Did you know that registration to Fighter Control is completely free and brings you lots of added features? Find out more....
Two-seat Spitfire flight
- robstopper
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2017 12:21 pm
- Location: Suffolk
Two-seat Spitfire flight
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
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
-
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2016 5:31 pm
Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight
Wow,
I can feel your excitement from 400 miles aay
Robin
I can feel your excitement from 400 miles aay
Robin
Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight
Excellent stuff and the weather looked perfect. For once Pete looks quite 'normal'!
Well done both on a great lieftime opportunity!
Darren
Well done both on a great lieftime opportunity!
Darren
Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight
Wow, what a great time you guys had! Thanks for posting
Looking forward to hearing the full story next time we meet up Pete. The only Spitfire Pilot in the GRS
Looking forward to hearing the full story next time we meet up Pete. The only Spitfire Pilot in the GRS
GRIM REAPERS SUPPORTER
- robstopper
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2017 12:21 pm
- Location: Suffolk
Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight
If you can find anyway at all of affording it, even on credit card - do it!!! You won't regret it.
- robstopper
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2017 12:21 pm
- Location: Suffolk
Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight
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
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
Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight
How can anyone say Pete ever looks remotely 'normal'
Looks like you kids had a fab day
Well done
Still wouldn't want Pete in the left-hand seat of ANY aircraft I flew in
Paddyboy
Looks like you kids had a fab day
Well done
Still wouldn't want Pete in the left-hand seat of ANY aircraft I flew in
Paddyboy
- robstopper
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2017 12:21 pm
- Location: Suffolk
Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight
"any" seat, I think you meant lol
Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight
There is something about the spitfire that, even just looking at the photos, makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight
No - that's just Pete!
- Herkchaser
- Posts: 1402
- Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2011 3:29 pm
- Location: Ayrshire,Scotland
Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight
Lucky fella and a beautiful aeroplane.
Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight
wow that's something special
Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight
Just seen these pics, after talking to Pete last night
Looks like you guys had a fantastic day
Got to agree... That Pete: normal? No chance
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
Looks like you guys had a fantastic day
Got to agree... That Pete: normal? No chance
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
- robstopper
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2017 12:21 pm
- Location: Suffolk
Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight
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.
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.
-
- Posts: 476
- Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:04 pm
- Location: Have a guess!
Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight
robstopper.
Looks fantastic.
This is still on my Aviation Bucket List'To Do
Pete
Looks fantastic.
This is still on my Aviation Bucket List'To Do
Pete
- robstopper
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2017 12:21 pm
- Location: Suffolk
Re: Two-seat Spitfire flight
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"
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"
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 32 guests