Spitfire: A Very British Love Story

Product Information

A good balance of the historical and “human story” elements, so that you won’t find yourself missing details of the planes many variants, nor frustrated by a dry recounting of specifications and events. This is a truly fascinating book from so many angles. I suspect that many, like me, would view the Spitfire as being synonymous with the Battle of Britain, but then having a very sketchy picture thereafter. This book inks in that sketch in effect by telling the story of the second world war through the contribution of this one aircraft.

What is this all about then? – Pianobook What is this all about then? – Pianobook

Ultimate Warbird Flights is a family business with over 35 years of experience operating WWII fighters and vintage aircraft. The enthusiastic spirit and invention of a creative community like this courses through every instrument giving you, the music maker, access to one of the rarest collections of music tools. Pristine? Not always. In tune? Well that is definitely optional. But full of life and originality? 100% of the time. Partly I think the answer lies in its name. The plane’s lead designer, R.J.Mitchell, wanted to call it the Shrew, thereby demonstrating that, however brilliant he was as a designer and engineer, he would never have made it as a marketing man. The name Spitfire was chosen by the Chairman of the Supermarine company. The striking design of the aircraft is also part of the reason, the elliptical wings and tailfins giving it an unmistakeable profile. The Spitfires fame is due in no small part to a brilliant PR campaign by Lord Beaverbrook. He instigated the "Spitfire Fund" in 1940, it was this campaign which drew widespread public attention to the Spitfire. Amongst the people of Britain the Spitfire became a national symbol of defiance as well as a tool for retribution. it is an icon, probably the most famous aircraft ever made. When Goering asked the distinguished German ace, Adolf Galland in October 1940 what was require beat the RAF, he replied ‘A squadron of Spitfires,’ From its first flight in 1936, through the war and to today’s airshows, it is still loved by both fliers and spectators alike. At Ultimate Warbird Flights, we strive to make your Spitfire Flight a truly unforgettable experience.If you want to buy DVDs in bulk please send a message and we will try to accomodate you. Screenings John Nichol's book tells the stories of dozens of pilots, both men and women, and the sacrifices they made during the war. It's finely balanced between the technical side and development of the Spit, and the personal accounts of the pilots, many now in their 90s. In parts, it's incredibly moving, especially when you think many of these pilots were under twenty when they first took to the skies. Nevertheless, no matter how good the book may seem, it has some negatives. The stories are from first-hand accounts from those who flew it during WWII, which means that the book instead provides a primitive history of the spitfire instead of diving too deeply into it. However, unlike many similarly formatted books, this one gives accounts of people outside of England and through the subsequent campaigns in Malta, North Africa, Italy, France etc. This makes it stand out from nearly every other one of these books. It didn’t take long to fall in love with the Spitfire. Pilots, mechanics, land girls, civvies – they all fell under her spell.’ Pianobook is run by a small group of dedicated volunteers but with the whole community contributing at large by creating and sharing musical demos of the different instruments so users can browse sounds. After launching in 2018 it soon became clear that not everyone was in a position to have an access to a piano so the team decided to open the flood gates too all “instruments” from poorly played flutes to fire extinguishers.

The Spitfire Kids: The generation who built, supported and

Ultimate Warbird Flights are delighted to offer you the chance to experience what it was like for those pilots and take the controls of this legendary fighter for yourself with an unforgettable flight in our very own Supermarine Spitfire. The story starts with the initial design deriving from racing seaplanes in the 30s, through production difficulties in West Bromwich. With the outbreak of war, spitfires see service over Dunkirk, of course in the Battle of Britain but then in Malta, North Africa, over Occupied Europe, in Malaya, and even as part of the Soviet Air Force.

A superb journey through the remarkable tale of that British icon, the Spitfire. Brilliantly and engagingly written, this is the most readable story of the aircraft and her pilots that I have ever had the pleasure to read in a period spanning some forty-odd years of personal study and research. Truly stunning.' Wonderful book for a beautiful plane. I did not know it went through so many upgrades and changes as the Luftwaffe planes improved. I did not recall the long fights for Malta, or the disaster at Dieppe. The testaments of these nineteen to twenty-few-year-olds takes us to a time it is hard to put ourselves into; it is hard to imagine how our own youths would take up this mantle if they had to. The truth. Humanities history. It is always grim and deadly. This case is no different. Although this book focuses on the dim past, it still can manage to bring a smile to your face. It reads like a fabulously well-written novel, although it is far more than that. The book takes you beyond the deadly dogfights over Kent and Sussex. It takes you around the world with one of the most incredible planes ever made. The author of this book, John Nichol, gained an unwelcome bout of fame during the 1991 Gulf War when a surface-to-air missile shot down the Tornado aircraft where he was the navigator. He was captured and paraded on Iraqi TV. His experiences lend him credibility when writing about military aircraft and probably also when he interviewed the veterans whose experiences are recorded in this book. The ending ends on a note of respect given to the magnificent plane, "...if God said that I could have just one more flight, my last flight before I die, in any aircraft I have ever flown, I would choose to get airborne in a Spitfire.' Key Publishing Limited, Units 1-4, Gwash Way Industrial Estate, Ryhall Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 1XP, UK

First Light: Original Edition (Penguin World War II Collection)

A rich and heartfelt tribute to this most iconic British machine. By focussing on the men (and women) who flew the Spitfire, John Nichol has brought a fresh and powerful perspective to the story. And by recording their bravery, humility, camaraderie, tragedy and sheer joy in flying their beloved Spits he has done them - and us - a valuable service’

This book was so well written that it was the first time I really understood the various movements of the war. Perhaps I needed a bird’s-eye view to see it all more clearly; although maybe I should say a Spitfire’s view.