ACHTUNG! SCHPiTFEUER!!

[Jean Loup]

Legends at full throttle: Photographer captures pin-sharp images of the final 55 airworthy Spitfires using just a handheld camera

*Air-to-air photographer John Dibbs spent years hanging out of fighter planes to capture stunning shots of Spitfires
*Using skill and experience of former RAF pilot Tim Ellison, Dibbs flew to within 15ft of the hugely iconic planes
*Battled extreme wind and noise to shoot through open canopy with handheld camera to take remarkable images

EXCELLENT ARTiCLE with plenty of photos, videos & new facts (for me), must read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z4ABF9GY6q


Ceremonial: The Battle of Britain memorial flight's Merlin powered Mk IIa Spitfire P7350, complete with brown and green camouflage

This Spitfire was sold for scrap in 1948 for £25 — but luckily its historical significance was recognised. It was later donated to the RAF Museum at Colerne near Bristol — before being restored to take part in the 1969 epic war film Battle Of Britain. Now, the oldest airworthy Spitfire in the world.

[Anthindelahunt]

Stunning Shots.The best I've seen.
Thanks for showing.

Anthin.

[Tonydb]

Great picture by a very talented photographer, thanks

[OldAirmail]

Thank you, Jean. Good, and interesting, find.

[papituwall]

Many thanks Jean, muchas gracias.

[Flacke]

These are by far the best Spitfire pictures that I have seen.............ever! thanks for posting.

[C]

The best Spitfire photo book since John Dibbs and Tony Holmes did their last collaboration in 1996!

[Jean Loup]

Gracias to all, for me the Spitfire is the very most beautiful aitcraft design. Chaps in England really have an eye for aesthetics, like the (now legendary) Jaguar XKE that maybe did not win many races, but no car is more pleasing to the eye with such a simple line. When I lived in Mexico city from 1984 to 1987, my shop-on-wheels was a VW Safari (type 181, a civilian Kubelwagen made in México in the 70's). To have my tools safely locked in the front trunk, I put the spare tyre on top, just in front of the windshield when in down position. My dentist was doing some idle talk to distract me while anesthetics started their effect, like what do you do for a living. When I told him about my mobile shop, he asked if I could go to his house for doing a tune-up & maintenance to a white six-cilinder Jaguar XKE convertible. He was part of a Jaguar collectors Club, so I buyed all Jaguar shop manuals I could get my hands on. I am very familiar with British automobiles, owned 3 Land-Rovers in diferent moments of my life: a 1965 series I 86 in wheelbase & two 1958 series II 109 in wheelbase, and at one time a 1952 MG TD. Since the Jaguar XKE was built for quick maintenance in the pits, it was ideal (with enaugh garage space available) to work at home. And I wish ALL CARBS could be carbureted like the British SU carbs, maybe not simple to sincronize but once you got it, it stays there for a long time!!

When driving the test trip, I was atracting all the actresses in that sector like the proverbial honey!! The strange thing nowadays, my Perica (7 seat 1973 VW Combi, my actual shop-on-wheels) has the very same effect!! Times change but women don't, thank God!! Now, VW T1 & T2 transporters are becoming EXPENSiVE & fashionable UPS!! A little off topic, maybe

[Flacke]

Yes Jean Loup, the Jaguar XKE is wonderful. I tried to buy one in the 1970's and I drove several very nice XKE's in the USA and Canada. I also drove a couple of the V12 XKE's but much preferred the Inline twin-cam six cylinder cars. I still love the XKE, its the automobile version of the Spitfire for me. The cockpit is much like an airplanes and the sound of the engine is fabulous.