BRM, unmistakable

[number77]

i have just recently heard the sound of a 1953 BRM v16. its the most awesome sound i've heard and completely unique. i'm only 19 so you could see why it's new to me. anyways, are there any engines going around with the same architecture? i could only imagine what that thing would sound like with some more cubes. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[427TJ]

Go to an airshow this summer and listen to a P-51 Mustang takeoff. The Mustang is powered by a Rolls Royce designed, Packard built 1,650 cubic inch V-12. Another sweet sound is any V-12 Ferrari from the '50s-'60s. Lastly, a big-block Chevy with a healthy mechanical cam with clattering steel rocker arms is pretty hard to beat.

Oh, and "Victory by Design" on Speed Channel usually has some nice engine sounds as the host, Alan DeCadanet, drives vintage sports cars through pastoral settings at high speed.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Charley Lillard]

Watch this... airplane (http://www.alexisparkinn.com/oh_my_god.htm)

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

I bet that guy had to clean out his drawers after that!I know I would have.That is a nice sounding engine.I like the sound of the old Corsairs,the planes they used in the movie black sheep squadron.The allison engines sound pretty cool also.

Bobby Dodson

[Chevy454]

That may be the coolest video I've ever seen Clill...!

[Charley Lillard]

Looks like he would have lost his head if he hadn't ducked....

[JoeG]

I heard the plane getting closer --just couldn't pick it up-----guy was cutting grass...

[budnate]

that is cool!..dude had her on the deck...gave old Allen a ticker check...

[Chevy454]

I was the same way, JoeG! I couldn't tell where it was coming from, then all of a sudden you're staring it in the eye! Man, it looked like it was gonna wipe out the camera! Gotta give the camera guy props for not flinching! LOL!!

[firstgenaddict]

Decadnet is not easily frightened.... when he is the driver.

[427TJ]

That Spitfire clip was shot at Duxford airfield in England, an original Royal Air Force field dating back to at least the early 1930s. Today Duxford is home to several private flying collections and also houses some of the Imperial War Museum's collection. The Spitfire in the clip is a Mark VB (5B). If you watch the clip closely you can see the bow wave from the Spit lay down the grass just as it approaches the camera. If that had been in the U.S. and an FAA guy saw that it would be all over for Mr. Spitfire pilot and everyone involved. The Brits are considerably more laid back about such "pranks."

I went to Duxford several times when I was in the Air Force and I always felt like I was on hallowed ground, much like you'd feel walking through the pits at Indy or Daytona. One foggy morning I got there as they opened the gates at 10am. I walked out to the edge of the airfield and stood and looked out at that vast expanse of grass covering the airfield. Again, probably a lot like walking into Gasoline Alley in early May. I stood there for about 20 minutes watching the sun burn the thin fog layer off. Then, the unmistakable sound of a Merlin came cackling out from the hangar line and there it was: A beautiful Spitfire Mark IX 2-seater! (Owned by Carolyn Grace.) It taxied past my position and over to the run-up area on the grass. The pilot ran it up, checked the propeller and magnetos, and then lined up for takeoff. The power came in slowly, then the rest of the way and that beautiful sight and SOUND really put a lump in my throat. The airplane bounced across the grass, tail coming up as it accelerated, and was airborne in about 1,500 feet of grass. The Spit climbed into the sky, north of the airfield and performed several aerobatic maneuvers over a 15-minute period. I couldn't see the Spit through the clouds but I could hear that Merlin V-12 booming as the Spitfire looped and rolled. Then it was quiet. A few minutes passed and then the Spit came in on the deck from behind a large hangar. ZOOM! The Spitfire went right past me about 50 feet off the grass. The pilot pulled it up into an overhead pattern, dropped the gear and swept around and landed. Seeing a Spitfire at Duxford 53 years after the Battle of Britain was quite an emotional moment. Yes, I had my Nikon and I took several pictures---thank God!

[JoeG]

Excellent... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Lynn]

So let's see some pics.

Lynn

[427TJ]

I'll go dig them out.

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
So let's see some pics.

[/ QUOTE ]

Here's the Spit running up before takeoff. Duxford Airfield, England, summer 1992.

[427TJ]

Climbing away for 20 minutes of aerobatics north of the field. Time was about 10:30 in the morning and it was dead calm and quiet except for the wonderful song from that Merlin.

[427TJ]

Out of the fog for a low pass over the field.

[Mr. T]

Thanks for sharing that picture. Great looking plane. That would be a great screensaver! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[427TJ]

Right past me on the deck at maybe 300 mph! What a sound.

[427TJ]

After landing and taxiing back across that historic grass. It was kind of a "field of dreams" moment seeing an actual Supermarine Spitfire, at Duxford, and FLYING! None of my flying buddies would have believed me had I not had my camera.

[Mr70]

Awesome pix 427TJ.
You captured & describe the mood well! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[JoeG]

Awesome --moment and photos---- http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Belair62]

Great story and pics.You have a way of telling an aviation story TJ !

[427TJ]

Another great place for incredible engine sounds is the Reno Air Races. Here's a picture I took of Lyle Shelton in his Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat "Rare Bear" on his way to winning the 1991 Championship race. This airplane holds the world propeller-driven speed record of 538 miles per hour. At Reno this airplane has seen just over 500 going around the pylons. If you love engine sounds Reno is a place you must go once in your life. Nowhere else will these guys push those old engines so hard and make such incredible sounds.

[JoeG]

That 538mph--Is that along a horizontal line of flight---

[427TJ]

Yep, straight and level flight over a measured mile at low altitude. The airplane isn't allowed to climb above a certain altitude and must accelerate in level flight--the pilot can't dive the airplane to gain airspeed. Lyle Shelton set that record somewhere in northern New Mexico to take advantage of thinner air in the high country. I think it was 1989 or '90.

Here's another shot of Rare Bear at Reno in 1991. The propeller uses blades from a Lockheed P-3 Orion, an engine from a Douglas Skyraider (3,350 cubic inches, 18 cylinders), the engine cowling is from a Douglas DC-7 prop airliner, and a cut-down canopy, shortened wings, etc. No, it's definitely not stock!

[JoeG]

Kinda like dealer installed-- http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif----- http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif http://www.yenko.net/attachments/129424-BEAR.JPG

[Canucklehead]

Those are some killer planes. I saw on some car show they had Tom Cruise showing off his collection of vintage planes. I wasent aware he was into that.

[427TJ]

I think Cruise got the flying bug when he went for an F-14 ride during the filming of Top Gun. He has a 2-seat Pitts Special (small aerobatic biplane) and a P-51D Mustang WWII fighter. Numerous other "civil" planes too.