Wow... wonder if they'll ever fly (not certain "again" is even appropriate)

Spitfires to the Sky Freelander 1 TD4 HSE - gone, 2 weeks after the Cat.Converter!
Freelander 2 TD4 SE Auto MY08 - Santorini black

Jolly well hope so.

Tally ho!

My Father was RAF in WW2, I still have some some his flying stuff, logs, helmet, buttons, stitch on wings, photos etc.
Spits, Mosquito's, Hurrys and the good old Catalina were all close to his heart. Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

Saw this news item about a month or so ago. The Brooks guy had not got involved then. More's the pity. They could be worth millions so it will be like bees round a honeypot.

Ex RAF myself, Vulcan Crew Chief. Not done much on Spitfires. (not that old! ) Refuelled the Grace Spit back around '95. (date edited - don't time fly!) 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

Last edited by dunkley201 on 23rd May 2012 10:44 am. Edited 1 time in total

Dunk,
I'm with envy
Wanted to follow in my old man's footsteps but failed the second medical with RAF
Even though I'm fast approaching 60, I still have a deep burning desire to fly.
Almost as if my life isn't complete.
Flight sim is as far as I got. Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

pegleg you can have a spitfire flight in a two seater over dover and the southern cliffs just serch spitfire flight, its not cheap though about £300 quid and i think you get to have a go to  rainy-city
xs

bigalf1961 wrote:

pegleg you can have a spitfire flight in a two seater over dover and the southern cliffs just serch spitfire flight, its not cheap though about £300 quid and i think you get to have a go to

Really Now that's on my birthday list and her Ladyship can treat me. Do you know if an age limit is applied - must do a Google on this one.

Flew Chipmonks at the pilot training school on RAF Newton (very scary Polish instructors) when I was in the CCF at grammar school. Later in the 70's had a half share in a Blanik glider - great fun. Have to say that a flight in a Spitfire would be the ultimate flying experience for me. Her Ladyship hates flying.

Done some checking on this Spitfire Flights.

From my research it is NOT possible as the aircraft is not licensed by the CAA to carry fare paying passengers and neither can the MK9's be modified to do so with all the necessary safety kit. This is also true of the examples in the USA.

What is offered down in Dover is to fly along side a Spitfire in another aeroplane for 30 minutes. No thanks

But I came across a website that introduces you to an owner of a Spitfire in the USA that will take you up as a "guest" in his MK9 and you contribute to half the flying costs. You have to get yourself to Denver first.

Or become a famous TV presenter and the RAF can fix-it-for-you

athelstan wrote:

Flew Chipmonks at the pilot training school on RAF Newton (very scary Polish instructors) when I was in the CCF at grammar school.

Chipmunks were great fun - a civvie one flew over my house 2 days ago and I had a great wave of nostalgia. I could remember the smell of oil, fuel and that old aircraft smell. She was a real b in a crosswind.

I was lucky, 30 years RAF, flew Chipmunks, Jet Provosts, Gnats, Hunters, most Mks of Canberra, Hawks and retired when I stepped out of a Tornado GR4 for the last time. Much better than working for a living.

@ Ben! John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)

Ben
Thanks for correcting my spelling - they were indeed wiffy munks not sanitised monks. I did have ambition to fly with the RAF - failed medical. It was a very bitter day, not because of failing the medical but sibling pride was at stake. My brother (16yrs my senior) did his National Service in the RAF. You didn't have a job - you had a 30yr fantastic (if not sometimes very risky) hobby. Bravo.

Athelstan,
Coincidental we both failed the medical.
I know how you feel, I never got over the dissapointment to this very day  Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

Pegleg
It was after that event that I stopped trying to emulate my big brother (I'm the youngest he's the eldest and we've 5 sisters in between) and I went off to plough my own field's - he's got plenty of his own. With hindsight, being rejected was the start of my independence and adulthood. A very positive outcome.