This video was taken at the 50 Anniversary of the founding of the Meteorological Research Flight at DRA Farnboroughon 6 July 1992 on a rare occasion where cameras were allowed onto the site. It was found on an old analog Video8 tape which had been recently transfered to a digital format.
Spitfire PR Mk XIX PM631 was built at Reading too late to see service in World War Two but is representative of similar high altitude photographic reconnaissance Spitfires which did serve operationally. Unarmed they could fly at 370mph at 40,000 feet (with pressurised cockpits) with a range of 1,500 miles. The 2000hp Griffin Engine allowed them to reach 445 mph at lower altitudes
PM631 was modified for meteorological work and flown by civilian pilots with the Temperature and Humidity Monitoring (THUM) Flight based at Hooton Park and Woodvale making daily ascents to 30,000ft to gather meteorological information.
The C-130 Hercules (XV208), nicknamed ‘Snoopy’ because of its nose joined the MRF in 1973 and served until 2001.
Негізгі бет Spitfire PM631 (Mk PRXIX) with C-130 at MRF in 1992
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