WEBVTT 1 00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:11.359 This time at the Spitfire factory. It's December and after 2 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:15.880 two years hard work, the Greek Spitfire is nearly complete. 3 00:00:16.600 --> 00:00:23.960 But will she fly? As one project finishes, another arrives, 4 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:25.399 but not everyone's happy. 5 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:28.519 I'd like a new kitchen, but he's quite happy to 6 00:00:28.600 --> 00:00:30.920 keep the old kitchen another twenty years. 7 00:00:31.559 --> 00:00:35.000 And veteran George Dunn returns to the hangar hoping to 8 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:36.320 see his Spitfire fly. 9 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:39.240 You certainly had quite a war, George. You really did 10 00:00:39.520 --> 00:00:41.240 quite a war and you survive. 11 00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:42.200 That was the main thing. 12 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:43.439 We were lucky. 13 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:43.920 Who aren't we. 14 00:00:47.960 --> 00:00:51.079 It's been eighteen months since MJ seventy five to five 15 00:00:51.159 --> 00:00:53.799 returned to the UK from Greece to be restored to 16 00:00:53.840 --> 00:00:57.479 flying condition a Mark nine Spitfire that last flew for 17 00:00:57.520 --> 00:01:01.280 the Greek Air Force in nineteen fifty three. We've watched 18 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:05.439 as they reassembled the fuselage, added the tail, the wings 19 00:01:05.799 --> 00:01:10.159 and the engine. They've restored and rebuilt almost seven thousand components, 20 00:01:10.959 --> 00:01:13.560 and with just four weeks left to go, they're at 21 00:01:13.560 --> 00:01:14.760 the snagging stage. 22 00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:18.519 All these hearts are handmade, you know, and they are 23 00:01:18.599 --> 00:01:20.719 not done to a jig, so they all need final 24 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:24.920 trimming and maybe there's slight angle adjustments so it all 25 00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:27.680 fits nicely. There's quite a lot of bods on it 26 00:01:27.719 --> 00:01:29.760 at the moment because we're getting to the sort of 27 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:32.840 like the final stages of getting it. 28 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:33.400 Sort of finished. 29 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:35.319 You just look at it and you think, oh, there's 30 00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:36.480 still so much to do. 31 00:01:38.359 --> 00:01:41.799 Panel specialist Mark is working on the four metal cowlings 32 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:44.760 that wrap around the engine, some of which he's having 33 00:01:44.760 --> 00:01:45.359 to replace. 34 00:01:46.120 --> 00:01:49.239 Even though it came off with Greek aircraft. We've beamed 35 00:01:49.239 --> 00:01:51.560 it not fit for flight. It's too short down here 36 00:01:51.640 --> 00:01:54.319 around this area for some reason. But it looks like 37 00:01:54.359 --> 00:01:57.359 it's had different rivets in which aren't the right specification 38 00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:01.040 of its These holes here are all over size and large. 39 00:02:01.480 --> 00:02:02.159 They should be. 40 00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:05.359 There should be more this size for the fasteness. 41 00:02:04.840 --> 00:02:05.159 To go in. 42 00:02:05.519 --> 00:02:08.199 He's saving original sections whenever he can. 43 00:02:08.520 --> 00:02:11.000 This will fit to the underside of the Greek aircraft. 44 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:13.479 There we had to. 45 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:17.599 Make a new new bottom cow, new intake. This has 46 00:02:17.639 --> 00:02:21.719 all been replicated and wow, as it would have been 47 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:25.319 done originally with ox Stelen and that this is the 48 00:02:25.360 --> 00:02:29.360 new part grafted to an old original bottom. 49 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:35.680 Cown eighty years ago in the original Spitfire factories. Even 50 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:38.879 in the height of conflict. Every finished part was given 51 00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:39.919 a stamp of approval. 52 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:43.039 This is the original top cowling off the Greek Greek 53 00:02:43.080 --> 00:02:46.639 hair bar. That is the original inspection stamp. You could 54 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:49.479 trace that right back in the data who held that 55 00:02:49.560 --> 00:02:52.400 stamp and who inspected this panel when it come off. 56 00:02:52.360 --> 00:02:53.199 The production line. 57 00:02:54.280 --> 00:02:57.159 Meanwhile, Gary is working on a part that is giving 58 00:02:57.199 --> 00:03:00.800 the boss a serious last minute headache. One of the 59 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:02.000 radiator fairings. 60 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:04.120 The other one we've sorted. 61 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:07.639 We've got the original, it's been overhaored and it fits nicely, 62 00:03:07.800 --> 00:03:11.520 so that's completed. This one today is standing here. 63 00:03:11.639 --> 00:03:12.639 We seem to have nothing. 64 00:03:13.560 --> 00:03:13.759 Ur J. 65 00:03:13.919 --> 00:03:17.879 Mitchell's original design included an ingenious cooling system for the 66 00:03:17.960 --> 00:03:21.759 Spitfire's Merlin engine. He moved the radiators out of the 67 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:26.120 wings and covered them with aerodynamically shaped fairings with controllable 68 00:03:26.120 --> 00:03:30.159 flaps to regulate airflow to the radiators and the temperature 69 00:03:30.199 --> 00:03:34.759 of the coolant circulating back to the engine. As part 70 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:38.919 of the aerodynamic design. They have to fit perfectly. But 71 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:42.919 one of the Greek spitfires radiator fairings needs major repairs. 72 00:03:43.479 --> 00:03:46.240 The options are, yes, we do repair the old one, 73 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:48.199 saving only seventy five percent of it. 74 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:49.319 That's going to take us time. 75 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:53.080 We're going to gain a week by using a new one, 76 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:55.319 We're going to lose money. But time is of the 77 00:03:55.400 --> 00:03:58.000 essence when it's a quicker solution and one that we 78 00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:00.719 need to take up to get the Serah plane out 79 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:01.360 the door on time. 80 00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:06.639 Peter's already ordered a new fairing, but there may be 81 00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:13.159 a third option stashed away in his storeroom. End to here, 82 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:14.800 at your peril. 83 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:17.439 I spent days up here tidy in the place up. 84 00:04:17.480 --> 00:04:17.879 Look at it. 85 00:04:18.519 --> 00:04:20.319 The trouble is it when I tidy it up, it 86 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:21.319 looks bloody worse. 87 00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:23.240 I'm gonna have to list this in. 88 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:29.120 There out of the weight cataloging systems Peter's memory. 89 00:04:30.839 --> 00:04:33.800 There's a whole massive panels here, which I've had for 90 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:38.480 donkeys' years. In fact, that's a bit of the radiator 91 00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:44.199 firing there. That's the actual flap itself. Here is the fairing. 92 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:47.199 Of course, he hasn't been moved out of here in 93 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:51.519 a what could be a chance, I can see that 94 00:04:51.560 --> 00:04:52.759 it's completely original. 95 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:54.040 Sounds promising. 96 00:04:55.439 --> 00:04:57.279 There's a death left in the right hand to it, 97 00:04:57.959 --> 00:05:00.959 and this is the wrong hand. 98 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:03.720 Back to square one. 99 00:05:04.199 --> 00:05:05.879 I'm going to make a decision on this fairing and 100 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:06.560 make it today. 101 00:05:06.600 --> 00:05:09.079 Really, he just. 102 00:05:09.079 --> 00:05:11.079 Can't give up on that damaged original. 103 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:14.199 It's had some temporary repairs here. The airplane was in 104 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:18.120 a museum exhibit for some years, in fact decades, so 105 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:21.680 it didn't need airworthy repairs, just cosmetic, which is what's 106 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:24.160 happened here. So we'd have to remove this, so an 107 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:28.480 issue there. I've noticed that there's some very light corrosion 108 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:31.120 on the inside, which is what appears to be done, 109 00:05:31.319 --> 00:05:35.720 isn't it's aluminium oxide, so corrosion. That's treatable bit of work. 110 00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:38.600 But I think we're in good chance for saving. 111 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:40.839 This decision made. 112 00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:44.319 Unfortunately, I'd already ordered the new one, so I've got 113 00:05:44.439 --> 00:05:45.600 nine thousand quid to find. 114 00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:46.959 But we'll use that on. 115 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:49.079 Something else and the original one will go back on 116 00:05:49.160 --> 00:05:49.720 to perfect. 117 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:53.040 Peter will always go the extra mile to save an 118 00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:57.120 original part. In the cockpit, Tony is putting the final 119 00:05:57.160 --> 00:05:58.720 touches to the electrical system. 120 00:05:59.079 --> 00:06:02.720 When people visit the hangar, they say, oh, you are 121 00:06:02.839 --> 00:06:06.279 so lucky. You've got a fantastic job. And this is 122 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:08.959 the bit they don't see when you're wedged in some 123 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:13.240 particularly uncomfortable position trying to do up a screw or 124 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:19.079 something else. My job is basically to rewire the entire aeroplane. 125 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:23.680 We're ninety five percent of the way through that now, 126 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:26.759 and in the next day or so I'll have power 127 00:06:26.759 --> 00:06:28.360 on the aeroplane. 128 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:31.720 Franco is left to do all the really fiddly bits. 129 00:06:32.839 --> 00:06:35.519 Right now, he's making spaces called fair leads for the 130 00:06:35.639 --> 00:06:41.279 undercarriage cables. Right it's going to see if they'll fit. 131 00:06:41.399 --> 00:06:41.639 Now. 132 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:46.839 I estimated the gap and it's not quite enough, and 133 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:49.360 the cables are still touching, so I'm going to have 134 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:52.879 to take them off, make them more and. 135 00:06:52.839 --> 00:06:55.399 Do it all over again. The Greek spit by us 136 00:06:55.439 --> 00:07:00.079 combination of original and replacement parts is almost perfect. But 137 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:03.240 there's one part Peter's been wanting for years. 138 00:07:03.800 --> 00:07:05.000 The spitfire is British. 139 00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:07.079 We want to propeller on there. 140 00:07:11.480 --> 00:07:14.199 There hasn't been a British made spitfire propeller since the 141 00:07:14.279 --> 00:07:19.920 nineteen fifties, but here at Hercules Propellers, Rupert Waysey is 142 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:25.160 working very hard to change that. He uses a combination 143 00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:28.759 of authentic designs and materials with modern machinery to create 144 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:30.399 propellers from all eras. 145 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:34.439 Traditionally, propellers were made using hand tools, which is very 146 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:35.160 time consuming. 147 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:37.680 We use a computer controlled machine. 148 00:07:37.399 --> 00:07:41.040 Which will mil the propeller from our laminated block of wood, 149 00:07:41.480 --> 00:07:45.199 and it's much quicker and much more precise. This is 150 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:49.639 the software which controls the machine and the tool is 151 00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:52.879 this mark here, and this shows the paths the tool 152 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:55.920 is going to make over the block as it machines 153 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:59.000 the wood away to leave a aircraft propeller. 154 00:08:00.759 --> 00:08:04.439 If he doesn't have the blueprints, Rupert can sometimes replicate 155 00:08:04.519 --> 00:08:06.759 original propellers from his collection. 156 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:10.319 This is about the oldest propeller we have, which we've 157 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:12.959 got here for copying, and this is off a Blowrio 158 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:16.160 aeroplane from France, madely about nineteen ten. 159 00:08:17.879 --> 00:08:21.319 When Rupert was asked to make an authentic wooden spitfire propeller, 160 00:08:21.920 --> 00:08:27.120 it's complexity meant he needed detailed original drawings to work from, 161 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:29.959 and that when fate stepped in. 162 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:33.360 I got a phone call from a company about ten 163 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:36.799 miles from here, and they were refurbishing their offices and 164 00:08:36.919 --> 00:08:40.600 found a whole chest full of original propeller drawings, and 165 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:44.440 they googled found me, and I raced over there and 166 00:08:44.679 --> 00:08:48.679 found this amazing treasure trove of original spitfire propeller drawings. 167 00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:53.919 This was the original pen and ink drawing on linen paper. 168 00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:58.120 It was drawn on the twelfth of March nineteen forty two. 169 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:01.799 We've got various dimensions of the blade width and the 170 00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:07.759 thickness of all the aerofoil shapes along the way. Importantly, 171 00:09:08.039 --> 00:09:11.279 it tells us what the material the propeller was made 172 00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:14.600 out of, and it tells us the density of the wood, 173 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:15.639 which is very important. 174 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:19.960 In another stroke of luck, Rupert discovered that the extremely 175 00:09:20.039 --> 00:09:23.120 rare material they used still exists today. 176 00:09:24.120 --> 00:09:27.639 This is called the hydlignum. It's basically made out very 177 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:32.159 fine veneers of beach less than one millimeter thick, coated 178 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:36.000 in a phonolic resin and compressed to make a very dense, 179 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:42.279 extremely strong composite. So where we have carbon, fiber and fiberglass, now, 180 00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:46.200 this was the equivalent of the time. So these days 181 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:50.440 it's used for electrical insulators, and interestingly it's on the 182 00:09:50.440 --> 00:09:53.440 belly pan of most Formula one racing cars, so when 183 00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:56.000 they bottom out on the racetrack it doesn't cause sparks. 184 00:09:56.639 --> 00:10:00.120 The spitfast propeller needs this strong material because of the 185 00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:04.480 immense forces it generates. Four separate blades attached to a 186 00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:09.240 central hub with variable pitch to increase and decrease thrust 187 00:10:09.960 --> 00:10:13.399 at full power. Phenomenal strength is required to simply keep 188 00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:21.000 the blades attached. After four years work. This is Rupert's prototype. 189 00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:23.879 If a blade detaches and comes away from the hub 190 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:26.559 in flight, it will be catastrophic. The engine will be 191 00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:28.279 sort out of balance, that will be shaken out of 192 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:30.039 the airframe, and the aircraft will crash. 193 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:34.480 So Rupert has been stress testing his blades to breaking point. 194 00:10:34.919 --> 00:10:38.440 We calculated that the force throwing the blade away from 195 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:41.960 the hub when it's running at maximum speed is about 196 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:45.559 thirty tons, which is a huge force just for this 197 00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:48.759 section of wood to take. But we've carried out extensive 198 00:10:48.799 --> 00:10:52.120 tests and actually pulled a mock blade until it broke, 199 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:55.320 and actually broke at eighty tons, so we know it's 200 00:10:55.480 --> 00:10:56.960 more than twice a strong enough. 201 00:10:57.720 --> 00:11:00.799 As the final touch the composite blade, it's are sealed 202 00:11:01.080 --> 00:11:03.840 with a thick coat of impact absorbing epoxy. 203 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:07.679 I feel immensely proud of this. It's been a huge project. 204 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:10.399 We've been working for many years to get to this stage, 205 00:11:10.519 --> 00:11:13.480 and seeing it all together being tangible and ready to 206 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:16.519 go is a wonderful moment. I'm really ready to Now, 207 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:18.200 I want to see it fly, I want see it run. 208 00:11:18.919 --> 00:11:20.799 It's going to be really exciting to see it take off. 209 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:27.080 At the Spitfire factory, they're about to put the propeller 210 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:31.519 on the Greek Spitfire. The new British propeller isn't certified yet, 211 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:34.000 so they have to use a German made one. But 212 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:35.720 Franco is still pretty excited. 213 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:36.720 Very big moment. 214 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:38.759 Here's what makes it go forward. 215 00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:42.360 Isn't it really about the fan on the front. 216 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:43.440 You don't go anywhere here. 217 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:46.519 It's a job they only want to do once. 218 00:11:46.919 --> 00:11:50.559 Once it props on, unless we have a problem. You 219 00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:53.600 don't like to take it off again. So we just 220 00:11:53.639 --> 00:11:56.360 make sure that Felt embraces that everything's done. 221 00:11:58.039 --> 00:11:58.679 It's ready to go. 222 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:02.759 The original little hub has been restored with new blades added. 223 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:07.759 It's a bit like I'm wrapping a present, really anything is. 224 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:11.600 It's quite an expensive present, one hundred and fifty pounds there. 225 00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:17.679 Now, first they need to attach a backplate. 226 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:20.120 Why do you get the bat play on? You can 227 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:22.480 do it, but you can't do it for right up 228 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:22.799 we go. 229 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:28.080 The hub should now fit directly onto the protruding propeller shaft. 230 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:52.960 Ekosa push so done. 231 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:57.159 It takes a delicate touch to get it on and 232 00:12:57.159 --> 00:12:59.080 then a bit of brute force to lock it in place. 233 00:13:00.559 --> 00:13:01.080 My coat. 234 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:04.919 It's a good day for the boss. 235 00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:11.240 It's another leap forward and actually convinced the owners that 236 00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:12.639 were actually getting somewhere. 237 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:15.919 That's the biggest thing for me, and. 238 00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:19.200 For very different reasons. It's also a good day for 239 00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:24.200 his eldest son. Two years ago, Alex Mounk decided to 240 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:27.799 follow in his father's footsteps and join the restoration team. 241 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:32.200 But he doesn't just want to build spitfires. His dream 242 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:35.519 is to fly them, and here at Biggin Hill he 243 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:37.639 has the chance to follow in the footsteps of the 244 00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:40.360 young men who learned to fly them in the heat 245 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:40.840 of war. 246 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:44.879 Wartime pilots would have had many hours. The only difference 247 00:13:44.919 --> 00:13:47.720 between them and me is that that was what they 248 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:52.519 were doing. They would fly a lot regularly. I don't 249 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:54.960 get to fly that regularly because I'm working on the airplanes. 250 00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:59.399 Most aref pilots started their training in biplanes like the 251 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:02.519 de Havelan Tiger Moth, top speed one hundred and nine 252 00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:06.039 miles an hour and pretty easy to fly. The next 253 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:08.120 step before getting in a spitfire was one of these 254 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:13.600 a North American Aviation T six Harvard, nicknamed the pilot Maker, 255 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:17.360 and fortunately for Alex, there's one available to use here 256 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:20.080 at the Spitfire Factory, with the top speed of over 257 00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:22.159 two hundred miles an hour. It has many of the 258 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:26.279 features of a Spitfire, including adjustable wing flaps, a variable 259 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:29.080 pitch propeller, and a retractable undercarriage. 260 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:32.120 They call it the pilot Maker because it's quite a 261 00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:34.519 good aircraft. Got a lot of tendencies in it. If 262 00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:36.960 you can overcome those, it puts you in good stead 263 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:38.519 for flying the next aircraft up from that. 264 00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:41.600 It's just getting used to wear the other carriage is 265 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:42.360 that's yeah. 266 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:43.960 And once he suddenly. 267 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:46.480 Jess Bridger, one of the regular pilots here, has agreed 268 00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:47.360 to train Alex. 269 00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:49.120 I think I know where I'm going wrong with this, 270 00:14:49.480 --> 00:14:51.919 with what caught flying in the Harvard all the rest 271 00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:52.639 of it go on. 272 00:14:52.679 --> 00:14:54.639 I need a bigger watch. Has got a bigger watch. 273 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:57.080 You need a bigger watch. You want a bigger to watch, 274 00:14:57.120 --> 00:15:00.879 the better the landing. He is exactly a training pilot 275 00:15:00.919 --> 00:15:02.679 of back in the day in the nineteen forties. 276 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:05.200 He's a young man, he's just turned twenty one, and 277 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:05.879 he's loving it. 278 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:08.799 He's getting to play with amazing aeroplanes and this is 279 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:12.039 his first experience in a big Harvard, so it's a 280 00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:15.240 big transition from his piper Cup to going into the Harvard. 281 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:19.240 But Alex is not off to a great start. 282 00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:21.720 I'm just going to go tell Alex Brix flaptop. 283 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:23.519 He's forgotten so he started up and left from hanging 284 00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:24.440 down at the moment. 285 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:28.639 He's put the flap down for the walk around check 286 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:30.720 and you've forgotten to put them back up again, which 287 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:31.320 is quite normal. 288 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:31.919 And I've done it. 289 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:33.559 We've all done it, and you just feel like a 290 00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:35.039 bit of a tick when you realize that you haven't 291 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:35.480 done something. 292 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:36.399 Everyone's watching it. 293 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:40.200 One of the toughest challenges for any aircraft is take 294 00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:43.320 offs and landings, which is what Alex will be focusing 295 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:43.879 on today. 296 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:49.879 What bak off a piece of this for Alivia is 297 00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:51.480 doing right. So al right, it goes off in a 298 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:58.080 straight line and keep it straight. It's the main thing. 299 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:08.600 Kimasabling Squeeve's gear is going up and they're up. 300 00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:14.600 Alex is flying the plane, but Jess is keeping his 301 00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:16.919 hands and feet firmly on the dual controls. 302 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:19.159 So you've got a power back to twenty eight years. 303 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:22.000 Call the propbacks about two thousand and my name is 304 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:23.759 plain Yeah, very good. 305 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:25.399 Okay, where we go? 306 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:27.440 Then the right on my head off all seven eight. 307 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:34.080 After a couple of circuits, Alex will start practicing landings. 308 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:38.320 He'll need to be fully focused. The Harvard can be 309 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:43.519 extremely dangerous. During the war, around eight thousand RF pilots 310 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:48.000 and aircrew were killed in training, many while attempting to land. 311 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:51.919 Alex is going to practice a type of landing called 312 00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:54.399 a touch and go. He has to learn to take 313 00:16:54.440 --> 00:16:57.320 the power off at exactly the right moment and then 314 00:16:57.679 --> 00:16:58.279 pull away. 315 00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:00.000 We just keep it coming down. 316 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:00.399 You're a. 317 00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:03.080 Powering off. 318 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:13.400 He's down, glad to comeing. Okata, I want to go again? 319 00:17:13.880 --> 00:17:19.079 Yep and clatter are up? Thank you? 320 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:20.480 He's up again. 321 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.039 I'm not going on. 322 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:27.279 It's fine. 323 00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:28.920 So I guess that one was just a little witch 324 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:30.000 too much of a flair, wasn't it. 325 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:31.680 Just hold it up a little bit high and it bounds. 326 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:34.079 Yeah, okay, wat round you go. 327 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:39.319 Next time round he'll land it for real. During the 328 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:42.440 Battle of Britain, the demand for pilots got so high 329 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:45.000 that many had just a few hours of training before 330 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:47.440 going solo in a spitfire to get. 331 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:50.720 On the center line. I can conferve your gears down. 332 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:51.480 You have green lives. 333 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:53.000 You just got to rome around. 334 00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:56.559 Alex will probably need at least fifty before Dad lets 335 00:17:56.640 --> 00:18:05.400 him fly one of his spitfires. 336 00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:13.480 Oh yeah, beauty's great. 337 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:20.000 You don't want anything to stupid straight. He's nailed it. 338 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:23.160 Very nice, Alex, very nice, well done. 339 00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:25.240 Identify the leaver with you, ad make sure it is 340 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:26.599 the Flat're not gonna pull the gear up? 341 00:18:26.920 --> 00:18:28.319 Yeah, put the flaps up, all right. 342 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:30.079 Yeah, they're traveling. 343 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:30.559 Is very good. 344 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:34.960 That's it. 345 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:36.000 Never again, never been to. 346 00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:37.880 Stand it all my life. 347 00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:40.440 You did a great job. 348 00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:42.480 Oh thank you for that. 349 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:47.839 Alex is a step closer to achieving his dream, but 350 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:52.160 now he needs to get back to work. The deadline 351 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:55.240 for the Greek spitfire is looming. But today there's a 352 00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:57.279 bit of a spanner in the works because they need 353 00:18:57.319 --> 00:18:59.640 to get the plane ready to be weighed as part 354 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:01.000 of its safety registration. 355 00:19:01.400 --> 00:19:03.319 We're just putting all the panels on the airpap because 356 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:05.359 it's going to be weighed. It's always quite interesting because 357 00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:06.599 we have to get a tear it up to get 358 00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:07.839 it in the FLI. 359 00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:11.920 It's going to be several hours work for a twenty 360 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:12.559 minute weighing. 361 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:16.920 We are slaving all the bits and pieces that aren't 362 00:19:16.920 --> 00:19:19.599 fitted finally on the aircraft. Well though it's also semi 363 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:22.119 frustrating to it all come on and then we've got 364 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:22.920 to take it all off again. 365 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:26.319 Afterwards, Franco needs to add some lead weights to the 366 00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:28.680 tail of the aircraft to balance the way to the 367 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:31.759 engine at the front. 368 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.200 No one in there. 369 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:39.480 Time for a game of guess the weight. 370 00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:45.960 I reckon. We'll weigh about three thousand, three and a 371 00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:49.799 half thousand kilos. I'm making it up. I don't know 372 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.599 how much do you ottening? 373 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:53.480 Get Alex out a quarter under that? 374 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:55.960 Oh he wants to go a quarter under me. 375 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:58.400 I'm going to quarter under just because we ain't got 376 00:19:58.400 --> 00:19:59.039 wings tips. 377 00:19:59.119 --> 00:19:59.680 We'll just go with that. 378 00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:04.200 Yeah, So there a solid lead that is, it's heavy. 379 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:06.400 You don't want to drop it. 380 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:06.880 On your foot. 381 00:20:07.640 --> 00:20:11.400 The important parameter for a spitfire is not its overall weight, 382 00:20:11.880 --> 00:20:15.319 but the balance. The center of gravity needs to be 383 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:19.640 close to frame five, where the engine, fuselage and wings meet, 384 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:23.839 and it can't move more than a few centimeters as 385 00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:26.720 the fuel or ammunition load lights during the flight. 386 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:34.160 I was looking for the weighing guy they're bringing the kitten. 387 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:37.920 Tom had Tom. It's Franco, the chief engineer. The guys's 388 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:40.680 just got a couple more panels to go on and 389 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:42.039 then we'll just have a sweep of the floor and 390 00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:48.000 then we'll get it all ready for you to start. 391 00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:50.319 To get accurate readings. Everything has to be just as 392 00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:51.680 it would be during a flight. 393 00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:56.079 He betting the door on a nice one. 394 00:20:57.640 --> 00:21:00.119 Get almost ready. 395 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:05.039 With vintage aircraft, especially when be built, they can be 396 00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:08.160 quite out if they've had extra fuel tanks and it's 397 00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:10.839 just put in them. With this one, I'm not expecting 398 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:12.000 anything to outrageous. 399 00:21:12.680 --> 00:21:15.640 First, it's weighed with all three wheels on the ground. 400 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:19.240 Are we on them? 401 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:21.119