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Spitfire !

RogerS

RogerS

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Yesterday. What a day !

Fulfilled my boyhood dream. Up for a hour. Flew it for 75% of the time and even did a few rolls. They used to say that you wore the Spitfire like a coat and I can see why.

Afterwards Charlie (my pilot) told me that not very many first time flyers in the Spitfire have flown aerobatics.

A magical day.

I will try and pull together a more meaningful post with more photos and video in a few days and maybe a bit more explanation as to what happens if anyone is interested

Best one.jpg
 
I've just seen somewhere that they are planning to build one or two new 2 seater Spitfires from scratch. Much cheaper, apparently, than restoring old ones.
 
Mike G said:
I've just seen somewhere that they are planning to build one or two new 2 seater Spitfires from scratch. Much cheaper, apparently, than restoring old ones.
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I think that that will be the Aerolite Spitfire Type 433. Currently looking for further investment.
 
Dr.Al said:
Coincidentally, a P51 flew over our house about 1/2 hour ago
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I'll up that and see you Al. A coupla years ago I was in the 'shop and heard the screaming roar of turbojets at very low altitude. I legged it outside and saw the 'Blue Angels':

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... about 250yds away doing a fly-bye at what seemed be just above tree top height! - Rob

Edit - sorry, wasn't that lot but 'The Thunderbirds' in 2017
 
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Looks like you had a good day for it Roger and lived up to expectations. It will be good to see more.

I’d recommend (if you’ve not already read it) First Light by Geoffrey Wellum.
 
Hope you didn’t see a hun in the sun.
Reach for the Sky was one of the first books I remember reading as a teenager. Douglas Bader an inspiration. I still have the book.
I’d certainly jump at the opportunity but not at that price.
 
By coincidence there has been a Spitfire flying over here last weekend and this. Having seen it for the second time today I thought I would find out why. It turns out it is flying out of Tatenhill, just 5 minutes up the road. They do a choice of 3 flights, one of which is the Dambuster run over Lady Bower. https://flyaspitfire.com/flights/45-minute-dambusters-spitfire-flight/
I need to get saving!
 
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LOML is a treasure. Last night she asked me if I was going up again. I muttered about cost etc but she told me that I should go for another one albeit shorter and local so that we didn't have the overhead of a hotel and a lousy Italian restaurant to cope with as per Goodwood.

So I did ! I'd like to try my hand at a loop if I can.
 
I notice the flights from Biggin Hill come with an option of a trace plane for friends and family to watch and film. Would LOYL enjoy watching?
 
AndyP said:
I notice the flights from Biggin Hill come with an option of a trace plane for friends and family to watch and film. Would LOYL enjoy watching?
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The snag with that (direct experience moi plus offspring flying) is the "chase" plane is a lot slower than even a throttled back Spit. Some may think it compromises the experience. The Spits are never at full WWII throttle anyway as the engines and airframes need to be preserved, but even so....Still great experience though. Needs a really good camera if you do it (planes vibrate more than you think!).
 
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Trevanion said:
I’ve always wanted to fly in a Zero, but I’m not sure if it’s something I’ll come back from.
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Apparently these things could even out turn a Spitfire but unlike the Spit were never improved as WW2 progressed. As a consequence they were decimated by much more advanced American aircraft towards the end of the conflict - Rob
 
AJB Temple said:
The snag with that (direct experience moi plus offspring flying) is the "chase" plane is a lot slower than even a throttled back Spit. Some may think it compromises the experience. The Spits are never at full WWII throttle anyway as the engines and airframes need to be preserved, but even so....Still great experience though. Needs a really good camera if you do it (planes vibrate more than you think!).
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Pictures?
 
One of the 'Secret Spitfire's' built in Salisbury. Apparently around 2500 were built within the city limits in bus garages, engineering firms etc with a high ceiling/roof line. Blue plaques dotted around the town indicate where they were built but I've only been able to find one which is the old Wilts & Dorset bus garage in Castle St. When I point it out to visiting tourists they're suitably gobsmacked! The aircraft were assembled without wings, lifted onto a 'low loader' transporter and driven in the dead of night out of town on the Amesbury Rd to a spot called High Post, where the wings were attached, the aircraft flight checked and then flown off by the girls from the ATA to front line RAF aerodromes. The book's available from Bezos - Rob

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RogerS said:
Thank you, Mike, it certainly was. We all like photos because without them people can post on the forum all sorts of unsubstantiated claims.
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A very good point Roger. (y) A good job everyone on here is honest.

I occasionally visit a couple of non woodworking related forums and some of the claims made are physically impossible even just in the sheer amount of time it takes and there being only 24 hours in a day.. When challenged these idiots go silent then come up with a sidestep of sorts, (Starmer like :ROFLMAO:). They clearly think everyone is both blind and stupid. :unsure:
I usually just ignore people like that.
 
RogerS said:
Pictures?
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What do you want pictures of? I have lots of the restoration and service hangars, the chase plane ones belong to offspring but I might be able to get some from him that don't show people. Last time we were there was about a year ago. I'll see what I can find when I get back.
 
AJB Temple said:
What do you want pictures of? I have lots of the restoration and service hangars, the chase plane ones belong to offspring but I might be able to get some from him that don't show people. Last time we were there was about a year ago. I'll see what I can find when I get back.
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I was hoping we might have seen some photos of you in the cockpit.
 
I've never been up in a Spitfire, definitely a bucket list event. The closest I've come to flying anything that wasn't a model was a glider flight up over the Pennines and Scottish Borders. I had the controls for around 20 minutes or so and easy enough. The one thing that stood out for me was just how noisy a glider is when I assumed almost silence.

And I've had control, well steered it at least, of a lawnmower sized engine powered aircraft. A two seater and I persuaded him to fly over our gaff and then up the Northumberland coast as far as Lindisfarne (Holy Island). I had the controls for nearly an hour but for some reason he declined my offer to take off and land. :ROFLMAO:

Alnwick Castle in all it's glory and I was surprised he let me get this close to the prison.
 

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