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Photographer captures images of the final 55 airworthy Spitfires using just a handheld camera
UK Daily Mail ^ | 05/19/2016 | EUAN MCLELLAND

Posted on 05/19/2016 6:16:57 AM PDT by DFG

Soaring into the skies above the green and pleasant land they so spectacularly fought to defend 76 years ago, they are the last of the few airworthy Spitfires left. Now an air-to-air photographer has completed an exhilarating project - getting up close and personal to the legendary fighter planes in order to capture them like never before. Using the skill and experience of former RAF pilot Tim Ellison, John Dibbs was able to fly to within 15ft of different Spitfire marks.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aircraft; dibbs; g42; spitfire; warbirds
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS

Always wanted to know the story about rear view mirrors on Spitfires. In these photos it seems that they were used on Spits with faired fuselages, while Spits with the full canopy didn’t need them, like later model Mustangs.


21 posted on 05/19/2016 6:51:16 AM PDT by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam. Buy ammo.")
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To: TTFlyer

Funny, I couldn’t help but think the very same thing while reading this. Today the Brits are busy surrendering to Islam and PC as fast as they can. They, like us, are doomed if we don’t change course soon.


22 posted on 05/19/2016 6:51:21 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: DFG

Breathtaking!


23 posted on 05/19/2016 6:55:18 AM PDT by ryan71 (Bibles, Beans and Bullets)
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To: Abathar

I used to work where I had a complete machine shop, breaks, tubing benders, water jet, and welders. The boss loved machinery. Word got around that we would make one off parts. I got to make some very cool stuff.


24 posted on 05/19/2016 6:58:03 AM PDT by CrazyIvan (Socialists are just communists in their larval stage.)
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To: DFG

25 posted on 05/19/2016 7:00:35 AM PDT by frithguild (The warmth and goodness of Gaia is a nuclear reactor in the Earth's core that burns Thorium)
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To: DFG

If someone wanted to make a fortune they’d invest in making these types of great airplanes again at a reasonable cost.


26 posted on 05/19/2016 7:02:09 AM PDT by CodeToad (Islam should be banned and treated as a criminal enterprise!)
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To: Little Ray
I wonder how they get the parts to keep ‘em flying?

I had a friend who worked part time for the FBI identifying counterfeit parts for aircraft. He told me, "It's amazing what a guy in a small metal-working machine shop can build."

27 posted on 05/19/2016 7:08:55 AM PDT by libertylover (The problem with Obama is not that his skin is too black, it's that his ideas are too RED.)
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To: DFG
Built to fight socialists and invaders, instead of embracing them.

Beautiful.

28 posted on 05/19/2016 7:10:46 AM PDT by GregoTX
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To: DFG
Years ago when I was doing local theater, I went to an actress' house to go over lines with her. I knew her and her husband from church and that her husband was British.

They led me down a hallway to their study and as I was walking along I spotted pictures of her husband as a member of the RAF standing next to a Spitfire.

Upon closer examination of the pictures, I noticed the top button of his tunic was unbuttoned, which was characteristic of Spitfire pilots during the Battle of Britain.

I remarked to him, "You were a Spitfire pilot?" More statement than question.

His reply, "Yes. As an 18 year old, one matured rather rapidly during that time."

Speechless does not begin to describe how I felt.

29 posted on 05/19/2016 7:11:01 AM PDT by N. Theknow (Kennedys-Can't drive, can't ski, can't fly, can't skipper a boat-But they know what's best for you.)
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To: DFG

Air porn :P


30 posted on 05/19/2016 7:16:15 AM PDT by Feckless (The US Gubbmint / This Tagline CENSORED by FR \ IrOnic, ain't it?)
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To: DFG

Magnificent. Thank you.


31 posted on 05/19/2016 7:21:34 AM PDT by SoKatt ("Change" is not a strategy!)
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To: smokingfrog

High end Nikon slr shoots 10 fps


32 posted on 05/19/2016 7:26:40 AM PDT by TexasGator
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To: taildragger

Thanks for posting. That was really cool!


33 posted on 05/19/2016 7:28:27 AM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: Little Ray

There hand made for the most part


34 posted on 05/19/2016 7:48:53 AM PDT by Iron head mike (Dirty deeds done dirt cheap)
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To: DFG

Wouldn’t it have been wonderful if the story about the hundred or so new, unboxed spitfires buried in a Burmese jungle turned out to be true?


35 posted on 05/19/2016 7:54:56 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: tanknetter

Like model Ts and Mustangs. I beleive you can buy every to build one from a JC Whitney catalog.

I like the modern restoration/replication. Keep the best features like design and dynamics but bring modern benefits. My buddy restored a 69 Chevelle SS. It looks vintage showroom. Even used bias ply tires. But it has ABS, airbags, and modern engine and trans. It is incredible.


36 posted on 05/19/2016 7:55:18 AM PDT by FreedomNotSafety
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To: DAC21

I am very surprised there are even two Zeros left.
The saddest airplane story I know is about G4M Betty in the Air and Space Annex.
They shipped a Betty home after WWII - some idiot union goons cut it up to make it fit the shipping car- and lost the pieces. The last intact G4M Betty in the world was lost...


37 posted on 05/19/2016 8:43:06 AM PDT by Little Ray (NOTHING THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAS TO PAY FOR IS A RIGHT.)
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To: Little Ray
There are 55 Spitfires left? That is wonderful!
I wonder how they get the parts to keep ‘em flying?


A lot of the Spitfires flying now were used as “gate guards” at bases across the UK. In the 80’s the elements and vandalism were rotting them. They were replaced with Fiberglas replicas and the gate guards were restored to flying status.

This is the story of the one I used to see frequently near Chester in the 60’s -

http://www.touchdown-aviation.com/flying-legends/plane/spitfire-ltd/supermarine-spitfire-lf-mk-xvie-g-oxvi.php

It went from a somewhat sad looking gate guard at RAF Sealand - faded paint and an aluminium canopy - to it's present flying status.

38 posted on 05/19/2016 8:50:15 AM PDT by az_gila
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To: frithguild

I had no idea they made them in so many sizes.

Absolutely joking. Always loved forced perspective in model making to improve the illusion of distance in narrow spaces. This photo shows how convincing the effect could be using various scales of aircraft model kits.


39 posted on 05/19/2016 9:21:59 AM PDT by xander
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To: DFG

Thanks for sharing.


40 posted on 05/19/2016 9:22:29 AM PDT by Kommodor (Terrorist, Journalist or Democrat? I can't tell the difference.)
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