Spencer Flack's aircraft

[alexis_lambert]

Does anyone know who flew Spencers warbirds? I do know that Ray Hanna test flew G-FIRE and that it was displayed by Spencer, Stefan Karwovski and Mike Searle. I think these 3 were the regular display pilots but i would like to know if there was anyone else. I also know Rod Dean flew the P-51, did he fly any of the others?

[Flying Lawyer]

I don't remember anyone else flying Spencer's warbirds.

Alan Walker flew his Bucker Jungmeister in the early 80's but I'm 99% sure he didn't fly Spencer's warbirds.

Stefan flew the maiden flight of the restored Hunter out of Elstree - quite a feat given the rather marginal runway length! He also the Sea Fury in which Spencer was seriously injured.

Spencer was a lovely chap, always cheerful and equally popular with people on the air display and vintage motor-racing circuits.
I became involved in flying warbirds through Stef - a close friend, good man and one of the best display pilots ever.
Two great guys. What a loss.

Tudor Owen

[Zlin526]

I remember reading that Ken Whitehead flew the Spitfire at one stage. Not sure if he also displayed it.

Z

[Mark22]

Ken ended up owning it or a major share of it.

Mark22

[Fokkerwokker]

Nearly right FL

AW was cleared as a ferry pilot on Spit and Fury before the Waddington incident. Bought Spencer's share of the FW 190 scale replica and campaigned it before climbing into co-pilot's seat of B17 a couple of years later. They did that to try and stop him shooting them down! :cool:

Regds

FW

[Southern Cross]

A couple of years after I moved to England, a chap called Spencer Flack taught me to fly multi engine out of Denham. I had no idea that he had such an interesting aviation history until one day I asked him about all the flying he had done and quite matter-of-factly he mentioned his warbird flying and indeed, eventually, his terrible crash.

He was a terrifically interesting person to meet and it was a pleasure to be instructed by him - he was giving of his time freely - ie I think he was instructing weekends just to pass on a little of his ability and knowledge because he enjoyed doing so.

It was so very sad to hear of his motor racing accident.

[alexis_lambert]

Thanks all.

I have been told that Ken Whitehead headed a group called Classic Displays Ltd and they bought G-FIRE from Spencer.

Flying Lawyer,

Are you by chance the chap i read about afew years ago in Pilot Magazine who used to fly with the Old Flying Machine Company? Do you still do any warbird flying?

[DragonRapide]

I seem to recall Chris Bevan displaying G-FIRE at a overcast Great Warbirds at Malling in about 83. The gloominess of the weather made the strobes in the cannon-ports even more effective. Was Chris Bevan also one of Sally B's pilots?

[treadigraph]

Dunno about the B-17 but Chris Bevan certainly flew Doug Arnold's Spits on occasion, and once his Lightning at the Biggin Air Fair. I recall hearing that he wasn't too impressed with it's airworthyness! It's now back in the US.

Ray Hanna flew G-FIRE at Biggin Hill in '81 and there is a magnificent pic of him rocking the wings at very low level just after take off - canopy is rolled back IIRC. Think he also flew Stephen Grey's P-51D Moose at the same show.

[Flying Lawyer]

alexis
Yes re the article. I haven't done any warbird flying for several years. I still have a share in the Yak I bought with Mark and Ray Hanna, but it's not yet flown since a total rebuild.

DragonRapide
Yes, Chris Bevan was one of Sally B's pilots. He was also one of the group which owned G-FIRE.

[Fokkerwokker]

Over 22 years ago and the 'leetle grey cells' are wanting but certainly:

Adrian Gjertsen - Hunter
Rod Dean - Hunter
Paul Chaplin - Sea Fury
Pete Shepherd - Sea Fury

[Flying Lawyer]

Your 'leetle grey cells' are working better than mine. :)

[Sir George Cayley]

Pete Thorn used to fly G-FIRE

Saw him shoehorn it into Barton once


Sir George Cayley

[kitwe]

Tim Allen did some of the flying on the Hunter, in the early 80s when he was a TP on "A" Squadron at Boscombe.

[DOC.400]

Spencer was an instructor at Denham when I trained there in the early '90's.

At a fun kart meeting at either Heathrow or Uxbridge (memory gone!)I asked him whether he had done any racing before, 'A little' was his modest reply -little did I know at that time he was heavily in to vintage Bentleys!!!

When his students got their PPL, he brought his P51 in to Denham with the fuel tank in the cockpit removed and took them up for a blast. I, sadly, WASN'T, one of his students....I seem to remember the 'plane had strobes on the gun ports so it looked as though it was firing! Could have been silver and blue -again, memory fails me!

DOC