72modeler Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 It doesn't get any better than a Spitfire FR18 at full song! What a nasty-sounding engine and what a gorgeous Spitfire! The Mk XII and Mk XVIIIe are my favorite Griffon-engined Spitfires. I hope you will enjoy watching and listening to this footage, via Youtube; if you have headphones, put them on and crank up the volume! TP280 'Z' a No. 60 Sq FR18 based in Malaya, that later was sold to the Indian AF, and then recovered and restored. it was based for many years in Illinois, but I believe is now registered and flown in Germany. 10 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 6 hours ago, 72modeler said: What a nasty-sounding engine... Eh, the Merlin can keep its pleasant little purr, this thing sounds absolutely awesome! 😎 But still not quite the chills up your spine that a DB605 gives you. Thank you for the video! I'm also a big fan of Griffon Spitfires, the XII for sure and also the clipped XIVe. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 Incidentally, note those radiator flaps are fully open on the ground (for the most part) - and judging from what everyone is wearing in the public this isn't a hot summer day. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted July 3, 2020 Author Share Posted July 3, 2020 9 hours ago, alt-92 said: note those radiator flaps are fully open on the ground (for the most part) I noticed that, too. I'm guessing that the radiator doors were controlled like a Mustang's, with open/closed/auto. I would think on the ground and after takeoff, or at low airspeeds and high ambient temps, the doors would be fully open. You can see later in the video and on the ground that they are nearly closed or closed. IIRC, in the Mustang manual, during runup, the radiator and oil cooler door switches are sequenced through all positions, but left in auto unless there is an issue. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welkin Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 Great video! I notice that it appears to have a fixed tailwheel - presumably a later modification? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedders Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 6 minutes ago, Welkin said: Great video! I notice that it appears to have a fixed tailwheel - presumably a later modification? Yes, pity about that. Need to get that sorted. Justin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted July 3, 2020 Author Share Posted July 3, 2020 (edited) Probably for the same reason many postwar ANG and Korean War Mustangs had the tailwheel fixed down- troublesome hydraulics or rods/cables linking it to the main gear retraction sequence. (Needs a 1:1 Brassin replacement!) Mike Edited July 4, 2020 by 72modeler added text 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted July 3, 2020 Author Share Posted July 3, 2020 14 hours ago, Vlad said: But still not quite the chills up your spine that a DB605 gives Like this one, Vlad? Pretty nasty, especially with the air whistling through the oil cooler, but not as throaty as the Griffon! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted July 4, 2020 Share Posted July 4, 2020 (edited) Beautiful, just simply beautiful. Thank you for sharing it. Edited July 4, 2020 by cngaero Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted July 4, 2020 Share Posted July 4, 2020 (edited) Sorry, duplicated by accident. Edited July 4, 2020 by cngaero Duplicated by accident Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad Posted July 4, 2020 Share Posted July 4, 2020 8 hours ago, 72modeler said: Like this one, Vlad? Yeaahhh, that's the sound! We'll agree to disagree on your musical tastes 😉 That whistling sound by the way is not air through the oil cooler, it's the sound of the spinning supercharger impeller. I've seen it described as "the scream of a thousand tortured souls". 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfman Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Fantastic Videos, thanks very much ! Wulfman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingcanberra Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Pilots notes for the Spitfire II and V (also the Hurricane II) require the radiator shutter to be open before start and at preparation for take off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antti_K Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Hello Mike, did this Spitfire belong to Rudy Frasca (owner of the flight simulator company at Urbana, Illinois)? At least he had a Spitfire in the markings of 60 Squadron (Squadron commanding officer's aircraft). I once suggested that he should build a FSTD for the Spitfire. Rudy laughed at me but I think he has been playing the idea himself. One pilot who used to fly PR.XIXs at Singapore stated that the radiator flaps had to be kept fully open when on the ground and still it was a matter of minutes to get airborne before the engine overheated. The very same was reported by E.C. Powles who flew PR.XIXs and an FR.XVIII out of Kai Tak, Hong Kong. Cheers, Antti Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airjiml2 Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 2 hours ago, Antti_K said: did this Spitfire belong to Rudy Frasca (owner of the flight simulator company at Urbana, Illinois)? It sure did. His second Spitfire 18 was last seen in storage in pieces in Chino. Not sure if Mr. Frasca was still the owner, or if it had moved on. And just FYI, Mr. Frasca passed away in May. Jim 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antti_K Posted July 9, 2020 Share Posted July 9, 2020 On 7/8/2020 at 3:41 AM, airjiml2 said: It sure did. His second Spitfire 18 was last seen in storage in pieces in Chino. Not sure if Mr. Frasca was still the owner, or if it had moved on. And just FYI, Mr. Frasca passed away in May. Jim Thank you for the information. I haven't heard about Rudy so this was sad news. Hopefully his son will keep at least some of the aircraft flying. Cheers, Antti Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted July 10, 2020 Author Share Posted July 10, 2020 On 7/7/2020 at 4:56 PM, Antti_K said: the radiator flaps had to be kept fully open when on the ground and still it was a matter of minutes to get airborne before the engine overheated. Same issue with the P-39, and P-63, as the radiators didn't get much airflow from the prop until airborne; the Mustang fared better, as it had cuffs on the prop blades for increased airflow and the radiator/oil cooler intake got more of the prop blast. Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted July 10, 2020 Author Share Posted July 10, 2020 On 7/7/2020 at 7:41 PM, airjiml2 said: And just FYI, Mr. Frasca passed away in May. So sorry to hear the news. He had the prettiest FR18 of them all. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 I love the sound of the Griffon and the look of Griffon powered Spits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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