisurely, with two articles added. Independent Air Force - Tracing the Origins of the RAF, an essay by Brett Holman and A Lifetime of Aviation, another essay by Martin Waligorski.
  
  This month I will be adding much more in this section, with five-part coverage of the 1941 Circus offensive as a main theme.
  
  
• Images added to the Historic Photographs section were: a portrait of Sqn/Ldr Jiří Maňák,
  photos of RAB Spitfire of W/Cdr Berg, UZ-Z of No. 306 Squadron, Northolt, Spitfire Mk. VII in the United States, launch of Operation Bowery and K5054 prototype prior to her maiden flight.
  


• The Video Section grew with just about as many videos, including the footage of Mark Hanna leading Spitfire formation display, Spitfire in IL2, Best of Chino's contraprop Spitfire Mk. XIX and Public debut of Seafire Mk. XVII SX336.
  
  
• The new Gallery Section, established at the beginning of the month, grew up rapidly and is already offering several hundred quality images. Collections added this month were: Spitfire Models by Tim Prosser, images from Old Warden 2007, The Joy of Flight Testing the Spitfire Mk. V BL628, Seafire Mk.XVII SX336, 90th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force, April 2008 celebration flypast over London, BBMF 50th Anniversary, 2007 and finally Ronnie Olsthoorn Photo Gallery with many beautiful Spitfire images.
  
  I'm happy that the technology behind the galleries worked out. Image collections I have been receiving from our visitors since last autumn can now finally be posted online and I will continue to do so during the months to come.
  
  
• Modellers have proven to be eager and knowledgeable supporters of this site. Their interest was demonstrated last month through a collection of 1/72 Spitfire Models by Tim Prosser , Spitfire in Saigon, a tribute to the Memory of A/C Paul Webb, Tamiya Spitfire Mk. V backdated to Mk. Ib, Kenley Wings beer-carrying Spitfire and another Malta Spitfire Mk. V.
  


• Another group which keeps giving this site a "push" are aviation artists; many new great pieces can be enjoyed in the Art & Memorabilia gallery and Pavel Rampír has been spoiling us with an entire series of drawings. Enjoy A portrait of Clive Caldwell, Spitfire Mk. VIII in Italy, "The Last", Chasing the V-1, "The CO's Query", Typhoon trouble, Beware of the low-flying Mosquitos, "Se va la Primera". For collectors, there was also a set of RAF 90th Anniversary poststamps.
  

Summarizing, it is apparent that April was one of the most fruitful months on the Spitfire Site so far. It is fantastic, and showed up well through the editorial workload - I had a hard time coping with all the material I've been receiving. I'd like to direct a warm thank you to everyone who contributed their work and material to make it happen. My apologies to those few who are still waiting to get their contributions published - none has been forgotten and they will appear online as soon as I can possibly manage.

The RAF Anniversary Festival will continue for some time to come, so please keep the articles and photos coming.

In the meantime, I'm into some serious programming trying to establish a discussion forum for all of us Spitfire buffs. I'll keep you posted.

Labels: history, modelling, reference, site updates, videos, warbirds, webmaster

• A new addition in the Variants & Technology section is a two-part Concise Guide To Spitfire Wing Types. A well-researched piece of writing by Jeff Web coupled with digitized copies of old maintenance manuals creates a commendable piece of reference. Highly recommended to modellers!
  
  
  
• Our Video collection has been enriched with three new clips:
  
  
  
  • Mark Hanna leads Spitfire formation display
  
  
  • Spitfire in IL2
  
  
  • Best of Chino's contraprop Spitfire Mk. XIX



• Last but not least, "Se va la Primera" a fantastic new painting by Vladimir Urbanek, in the new addition in Art & Memorabilia gallery.

Keep them coming!

Labels: reference, site updates, videos, warbirds

• Two new additions in the Camouflage & Markings section are colour profiles of EP706 - The Malta Defender and Battle of Britain Spitfire Mk. I, X4321.
  
  
• In the Video section, we have a new clip showing the recently restored Seafire Mk. XVII SX336.
  
  
• We have also two new Spitfire models for your viewing pleasure today: Kenley Wings by Hans-Peter Tschanz and Malta Spitfire Mk. V by Charlie Wall.
  

Labels: modelling, reference, site updates, videos

• A new image has been added in Historic Photographs section. This is one of the series showing early Spitfires of No. 611 Squadron at Biggin Hill in December 1942.
  


• New video in the Video Section is the computer animation showing the Spitfire Mk. I cockpit. The level of detail and accuracy in this one is such as to be sufficient to serve as modellers' reference.
  

I have also started a new section of the site, Variants & Technology. Articles in this category will be devoted to the variants of the Spitfire, it's construction and design. I am currently working on preparing the first features and will announce them as soon as they're ready.

Labels: history, site updates, videos

• Five new Spitfire-related videos have been added in the Video Section.
  

Labels: videos, warbirds

• A new video has been added in the Video Section tonight. Entitled "Spitfire Guardians", it is a promotional clip for the commercial Spitfire documentary produced for the History Channel. Although short, it is a commendable piece in its own right.
  

Labels: site updates, videos

• A new image in the Historic Photographs section. This one is showing Spitfire Mk. V of No. 453 Squadron RAAF with lots of detail useful also for modellers.
  


• New video has been added in the Video Section. This one, for a change, is a genuinely old RAF instructional film providing an overview of daily maintenance duties on Spitfire Mk. I.
  


• Last but not least, today's addition in the History section is the first installment of the new reference feature, RAF Airfields in Mainland Europe, 1944-45. Added today is the introductory part and two portions of the airfield listing which cover 2nd TAF operations in France.
  

The last article is somewhat special in that it offers interactive features. Based on the available data, I have included geolocation links for each airfield. If you have Google Earth on your computer (or a comparable geography browser), this feature will give you an opportunity for virtual sightseeing of airfield locations. I can heartily recommend spending a few moments doing this - it's an educational experience. Indeed, many of the airfields and installation still exist today, but spotting the traces of war in satellite images makes for an interesting challenge. Give it a try. If you don't have Google Earth, you can download it for free here.

Labels: history, site updates, videos

• The Historic Photographs section has been enriched with two new mini-articles, each featuring multiple images. Among these are two post-war photos of Air Chief-Marshal Hugh Dowding, from the collection of his family, which were kindly offered to this site by Mr. David Whiting, stepson of Lord Dowding.
  
  
• Three new videos have been added in the Video Section, including Cockpit camera view following a Spitfire's display routine, a lovely Kent Spitfire display at Biggin Hill 2007 and an overview of Canadian Comox Air Force Museum Y2K Spitfire Restoration Project.
  

Labels: history, site updates, videos, warbirds

• A new pair of images have been added in Historic Photographs section
  


• In modelling, there are three new additions:
  
• Another Malta Spitfire Kitbash by Erik Whipple,
  
• Pin-up Spitfire Mk. IX modelled by Geoffrey Abreu,
  
• A new set of models from Tim Prosser's Spitfire Collection.
  


• A previously posted video of the newly-flown Spitfire Mk. I AR213 has now also been archived in the Video Section.
  


• We have also an additions in the Art & Memorabilia gallery, this time another impressive painting by Tim Prosser
  

Labels: history, modelling, site updates, videos

• The Historic Photographs section has been enriched with four new images, including an autographed portrait of the top Australian fighter ace, Clive "Killer" Caldwell, from the collection of Tim Prosser (thanks!)
  


• We have also a new video in the Video Section. Provided by Colin Griffin via Mark Davies, this one shows the previously described first flight of Spitfire Mk. V BL628 YD-D. To my knowledge, no other videos of BL628 have been released previously on the web, so this is something of a premiere!
  


• We have also four new additions in the Art & Memorabilia gallery. All those Spitfire keepsakes out there are extremely interesting, so keep them coming!
  


• The second part of the history feature Battle of Britain in the Words of Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding has been posted in the Articles section. This part covers the organisation of British defences, from the radar chain to aircraft repair depots and air raid warnings. I'm sure you will find it an interesting reading.
  


• In the area of scale modelling, there are two new contributions: Ventura Spitfire PR Mk. XI modelled by Magnus Fridsell, and American Spitfire Mk. VIII in Italy built by Ricardo Dacoba.
  

That's all for now, I hope that this update contains something for everyone!

Labels: history, modelling, site updates, videos, warbirds

Labels: videos, warbirds

• Two new images with well-researched descriptions have been added in Historic Photographs section. Both images are the first photos at this site coming from private collections, and at least one of them has, to my knowledge, never been published before. Let's hope to see more such contributions in the future! (subject to copyright review)
  


• Also, we have a new video have been added in the Video Section, this time of the oldest flying Spitfire Mk. II P7350.
  

Labels: history, site updates, videos

Photo: Lyneham_Lad, via Photobucket

• News article from BBC
  
• News article (richly illustrated) at Daily Mail
  
• News article from Flight International
• News article from Lutterworth Mail
• Forum post at airshows.co.uk (with more images)

The Vulcan to the Sky Trust website should be the first source of information, but their site crashed today, undoubtedly due to the tremendous traffic pressure. I bet the webmaster is wawy tonight, celebrating with the rest of the group :)

Labels: videos, warbirds

• Added today in our own video section, there's a clip showing Biltema Spitfire's appearance at the Borås Airshow
  
  
• Additonal photos can be found at Swedish sites here, here and here.

Labels: videos, warbirds

If you own an interesting Spitfire collectible (or collectibles), please consider contributing a photo of it to the Art & Memorabilia gallery. Future growth of this section will rely entirely on visitors' submissions, and full credit will always be given to owners/authors submitting the items.

• A new pair of images have been added in Historic Photographs section
  


• Two new videos can be viewed in the Video Section, including an hour-long converage from Duxford Flying Legends 2007.
  


• Also, don't miss the two other "founding" additions in Art & Memorabilia.

With these additons the site navigation menu to the left has grown even further as to give an impression of what its final shape might be. I must say I'm a bit overwhelmed by the rapidly expanding scope of this site - I guess I'm starting to realize what I got myself into! And I haven't even started with warbird restorations, camouflage and markings, or continued with my book... oh dear. Anyway, I will review the front page to see if a better overview of all new additions could be given, preferably automatically with some clever scripting.

Labels: history, site updates, videos

• New videos have been added in the Video Section.
  

Labels: videos, warbirds

• The Video Section has been initiated with 24 video clips in categories: Airshows, Computer-generated, Flight simulators, Museums, Radio-controlled, Warbirds.
  

Labels: site updates, videos, warbirds, webmaster

Labels: videos

Labels: videos

Continuing on the subject of Duxford airshow (see my previous post), here is a video from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's 50th Anniversary which took place there on 5th May 2007. Watching this you will see what I meant by stating that Duxford is the best place in the world to watch Spitfires in the air.

This and the preceding post are my first attempts at posting to this site directly from YouTube and I'm glad that it seems to work, albeit not entirely as problem-free as advertised. There will be more to follow. Enjoy.

Labels: videos, warbirds

Labels: videos, warbirds