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[FRE07962128]

After commenting on Mike F's great avatar in his thread "Wow, what an offer..........NOT"  it prompted me to consider the aircraft I have most admired in my life.  This is basically anything with four piston engines!

As a child in Malta I used to love the sight and sound of RAF Shackelton maritime patrol planes, the successor to the wartime Lancaster (and its four wonderful Merlin engines, the ultimate V12! ) which  sounded so sweet.   (Yes I also love the Spitfire for it's looks and that beautiful Merlin engine; but that is the exception not for this thread!)  There was also the B17's and B24's that reminded you of the 80,000 American airmen who lost their lives flying from England fighting tyranny.

Then you had civilian four engine prop planes; the DC6 I flew in when 10; the Constanation; the Vanguard.  In modern times there is the Hercules, which I used to admire flying in and out of RAF Lynham in the 80s and 90s; what a site they were, and with the sound of power with often exhaust trails, you could just imagine them being Lancasters on bombing runs (with those handsome heros inside). Wow!    How sexy!  

You just cannot beat four V12 piston engines in motion; even wonderful four engined jets ('V' bombers, Comets, Concord, etc)do not  have the same element of visual and audio excitment.

On a separate note, although it did not have four engines, and never (well I don't think so!) took off and flew, there was a car called 'The Beastie' in the 1970s and 80s which had that beautiful Merlin V12 engine fitted.  It could do a minimum of 70 mph in reverse, and an uknown top speed (250 mph?) in forward gear .  Rolls Royce objected to it wearing their grill (the car itself wasn't a RR) but it seemed to represent a great memorial to THAT engine and all those pilots who sadly lost their lives flying planes with it.

[Growler]

Just for Lizzy,

A shackleton with it's replacement in the background.

[JiMbOb789]

Red Arrow -> ->





I have always admired these beuts

My favourite Plane

I know its not 4 pistons but i dont know much about planes so i just said my favourite plane

[Kevin Wood]

I saw a programme on a team who restored a super constellation. The sound of the 72 air cooled cylinders of the 4 wright cyclones was described as being like "a hell's angel's funeral".  

I pity the poor sod who gets to change the spark plugs though.

Heard a few tasty sounding aircraft earlier when I was in the garage LPGing. Have just remembered there's a war re-enactment at the Watercress Line. Should have had a look. Last time I was treated to a Spitfire, a P51 and a Dakota display visible from my own back garden.

Kevin


Kevin

[Andyb]

lizzi you should live near me then you would get to see all the planes you spoke of most days
and i must admit i still get a lump in my throat when i see the Lancaster and Spitfire fly over the house just the thought of the men who died so i can live brings a tear to my eyes

[JonArgraig]

Should live where I do

Hawk's spending all day in the air, F18's visit often, and the od GR1's

but nothing is better than having a pair of long bow's and chinook flying level with the office windows...

It's great living and working on the flight path to RAF Valley

Oh and free air shows too !

Red arrows live there

[Andyb]

Should live where I do

Hawk's spending all day in the air, F18's visit often, and the od GR1's

but nothing is better than having a pair of long bow's and chinook flying level with the office windows...

It's great living and working on the flight path to RAF Valley

Oh and free air shows too !

Red arrows live there [/quote]


Sorry to disagree but there base is RAF Scampton untill 2011 then they will move to RAF Waddington

[Mr Skrunts]

After commenting on Mike F's great avatar in his thread "Wow, what an offer..........NOT"  it prompted me to consider the aircraft I have most admired in my life.  This is basically anything with four piston engines!

As a child in Malta I used to love the sight and sound of RAF Shackelton maritime patrol planes, the successor to the wartime Lancaster (and its four wonderful Merlin engines, the ultimate V12! ) which  sounded so sweet.   (Yes I also love the Spitfire for it's looks and that beautiful Merlin engine; but that is the exception not for this thread!)  There was also the B17's and B24's that reminded you of the 80,000 American airmen who lost their lives flying from England fighting tyranny.

Then you had civilian four engine prop planes; the DC6 I flew in when 10; the Constanation; the Vanguard.  In modern times there is the Hercules, which I used to admire flying in and out of RAF Lynham in the 80s and 90s; what a site they were, and with the sound of power with often exhaust trails, you could just imagine them being Lancasters on bombing runs (with those handsome heros inside). Wow!    How sexy!  

You just cannot beat four V12 piston engines in motion; even wonderful four engined jets ('V' bombers, Comets, Concord, etc)do not  have the same element of visual and audio excitment.

On a separate note, although it did not have four engines, and never (well I don't think so!) took off and flew, there was a car called 'The Beastie' in the 1970s and 80s which had that beautiful Merlin V12 engine fitted.  It could do a minimum of 70 mph in reverse, and an uknown top speed (250 mph?) in forward gear .  Rolls Royce objected to it wearing their grill (the car itself wasn't a RR) but it seemed to represent a great memorial to THAT engine and all those pilots who sadly lost their lives flying planes with it.

It was actually called the beast.

It was built by an Autobox Specialist called John Dodd I think was his name.

I had a write up of it in a magazine called speed and power.  One day he was going down the M1 @ 110 mph when he saw a Ferrari 512 BB catch up with him.  He floored it and you dont eed an explanation of what happened next.

It red lined at 2650 rpm, cruised at 107 mph @ 1250 rpm in 2nd gear and if he dropped it into 3rd he had to be doing 125 mph.

Rolls Royce took him to court for using the grill, there was also an issue about parking tickits as it took up 2 spaces, so he turned up to court having it towed by a donkey that crapped every where.


There was also a Capri bodied 27 Litre monster, same issue with the roller grill.  Got pulled for going the wrong way on a German one way street, put it in reverse and got done for speeding    

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Lizzie, you are a woman of hidden depths.Never knew that you were so up on aviation. We get all sorts of winged exotica flying over us here in Lincolnshire.

[Vamps]

Red Arrow -> ->





I have always admired these beuts

My favourite Plane

I know its not 4 pistons but i dont know much about planes so i just said my favourite plane

I particularly like that first photograph...................  

[Mr Skrunts]

Red Arrow -> ->





I have always admired these beuts

My favourite Plane

I know its not 4 pistons but i dont know much about planes so i just said my favourite plane

I particularly like that first photograph...................  

Old and new in one pic, I thick they are equally spectacular.

[Martin_1962]

I like the Lancs and also the Shackletons


http://www.martinimber.co.uk/dvds.htm

Oh look a Shackleton!

[Myagemo]

thats some great photos

[HolyCount]

After commenting on Mike F's great avatar in his thread "Wow, what an offer..........NOT"  it prompted me to consider the aircraft I have most admired in my life.  This is basically anything with four piston engines!

As a child in Malta I used to love the sight and sound of RAF Shackelton maritime patrol planes, the successor to the wartime Lancaster (and its four wonderful Merlin engines, the ultimate V12! ) which  sounded so sweet.   (Yes I also love the Spitfire for it's looks and that beautiful Merlin engine; but that is the exception not for this thread!)  There was also the B17's and B24's that reminded you of the 80,000 American airmen who lost their lives flying from England fighting tyranny.

Then you had civilian four engine prop planes; the DC6 I flew in when 10; the Constanation; the Vanguard.  In modern times there is the Hercules, which I used to admire flying in and out of RAF Lynham in the 80s and 90s; what a site they were, and with the sound of power with often exhaust trails, you could just imagine them being Lancasters on bombing runs (with those handsome heros inside). Wow!    How sexy!  

You just cannot beat four V12 piston engines in motion; even wonderful four engined jets ('V' bombers, Comets, Concord, etc)do not  have the same element of visual and audio excitment.

On a separate note, although it did not have four engines, and never (well I don't think so!) took off and flew, there was a car called 'The Beastie' in the 1970s and 80s which had that beautiful Merlin V12 engine fitted.  It could do a minimum of 70 mph in reverse, and an uknown top speed (250 mph?) in forward gear .  Rolls Royce objected to it wearing their grill (the car itself wasn't a RR) but it seemed to represent a great memorial to THAT engine and all those pilots who sadly lost their lives flying planes with it.

I will mention that to my dad tomorrow !!!!  He was one of the "handsome heroes"    Up until a few years ago his was the only remaining complete crew iirc. His Lanc was "Oor Wullie".

My soft spot, however, is still the Spitfire. Although I do get goose bumps when a Herc flies over ----- can't beat the old Vulcan bomber at low altitude for raising the hairs on your neck though.

[bedders]

The Shackleton had Griffon engines, (with contra rotating props) which were a later & much more powerful version of the Merlin. So powerful in fact, they could actually fly on 1 engine.