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Two-seat Spitfire flight

Warbirds, Replicas and Nostalgic photos in here please.
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robstopper
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Two-seat Spitfire flight

Post by robstopper » Mon Jun 11, 2018 12:03 pm

So, last Wednesday the day finally arrived when I achieved one of my dreams, and flew in a genuine WW2 combat-veteran Spitfire! Pete had been talked in to doing it as well by Austin, our tour guide when we did the Heritage Hangar tour a few weeks ago. It was the final step in the story, after having first flown alongside one, to sitting in one, and now FLYING one!

We both went up in MJ627, from Biggin Hill. Real privilege to be flying from such an historic airfield, in an aircraft carrying Invasion stripes, on the D-Day anniversary. I came away from it with even more respect for the chaps who flew and fought in these, and other similar aircraft, during the dark days of WW2.

Everything and more I hoped it would, took the controls for a quarter of the flight, did a victory roll over Brands Hatch - darn awesome in every way! Was glad to have Pete along to experience it too, so when I keep talking about it incessantly in the future, there'll be at least one person who can understand and doesn't just roll their eyes :lol:

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robinminffordd
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Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight

Post by robinminffordd » Mon Jun 11, 2018 2:34 pm

Wow,

I can feel your excitement from 400 miles aay :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:


Robin

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Knife 04
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Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight

Post by Knife 04 » Mon Jun 11, 2018 3:03 pm

Excellent stuff and the weather looked perfect. For once Pete looks quite 'normal'!

Well done both on a great lieftime opportunity!

Darren

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XWP29
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Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight

Post by XWP29 » Mon Jun 11, 2018 3:17 pm

Wow, what a great time you guys had! Thanks for posting :cool:
Looking forward to hearing the full story next time we meet up Pete. The only Spitfire Pilot in the GRS :cool:
GRIM REAPERS SUPPORTER

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robstopper
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Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight

Post by robstopper » Mon Jun 11, 2018 3:20 pm

If you can find anyway at all of affording it, even on credit card - do it!!! You won't regret it.

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robstopper
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Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight

Post by robstopper » Mon Jun 11, 2018 3:31 pm

We got there about 7.15am - Pete was on the 8am slot, me on the 9am one - to make sure we didn't get caught on the Dartford crossing. Weather was cold and overcast to start with, but thankfully it burnt off quickly, so we got flying about 9.30am.

Such a rush. Even on low boost, about 800bhp, she really did climb like the "homesick angel" of legend. Very responsive to the controls, especially so in pitch. Really good flight all-round.

Ended up with some good memorabilia of the day too - SD cards with the video from both front and rear facing cockpit cameras, signed and framed flight certificate on a profile picture of MJ, copy of the MkIX Spitfire pilots' notes, and a flight patch. Oh, and we each treated ourselves to a Biggin Hill polo shirt too :)

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paddyboy
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Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight

Post by paddyboy » Mon Jun 11, 2018 4:11 pm

How can anyone say Pete ever looks remotely 'normal' :Wow:

Looks like you kids had a fab day :lol:

Well done :thumbs:

Still wouldn't want Pete in the left-hand seat of ANY aircraft I flew in :whistle:

Paddyboy :clap:
XH558, always the first lady in my life
Just remember, please don't tell the wife


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robstopper
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Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight

Post by robstopper » Mon Jun 11, 2018 5:33 pm

"any" seat, I think you meant lol

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grumpy616
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Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight

Post by grumpy616 » Tue Jun 12, 2018 5:41 am

:P :P
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Maxemoo
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Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight

Post by Maxemoo » Tue Jun 12, 2018 2:05 pm

There is something about the spitfire that, even just looking at the photos, makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

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Knife 04
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Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight

Post by Knife 04 » Tue Jun 12, 2018 3:20 pm

Maxemoo wrote:
Tue Jun 12, 2018 2:05 pm
There is something about the spitfire that, even just looking at the photos, makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
No - that's just Pete! :lol: :lol:

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Herkchaser
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Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight

Post by Herkchaser » Tue Jun 12, 2018 7:38 pm

Lucky fella and a beautiful aeroplane.
My Aviation images on Flickr,

https://www.flickr.com/photos/193049248@N06/


Cheers Robert.

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herc15
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Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight

Post by herc15 » Tue Jun 12, 2018 8:08 pm

wow that's something special

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TeeJay
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Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight

Post by TeeJay » Wed Jun 13, 2018 4:58 am

Just seen these pics, after talking to Pete last night :thumb:
Looks like you guys had a fantastic day :clap:
Got to agree... That Pete: normal? No chance :lol:
Well done though, guys and thanks for posting the pics :)
I’m only just across the fields from you too Rob.
All the best
Trev

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robstopper
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Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight

Post by robstopper » Wed Jun 13, 2018 7:59 am

cheers chaps :)

Was a special day for sure. I was glad we chose to do it from Biggin rather than Duxford. I think Duxford would have been superb too, but you seemed to get a little bit more for your money from BH, and it had just that little bit more cachet given the circumstances of the day.

And nice to see a fellow Suffolkonian Trev! I'm in Elmswell.

SpilsbyPete
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Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight

Post by SpilsbyPete » Wed Jun 13, 2018 2:59 pm

robstopper.

Looks fantastic.
This is still on my Aviation Bucket List'To Do

Pete

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robstopper
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Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight

Post by robstopper » Thu Jun 14, 2018 8:31 am

As I've said to others, if there's any way at all you can finance doing it Pete - go for it. There's no way of knowing how long these flights will operate - MJ is 75 years old after all, and even though they treat her very, very sympathetically, there may come a time when she just can't carry on.

It's a true once in a lifetime experience. Whether you do it from Biggin, Duxford, Goodwood, wherever that does it, just go for it, you won't regret it. You'll always then be able to claim -

"I'm a Spitfire pilot" :D

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