SEATAC 400 Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 And the Germans did not shoot him down! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9786243/Spitfire-crash-landing-closes-East-Midlands-Airport-runway.html Link to post Share on other sites
dodgy-alan 1,587 Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 Ooops ! that doesn't bode well, look for the sudden grounding of all airworthy Spits until their undercarriages have been checked. Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,316 Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 I'm glad the pilot is ok. I'm sure he has a bit of paper work to fill out though...... Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 "...leaving the aircraft beached on the runway." They must have sent the maritime reporter. "... which is thought to have been caused by the front wheel support breaking." Good Lord! Where do they get these boobs? At least he managed to avoid the use of the dreaded nose dive terminology. "...and will be investigating it via correspondence." That should be enlightening. "Dear sir, please return your pilot certificate, which we'll return in due course, in the unlikely event we find you blameless and if hell freezes over or if the Huns attack again." John Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,316 Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 Hehe. "...and will be investigating it via correspondence." I thought that was pretty funny too. Do they not have a travel budget? What do you do, get a letter that asks for pictures of the problem area and a questionnaire? Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 Apparently owned by Rolls Royce. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/01/07/antique-spitfire-plane-owned-by-rolls-royce-collapses-on-runway-british/?intcmp=obnetwork John Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,316 Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 Ahhh, two words are worth a thousand. Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 Looks like the prop was moving at the time - sad to see. A nice Griffon engined aircraft I think - love Griffon engines........ Link to post Share on other sites
britfrog 180 Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 I dont know about you lot but i find it very disturbing that an aircraft that was manufactured a mere 70 odd years ago should suffer from a nose leg linkage failure leading to many hours of delays to the poor unclean masses desperately trying to escape great britains crisis stricken shores for a short break from the soup kitchens and food queues. I am sure everyone one of you will lend your support when I petition the minister responsible , and demand an answer on how this terrible event could be allowed to occur. I think at least the aircraft inspector responsible for this terrible occurance should be tried to the full extent of the law and when found guilty should be shipped without delay to the antipodes where no doubt his efforts will be welcomed by the team remaking mosquitos. Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,316 Posted January 10, 2013 Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 Hehe, I just want to know why in this day and age they can't clear a runway of a small aircraft faster than that. Link to post Share on other sites
Quickmarch 488 Posted January 10, 2013 Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 Judging by the news photo, it looks like they must have jacked it up and pushed it off the runway on its own (down and, presumably, locked) gear. I don't know a lot about Spitties, but most a/c of that vintage had a locking mechanism on the mains with indicators in the cockpit. See the DC-3. Down was one thing. Locked was the other. Cheers, March Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted January 10, 2013 Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 I just want to know why in this day and age they can't clear a runway of a small aircraft faster than that. I hope it was because they understood it was an irreplacable historic relic and gave it the gentle handling it deserved so as to not damage it further...or perhaps it happened just before their tea break was scheduled. Seriously, the Spitfire is a revered object in the UK and I suspect that this thing got very tender, loving care. If it were a Cessna they'd have probably used a front end loader and shovels. John Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now