Little trip in a Spitfire - no porsche content!
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Little trip in a Spitfire - no porsche content!
As a man of a certain age I’m trying to finally do those things that I’ve always wanted to do before someone makes them illegal
One of those was to fly in a Spitfire. To most people with petrol in your blood the sound of a Merlin and the sight of a Spitfire/Hurricane/Lancaster is enough to make your remaining hairs stand on end.
As my 50th was a washout due to a variety of shite personal circumstances I took this year as time to treat myself.
So earlier this month I went down to Goodwood and signed any number of disclaimers and watched safety videos about parachutes…
And finally I was sat in the back seat of a Spitfire.
This plane was built as a single seater and was converted after the war (after being rescued from a scrapyard!) to a trainer with dual cockpits.
The rear is an exact replica of the front so don’t touch anything and keep your feet out of the way of the control rods moving under them!
It was all a bit surreal and I kept needing to reality check myself that this was happening
Engine start was as noisy and explosive as you’d hope and finally settled down before we taxied out onto the grass runway, weaving from side to side so the Pilot could see where he was going.
Once the preflight checks were done he gave it everything and we were off. Acceleration was amazing and whilst still low and at full power he banked it left off the end of the runway to avoid going over the Rolls factory and as a bonus buzz the aerodrome cafe
From there we climbed out towards the coast and caught up with a chase plane that my family and friend Glenn were in. We spent about ten minutes in formation for a few photos, literally 3m away with wings almost overlapping.
Then banked away and out over the sea where I was offered the chance to fly it… needless to say I said yes and (under instruction) turned it around and followed the coast line back towards Worthing. At one point when I was banked over the Pilot showed me his hands above his head just to make the point I was in control Not sure who was more scared
I then turned back through 180 again and the Pilot took over to do some aerobatics. Started me off gently with a barrel roll, checked I wasn’t going to vomit, then did another and said did I want to do a full loop?
Stupid question by this point Full throttle climb and then over we went, pulling 3G in the process.
Truly amazing. We then flew back to Goodwood where we needed to circle for a while whilst they cleared the runway but I wasn’t complaining.
Just the most amazing experience I’ve ever had and the customer service and engagement was exceptional from start to finish.
Costly? Yes. Expensive? No. Not when you considered exactly what you are doing and what it takes to keep these planes in the air.
One of those was to fly in a Spitfire. To most people with petrol in your blood the sound of a Merlin and the sight of a Spitfire/Hurricane/Lancaster is enough to make your remaining hairs stand on end.
As my 50th was a washout due to a variety of shite personal circumstances I took this year as time to treat myself.
So earlier this month I went down to Goodwood and signed any number of disclaimers and watched safety videos about parachutes…
And finally I was sat in the back seat of a Spitfire.
This plane was built as a single seater and was converted after the war (after being rescued from a scrapyard!) to a trainer with dual cockpits.
The rear is an exact replica of the front so don’t touch anything and keep your feet out of the way of the control rods moving under them!
It was all a bit surreal and I kept needing to reality check myself that this was happening
Engine start was as noisy and explosive as you’d hope and finally settled down before we taxied out onto the grass runway, weaving from side to side so the Pilot could see where he was going.
Once the preflight checks were done he gave it everything and we were off. Acceleration was amazing and whilst still low and at full power he banked it left off the end of the runway to avoid going over the Rolls factory and as a bonus buzz the aerodrome cafe
From there we climbed out towards the coast and caught up with a chase plane that my family and friend Glenn were in. We spent about ten minutes in formation for a few photos, literally 3m away with wings almost overlapping.
Then banked away and out over the sea where I was offered the chance to fly it… needless to say I said yes and (under instruction) turned it around and followed the coast line back towards Worthing. At one point when I was banked over the Pilot showed me his hands above his head just to make the point I was in control Not sure who was more scared
I then turned back through 180 again and the Pilot took over to do some aerobatics. Started me off gently with a barrel roll, checked I wasn’t going to vomit, then did another and said did I want to do a full loop?
Stupid question by this point Full throttle climb and then over we went, pulling 3G in the process.
Truly amazing. We then flew back to Goodwood where we needed to circle for a while whilst they cleared the runway but I wasn’t complaining.
Just the most amazing experience I’ve ever had and the customer service and engagement was exceptional from start to finish.
Costly? Yes. Expensive? No. Not when you considered exactly what you are doing and what it takes to keep these planes in the air.
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Re: Little trip in a Spitfire - no porsche content!
Bloody fantastic experience!!!
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing
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Re: Little trip in a Spitfire - no porsche content!
Fanbloodytastic Gary.
As the son of WW2 Spitfire Pilot (DFC) - I have been saying I will do this for too long!
Looks the dogs- and just what I need.
I’m going to make some enquiries today!
Well done you!
C
As the son of WW2 Spitfire Pilot (DFC) - I have been saying I will do this for too long!
Looks the dogs- and just what I need.
I’m going to make some enquiries today!
Well done you!
C
Clive
West Cork, Ireland
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West Cork, Ireland
RGruppe #814
1978 SC/1984 3.2 Outlaw -Jaffa 911
1973 914 - on Webers - historic rally car- Tango 914
1977 924 2.0 on Webers street legal race car - Martini 924
Flachbau -in progress
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Re: Little trip in a Spitfire - no porsche content!
Wonderful stuff Gary
1972 911T | 1994 993 Carrera | 1999 986 Boxster | 1990 T25 Camper
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Vintage Heuer, Omega, Zenith and other vintage watches - http://www.heuerheritage.co.uk
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Re: Little trip in a Spitfire - no porsche content!
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Fantastic experience !!
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Fantastic experience !!
.
Andy
“Adding power makes you faster on the straights;
- subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere”
“Adding power makes you faster on the straights;
- subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere”
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Re: Little trip in a Spitfire - no porsche content!
Fantastic. I had also planned to do it for my 50th but Covid cancelled that plan.
I should follow up again.
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I should follow up again.
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Re: Little trip in a Spitfire - no porsche content!
https://www.spitfires.com
Was the company that I used that fly from Goodwood and other places. I don’t live anywhere near Goodwood, but I wanted to fly out over the channel for historical accuracy
Was the company that I used that fly from Goodwood and other places. I don’t live anywhere near Goodwood, but I wanted to fly out over the channel for historical accuracy
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Re: Little trip in a Spitfire - no porsche content!
Wow! I'm envious! Closest I've been to that is on a 'taxi ride' in Just Jane, the Lancaster at East Kirkby (my late uncle flew Lancs out of there with 57 Sqdn). The sound of four Merlins starting up while sat in 'his' seat in the cockpit will live with me for ever.
Congratulations on taking the plunge! What an experience!!
Congratulations on taking the plunge! What an experience!!
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Re: Little trip in a Spitfire - no porsche content!
That is amazing.
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Re: Little trip in a Spitfire - no porsche content!
Truly epic.
Regards
Mike
Regards
Mike
_____________________________
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73 RS (Sold)
67 S
Mint T (Sold)
996 Turbo (Sold)
73 2.4E (home after 25 years) and Sold again
73T targa (signal yellow project)
1953 Vauxhall Velox
914/6
1963 356B
https://www.mybespokeroom.com/
Re: Little trip in a Spitfire - no porsche content!
Wow, just wow!
Can't begin to imagine how amazing this must have been, I'm sure you enjoyed every single second of it
well done mate!
Can't begin to imagine how amazing this must have been, I'm sure you enjoyed every single second of it
well done mate!
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Audi A4 1.8T sport avant
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Re: Little trip in a Spitfire - no porsche content!
What an experience! You don't mention whether you bounced any 110s?
maverick
noun
1. an unorthodox or independent-minded person.
2. an unbranded calf or yearling.
Origin mid 19th century: from the name of Samuel A. Maverick (1803–70), a Texas rancher who did not brand his cattle.
noun
1. an unorthodox or independent-minded person.
2. an unbranded calf or yearling.
Origin mid 19th century: from the name of Samuel A. Maverick (1803–70), a Texas rancher who did not brand his cattle.
Re: Little trip in a Spitfire - no porsche content!
Amazing Gary!! What an experience.
Out of interest what date was this on? I was in West Wittering earlier in the month and saw a Spitfire come over with a more modern plane with it. That being said there did seem to be a Spitfire flying pretty much every day!
Out of interest what date was this on? I was in West Wittering earlier in the month and saw a Spitfire come over with a more modern plane with it. That being said there did seem to be a Spitfire flying pretty much every day!
Last edited by Ollie on Wed Aug 30, 2023 7:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Little trip in a Spitfire - no porsche content!
You’ve got to live the sound of the Merlin engine.
They do experience flights over the Solent, down around the needles, etc. Always gets my sailing students wowing
Jealous as hell, as I’ve frequently seen but never experienced the ride
They do experience flights over the Solent, down around the needles, etc. Always gets my sailing students wowing
Jealous as hell, as I’ve frequently seen but never experienced the ride
'79 Targa - restoration now mainly complete & being driven
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=59756
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=59756