Why is the spitfire?

Question

Why is the spitfire so cool, even today.

I for one would rather fly a spitfire than any other plane even though it was made 60 years ago

Answer 1

I'm in the U.S..  I have a great fondness for the Spitfire, as well as the Mustang and ME 109. I was at an airshow years ago. A Spitfire flew low overhead. I have never heard the sound of power quite like that. Something like a dozen Harleys at high RPMs in unison, with an over-riding high pitched whine of superchargers. Wish I could hear and see an entire squadron of Spits fly by.

Answer 2

The Spitfire was and is a beautiful aircraft.  Elegant lines, the distinct and efficient elliptical wing tips, and the sound of the Merlin engine.  Good dogfighter with a skilled pilot on board.  Hard to believe a Schneider Trophy seaplane was the impetus for the Spitfire.  See below.

Answer 3

It was designed by R J Mitchell, at the time probably one of the worlds greatest aircraft designers. He had an obsession with speed and for years designed seaplanes for the Schneider trophy. After a visit to Germany he came to the conclusion that Britain desperately needed a new fighter for the defence of the realm. Sadly he was never to see his creation in action as he died shortly after the trials were complete. It is taken for granted now but at the time the design was revolutionary with thin wings and a metal skin as a structural part of the airframe.

Answer 4

I think it's partly to do with the sound of the Merlin engine - there's no mistaking it.  It must have been a comforting sound compared to the sound of enemy bombers, back in the war days.

Answer 5

There's a lot to be said for the saying "If it looks good, it IS good".  It's a pretty, graceful design that also sounds great - the song of the Merlin - plus of course there's its record.  I'd love to get my Cessna-bound hands on one, though I doubt I'd do it justice.  Mind you, I have a lot of time for the Hurricane too, perhaps not quite so pretty but infinitely stronger.  I've heard it said that a Spitfire will break if you're crass enough, a Hurricane just creaks a bit . . .

Answer 6

Agreed.

In 1980, I was stationed at RAF Lakenheath while I was in the USAF.  It was September 15th, Battle of Britain Day.

We were taking a break from working on the Varks (F-111F's), and I hear the sound of massed Merlins.  I stood on the picnic table in time to catch two Spits and a Hurri make two circuits of the field, and head off towards RAF Mildenhall.  I turned to one of the engine mechanics, and said, "Why can you make these things sound like that!?"

Greatest sound in the world, and those beautiful elliptical wings and lines.

Answer 7

Partially it can be traced back to Adolf Galland, when Georing asked what he needed to win the air war over England his reply was supped to have been, Give me Spitfires. This was purely a piece of propaganda because all he really needed was drop tanks.

The Spitfire was credited with the Battle of Britain although the Hawker Hurricane flew in far greater numbers and counted more kills due to manufacturing techniques being partially made of wood and easier to produce than the all metal exotic Supermarine Spitfire. It was Supermarine in fact that would tweak a crappy North American export fighter and help create the one of the worlds best prop driven air superiority fighters in history, the P-51 Mustang.

Answer 8

It's looks , The noise, what it means to Britain, the fact that behind it is a tragic story

Reginald Joseph Mitchell designed the spitfire but sadly he died from cancer before the "Spit" was able to prove what it could do!!!

Answer 9

Blimey!  I always wanted to be a fighter pilot (lost dreams) and yes the Spitfire is so cool. But! I'd rather fly an F-22 or the new Euro fighter. The freedom from restrictive physics.... amazing. Don't forget the Mustang!

Answer 10

It's the charisma of its part in history although in reality the Hurricane shot down more enemy planes in the Battle of Britain. No desire to fly one but sign me up for the back seat on an SR-71.

Answer 11

The Spitfire has such a beautiful shape and a throaty engine sound. I think it is the best looking aircraft ever. I used to think this when I was watching aircraft dog fights during the war in 1943 when living near London.