Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Dogfight Brewing Over Burmese Spitfires British farmer and aviation history buff David Cundall now says there are 124 new Spitfires buried in Myanmar (formerly Burma) and he knows where 60 of them are. As we (AvWeb.com) reported two weeks ago, Cundall stunned the aviation world with news that he had found at least 20 crated, brand-new Spitfires wrapped in protective paper and tar to preserve them. Whether he'll be able to capitalize on his stunning discovery is in question, however, as treasure hunters from all over the world race against each other and the impending monsoon season to dig the pickled aircraft up. In an email exchange a week ago, Cundall told AVweb he was having problems with financial backers who now may be rivals for the treasure trove. Cundall has not returned subsequent email and phone messages from AVweb. He did, however, claim in an interview with the Independent that a British businessman is trying to hijack the project with the help of the country's prime minister. More Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 That was the BRITISH Prime Minister, wasn't it... and not the Burmese Prime Minister? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Given the area I would expect a lot of problems. It ain't Cincinnati. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hacker, SASS #55963 Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 I wonder how hard it would be to get permission to dig in cincinnati looking for spitfires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Balz, SASS#46599 Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 You could have bet money on this happening, I just hope they get them out and flying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 I wonder if they have any ammunition for those wing guns? Been a while since WW II Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted May 3, 2012 Author Share Posted May 3, 2012 I wonder if they have any ammunition for those wing guns? Been a while since WW II Dunno, but there was enough for this test: Spitfire Machine Gun Machine guns were .303 Brownings and cannon were 20mm Hispano Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Dunno, but there was enough for this test: Spitfire Machine Gun Machine guns were .303 Brownings and cannon were 20mm Hispano I just learned something new about the spitfire. I had seen movies where there was a tell tale piece of fabric flapping in the wind around the muzzle of the wing guns. I could never figure out what it was. Today I learned that the Browning .303 machine guns would freeze up at higher altitude and that the wing edge was sealed with a covering until the guns were fired. That covering was what was flapping in the wind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Dave Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 I guess you really can teach an old dog new tricks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted May 3, 2012 Author Share Posted May 3, 2012 I just learned something new about the spitfire. I had seen movies where there was a tell tale piece of fabric flapping in the wind around the muzzle of the wing guns. I could never figure out what it was. Today I learned that the Browning .303 machine guns would freeze up at higher altitude and that the wing edge was sealed with a covering until the guns were fired. That covering was what was flapping in the wind. Interesting, huh? Things we generally don't think about here on the ground. I think American fighters had some sort of covering over their muzzles as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Speaking of WWII, fighters but not related at all to the fabric covering on the wing... the top line US fighter (Mustang) had had some mysterious crashes in Europe. They found glass shards in the carbs. ??? It seems the pilots on those long escort missions were taking their pills (amphetamines) to stay awake and tossing the empty bottles out. The humongous intake sucked them in, pulverized them and suddenly it got quiet in the cockpit. A 'Don't Do This" memo from HQ cleared up the mysterious crashes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Speaking of WWII, fighters but not related at all to the fabric covering on the wing... the top line US fighter (Mustang) had had some mysterious crashes in Europe. They found glass shards in the carbs. ??? It seems the pilots on those long escort missions were taking their pills (amphetamines) to stay awake and tossing the empty bottles out. The humongous intake sucked them in, pulverized them and suddenly it got quiet in the cockpit. A 'Don't Do This" memo from HQ cleared up the mysterious crashes. Being a P51 fan....didn't know that. Thanks... GG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twelve mile REB Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 Speaking of WWII, fighters but not related at all to the fabric covering on the wing... the top line US fighter (Mustang) had had some mysterious crashes in Europe. They found glass shards in the carbs. ??? It seems the pilots on those long escort missions were taking their pills (amphetamines) to stay awake and tossing the empty bottles out. The humongous intake sucked them in, pulverized them and suddenly it got quiet in the cockpit. A 'Don't Do This" memo from HQ cleared up the mysterious crashes. unlikely that anyone could throw a bottle that far at 250mph as the pickup is forward of the pilots posistion. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Jake1001 Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 unlikely that anyone could throw a bottle that far at 250mph as the pickup is forward of the pilots posistion. 12 12, how about the pilot throwing out the bottle while flying in formation, and it get sucked into the air intake of the plane to his right rear? Now it sounds like it could happen...huh? Plausible or Busted? like Mythbusters. Big Jake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 unlikely that anyone could throw a bottle that far at 250mph as the pickup is forward of the pilots posistion. 12 It is? P51 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rancho Roy Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 My father worked on p51 Mustangs during the war. Many time he told of removing corn stalks from the under belly air intake! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfgang, SASS #53480 Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 I wonder how hard it would be to get permission to dig in cincinnati looking for spitfires. No need to dig. The spitfires hidden in Cincanatti are in the subway tunnels. ps.. Yes there are subway tunnels in Cincinatti. No there is not and never was a subway in Cincinatti. The tunnels were dug and no tracks ever put in them. It is an old joke in Cincinatti that with nothing else interesting to do . . . you can always wait for the subway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hacker, SASS #55963 Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 It is? P51 In any event it should be clear that while airborne and most likely with the engine running a pilot cannot throw a bottle from his plane into either intakes for his plane. It is almost certain that a bottle entering a plane was thrown from a plane ahead of the target plane. P51D from the front. Look at the section right behind and below the prop. On your pix it is red and from the front view it is more obviously the Ram Air Induction System air intake. Ram Air Induction System Radiator Air Inlet scoop The section below the wing is for the oil cooler, ie radiator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Flimshaw Sass# 73310 Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 In any event it should be clear that while airborne and most likely with the engine running a pilot cannot throw a bottle from his plane into either intakes for his plane. It is almost certain that a bottle entering a plane was thrown from a plane ahead of the target plane. P51D from the front. Look at the section right behind and below the prop. On your pix it is red and from the front view it is more obviously the Ram Air Induction System air intake. Ram Air Induction System Radiator Air Inlet scoop The section below the wing is for the oil cooler, ie radiator. Agree; Kind of hard to believe that they would slow down enough to crank open the canopy at over 15,000 ft just to throw out a little bottle of pills. Have you ever stuck your hand out the window at over two hundred mph, that thing would be ripped out of your hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 The glass in the engine intake story was told to me by an old 8th Air Force vet years ago. Could be he remembered it wrong. Now back to the Spitfire http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=6NLxZvdwBXs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted May 6, 2012 Author Share Posted May 6, 2012 The glass in the engine intake story was told to me by an old 8th Air Force vet years ago. Could be he remembered it wrong. Now back to the Spitfire http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=6NLxZvdwBXs Now back to reality. You might have gotten the girl at first, but she left when the car left you stranded for the third time in as many dates... :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 Ginger Lacey, Battle of Britain Ace (18 kills) growls "Spitfire!" Deadwood, that's a fair assessment of the beast. I had a '69 model, and it literally spent as much in the shop as on the road. Admittedly, half that time was the body shop - it was a magnet for larger cars. And just about ever other car was a larger car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hacker, SASS #55963 Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 reporter uses less than good language..... But listen for that engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 No need to dig. The spitfires hidden in Cincanatti are in the subway tunnels. ps.. Yes there are subway tunnels in Cincinatti. No there is not and never was a subway in Cincinatti. The tunnels were dug and no tracks ever put in them. It is an old joke in Cincinatti that with nothing else interesting to do . . . you can always wait for the subway. Here in Seattle we is jenious. We dig a tunnel for busses in downtown Seattle, and put in tracks for trolly service which we don't have. Then we decide that we want an inter urban hight speed (?) commuter train so we tear out the old track because they are too narrow, and shut down the tunnel and install new tracks for the commuter. Guess who got to pay for that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 Now back to reality. You might have gotten the girl at first, but she left when the car left you stranded for the third time in as many dates... :lol: You might have met her hitchhiking while the Spit was in for repairs . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Four-Eyed Buck,SASS #14795 Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 Lucas electrics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Jake1001 Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 Lucas electrics? Ha ha Ha. Lucas....The Prince of Darkness! :lol: Big Jake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 "Gentlemen don't drive around at night." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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