2 Seat Spitfires, Hire?

[paulo]

I have some cash to burn on a treat. A friend of a friend recently hired a spitfire for a film shoot (£daft per hour, but hey), and I began to wonder if any of the (few) two seater owners do hire for P/UT.

Any contacts welcome.

The alternative is a P51, but it's not really quite the same for Brit, in spite of the Merlin up front.

(Alternatively, anyone know where Carolyn Grace drinks? ;) )

[Jhieminga]

Can't help you with a Spit, but I know where you can go for your alternative: Stallion51 (http://www.stallion51.com)

Have fun and post some pictures!

[Stan Evil]

Main problem is the fact that Spits etc are 'Permit to Fly' aircraft. If you want to hire for 'valuable consideration' then you need a Transport (Passenger) C of A and there's no way you'll get one of those. The other side of it is that these aircraft fly very few hours per year and so 2-seater time in the UK is like gold dust.

[Capt. Amazing]

There is a two seater based in Chico, California. I got some nice pictures of it one time. Mind you, that was about seven years ago.

But you might start there. I am sure if you give the FBO a call they will know something about it. Kind of a hard a/c to not know about.

[paulo]

capt - ideally it would be one here, but cheers for the tip

[LowNSlow]

A chap I knew got his wife a ride in the back seat of the then Charles Church 2 seater. He chipped in about 400 GBP (1995) to the fuel bill when it was being ferried to a maintenance base. She couldn't book the stick time but really enjoyed the flight.

[vintage ATCO]

There is an article in the September edition of Pilot of flying in the two seater owned by Anthony Hodgson, based in Wales. I believe this is the ex-Charles Church one. Gives the contact details. . . . If you don't ask . . . . :)

[Spot 4]

The "Welsh" 2-seater is presently in the Battle of Britain M/Fly hangar whilst it is "repaired" in order that the BofB pilots can test fly it when completed. Has been there a little while now.

[michael51]

Wrong 2-seater. The one in the BBMF hanger is the Bayliss T9, MJ627/G-BMSB, not the 'Welsh' one (PT462/G-CTIX, ex-Charles Church, then to USA for a while), which is alive and well. In addition, the mortal remains of PV202/G-TRIX (crashed at Goodwood 2 years ago), now known as 'IAC161' (its Irish Air Corps identity) are being rebuilt to fly at Duxford with Historic Flying, making a total of 4 2-seaters (with Carolyn Grace's ML407/GLFIX) in the UK

[The Inspector]

Spot, the last time I saw MJ627/G-BMSB at Coningsby (June 2002), it had flown and was fully airworthy. Kept there rather than Coventry because the OC, BBMF is the only pilot who flies it (on behalf of the owner). But it doesnt appear outside very often!

[foxmoth]

Was speaking to someone the other day who is involved in a 2 seat Spit rebuild which will be available to fly, will not say more at the moment until I have cleared it with them, but will be a while before it is on line. also from this conversation I understand you can fly Carolines aircraft but there is about a 5 year waiting list, cost is about £1,500 for 45 mins or so - this is NOT confirmed, just a 3rd party discussion.