O/T Spitfires on Top Gear

In message , John writes

Three in this country, according to a quick gwgl - MJ627, ML407, and PT462, all Mk. 9s; there are a few more two-seaters overseas.

More info on flyable Spitfires here:-

More info on the Top Gear 'fly-in' at

Likewise...

ObSE: Anyone been, or going to, Thurlow/Haverhill rally? - we decided not to go today due to the rain, but if it's dry tomorrow, we might possibly go then.

Andrew,

Just to upset you I have a friend who lives on the edge of Cambridgeshire who has just complained via text how hot and humid it is and would not believe me when I said it was\is raining here in Bedford.

Martin P

In message , campingstoveman writes

It's been very erratic weather-wise over this side of the country today, AFAICS. I worked the amateur radio special event station at Thurlow rally, on 3766 kc/s, not long after lunch, and the operator there said that the ground was still hard, but it had rained a fair bit, and they expected more rain today, but dry weather with some sunshine tomorrow. As I was speaking to him, it was throwing it down in torrents outside my shack window.

A little later, I spoke on 4m to a chap in Harlow, who reported that very heavy rain was falling there; here, the rain had given way to bright sunshine and minimal cloud.

We've decided not to go to Thurlow tomorrow; a pity, but apart from the weather, it's quite a long trog from here, and expensive on fuel, especially as I'm still without an income.

We had two good days at Bamburgh Castle. It rained both days - hard, but not for long & there were stunningly spectacular sunsets on Friday, Saturday & Sunday.

I filmed for the BBC "Coast" series on Sunday & it will be aired next spring.

regards,

Kim Siddorn

I've just watched the TG episode in question. Carolyn Grace's aircraft & another have more or less flat second canopies. I understood that Nick Grace had modified a standard Spit in order to give trips round the bay - was the other similar one also a post-manufacture modification? The other has a rather lumpy bubble canopy - is this too a modification?

I believe that only the Irish Air Force ordered genuine two seaters and none survive of that batch.

Any updates on these matters (including how one goes about getting a flight in one!) would be of great interest.

regards,

Kim Siddorn

There's one based around the North Wales area I think, it's owner has static caravan parks . You could always ask him. But, as a starter, a Mustang or Spit works out at around £1500/hour for the airshow circuit, and I think you buy insurance by the hour.

I would think that you would be better off going to Florida and flying a Mustang their. (Better looking machines than the Spitfire :~)) It's a routine business, my mate flew a Harvard there a few months ago so if you want more info then let me know.

Julian.

Genuine two-seaters have the bumpy second canopy. I'm not sure on the figures but there are several in existence including some ex Irish ones. I believe there is even one being converted to a single seat configuration. The ones with the flatish second canopy would be 'fake' two-seaters converted for the purpose of giving people rides (is there more than one of these?). If you try hard enough with google you ought to be able to find out more. Regards Peter

ISTR that the Grace Spitfire was converted for training duties for the Irish Air Force. The rebuild was featured in a TV documentary many years ago. I still have it on tape.

Fancy flying a Spitfire? Try here

but I don't see how they do it for the price. You may only get 10 minutes or so but what a 10 minutes.

John

Separately, a friend tells me he put his name down five years ago for a flight in Mrs Grace's Spit & recently took up an option. He was cagey about the price, but indicated that £1,500 bought him about twenty minutes - not that he cared at all!

I'm afraid I don't like the look of the "give us £575 & no, you can't come and look at it much less photograph it" and "An info pack is £5.00 please"

Call me cynical if you like ....................

Anyway, with no calendar in view I might be dead first!

John, is there any possibility of a DVD of your tape? I'd happily cover any costs involved.

regards,

Kim Siddorn

...

Converted from what to what, when? Are you sure? Regards Peter

You are buying a share in the plane, that's a very common thing in the aviation world.

If you want to fly it (obviously as a passenger and you'll get to hold the stick and have a little 'go,') then you'll need to pay the syndicate's hourly rate for the thing - about £1500-2000/hour would be a good guess.

Remember that solo flight, take off and landing etc will not be possible unless you have a licence, gained a lot of experience in Harvards etc and do a conversion which will be about the price of a new house! Remember that the RAF suffered more Spitfire accidents and losses due to take off and landing accidents than they did c/o the Me109!

As joint owner of the plane you'll be expected to pay your share of hangarage, insurance, maintenance (scheduled and unscheduled) and all sorts of other incidentals, (like when the engine develops a crack in one of the banks and glycol ends up in the oil!)

Without doubt the States is the place to go if you want a blast around the skies in a warbird, it's much cheaper over there.

Julian.

Yes it made me suspicious as well. They could be bonafide but they don't= come across like that. A time line and pictures of the machine they have= would be a little more convincing, always assuming the machine is more than just an engine and seat...

[snip]

See

You can wander in the hanger and look around their planes, visit the workshop and see the restoration / replica building / rebuilding in progress, chat for as long as you like with knowledgable staff and all for a voluntary contribution in the biscuit tin as you leave the premises.

No flights offered, but then I didn't ask. 8-:

Probably to keep the spotters away. When I was involved with light aviation one of the problems was 'spotters' who would clamber over airfield perimeter fences, 'find' entry to hangars etc etc. The usual problems with 'Pikey' spotters with light fingers etc meant that the safest option was to keep the bsuggers out.

I should point out that the vast majority of spotters are entirely trustworthy - just the standard few rotten apples that spoil it for all.

Julian.

Converted from single seater to twin before it was restored. I can't remember all the details, I've not watched the tape for a few years but it started out as a real WWII fighter and saw active service. I'm sure the details are out there but my time is extremely limited at present so I refuse to get distracted to that extent.

John

OK, I'm a weak willed *****

John

Kim, PM sent.

John

Maybe it's here:

Julian.

Kim,

My Wife, Son And his fiancé have just come back from Duxford , I had to work :-(

They were advertising trips in a Spitfire for between 3 and 5 thousand pounds depending on he length of flight but apparently there was up to a 5 year waiting list!!!

I will check this out first hand on the August Bank holiday weekend as we are staying on a Caravan site a couple of miles away

Pete Aldous