The Spitfire In Trafalgar Square

Today was a nice sunny day in London so I decided to go shopping and leave my work load to the side. I decided to get some lunch in the Square after finishing the \"morning session\" of shopping, to my astonishment they had a British icon in the square. I thought it was cool seeing it in front of The National Gallery I visit very often, I have seen some strange things in the square before, like a Elephant for example but I thought this was particularly cool because Major Nelson was a hero of the sea whereas the Spitfire was the hero of the air for Britannia.

The Supermarine Spitfire was a British single-seat fighter, used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries during the Second World War, and into the 1950s.<2> It was produced in greater numbers than any other Allied design. The Spitfire was the only Allied fighter in production at the outbreak of the Second World War that was still in production at the end of the war.

Produced by the Supermarine subsidiary of Vickers-Armstrongs, the Spitfire was designed by the company\'s Chief Designer R. J. Mitchell, who continued to refine the design until his death from cancer in 1937; the position of chief designer was then filled by his colleague, Joseph Smith.<3> Its elliptical wing had a thin cross-section, allowing a higher top speed than the Hawker Hurricane and many other contemporary designs.

The distinctive silhouette imparted by the wing planform helped the Spitfire to achieve legendary status during the Battle of Britain. There was, and still is, a public perception that it was the RAF fighter of the Battle, in spite of the fact that the more numerous Hurricane shouldered a great deal of the burden against the potent Messerschmitt Bf 109. Much loved by its pilots, the Spitfire saw service during the whole of the Second World War and subsequent years, in most theatres of war, in several roles and in many different variants.

The Spitfire will always be compared to its main adversary, the Bf 109: both were among the finest fighters of their day, although the Spitfire ultimately proved to be a more flexible and tractable design, and kept its superb handling qualities through every permutation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Spitfire

London

I once slept in between his paws on a freezing night, it was not pleasant

Lunch

( Edited 07.03.2008 17:20 by Linkyshinks )

On the RAF base where I grew up, there was a Spitfire on display by the entrance, and it was always an amazing site to behold. Kinda gave me a sense of pride every time I saw it. I even sat in it once when there was a celebration of some anniversary of the base.

It is a beautiful icon plane most certainly. I hope they make some next gen flight games based on the BoB.

X said:
On the RAF base where I grew up, there was a Spitfire on display by the entrance, and it was always an amazing site to behold. Kinda gave me a sense of pride every time I saw it. I even sat in it once when there was a celebration of some anniversary of the base.

Hendon by any chance?

Nah, Stanmore Park/Bentley Priory (my dad split hours between them). Although I did go up to Hendon once or twice

( Edited 08.03.2008 00:08 by X )

Hendon Air Base is not far from me, it\'s about 15 mins away, I have not been to date though but I see the traffic signs all the time and wonder what it\'s like.

Do you mean there is another in Stanmore, London?. I there any point to going to these air bases?, can you check out the Jets?

( Edited 08.03.2008 02:34 by Linkyshinks )

What do you mean another Stanmore in London? I'm talking Stanmore in London Borough of Harrow.

Stanmore Park has been completely demolished and replaced by housing, with all the displays moved elsewhere (Most likely RAF Uxbridge or Bentley Priory). As far as I know, Bentley Priory (on the Stanmore/Bushey borderline) is still an active base, although I don't think anything flies their anymore. I don't think you can get in without official business there(ie. your in the RAF and based there.