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Re: Spitfire PR Mk.19 / PS890

Posted by Joe Scheil on Sat Oct 20, 2001 08:43:13 AM

In reply top Spitfire PR Mk.19 / PS890 posted by Christer on Fri Oct 19, 2001 10:30:14 AM

: I?ve read somewhere that You?ll have a go at the climbing
: record once the Spit is fit for flight. Is it the old Bear
: cat record from stand still to 10,000 ft in 91 seconds tha
: t You?ll challenge?
: Do You know if that record was set by a service Bearcat (w
: hich variant) or was equipment removed to lighten it with
: minimum fuel load etc?
Christer,
I dont know if Steve answered you or not but the Bearcat time to climb was held by two different cats...The first attempt I can remember was attempted by Norwood Dick Hanson in N5171V/N5555H "The Last of the Red Hot Cats". It was lightened and modified as planes were in 1965 or so. Don't know what speed he attained...
The other record of 91 seconds is held by the Rare Bear but was done some years ago. These are really good times as I was lucky enough to fly a Cheyenne IV built by Piper during my corporate flying days. This plane is 12,100 lbs gross with 2000 shp avail to 22,000 and still hold many records in her class. I could take off out of SNA and turn direct to a vor at the shoreline and cross it at 17,500' in 15 miles of ground run or so. (at about 10,100lbs) That Bearcat climbed about 1500fpm more than me!
Joe Scheil

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