First flight in a Spitfire
As I have explained in a previous post I transferred fro the RAF to the Fleet Air Arm.
I guess my first flight in a Spitfire was much the same as yours. Rather frightening hurtling along the runway with no instructor but things happened so quickly there was no time to worry. For several weeks I was still in the RAF but eventually the transfer came through and I was posted to RNAS Henstridge and practised dummy deck landings. Half a dozen black lines painted across the runway to simulate arrestor wire and a batman guiding you down.
Then came the strangest flight I ever made, a back to front affair Train journey to Ayr where half a dozen of us were allocated Seafires. Flew out to sea and found an Escort Carrier. We all landed successfully and then took off from the carrier. Most unusual that the first flight was a landing and then a take off.
The Spitfire was certainly a wonderful aircraft to fly. I felt that I was part of the aircraft - lean to the left and the aircraft turned left, lean back and the aircraft climbed. One advantage of flying from a carrier was not having to zig zag when taxying. No taxying necessary and no fear of boiling the coolant.
Gordon Davis