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Brad Pit Buys Spitfire
Money can’t buy happiness, but it sure helps.
"Fury", starring Brad Pitt and Shia LaBeouf, is a World War II drama following the trials of a tank squadron as they infiltrate Nazi territory. The movie's not due out in theaters until November 2014, but the crew has nearly concluded filming and Pitt's congratulated himself for his own hard work by buying an airplane. Since this is Brad Pitt we're talking about, the airplane in question won't just be any old thing; the purchase is in fact a WWII Spitfire flown by the Royal Air Force. The price tag? A cool $3.3 million. In actuality we kind of feel bad for Pitt, as he's got this brand new toy and yet an inability to play with it. You see, Brad has his private pilot's license but no training in these historic aircraft, although rumor is he's working on that right now in Oxford, at the Boultbee Flying Academy. It was actually Angelina who got her license first, in 2004, and even son Maddox has taken lessons. |
Did he get it cheap? Was it a 'Pitt Special'???
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As one of our pilots said to another who rode a superbike: "Do you mind if I take out a whole life policy on you?" :}
Edited to say that I wish him well but please get proper training before having a go. |
As Pitt and the Spit will expire together....it shall be a sad day....Spits are so special and rare, and have so much character and charm.....and you can just stand there and listen to them for hours upon hours and admire them for what they are, where they have been, and what they have done.....quite unlike Pitts of course.
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Who's Brad Spit?
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Why the vitriol? We need high profile people like the Pitts and the Vordermans and the Travoltas to keep GA and warbirds in the public awareness. I've no idea what sort of pilot Brad Pitt is but if he has the nouce that he's shown in his business career I dare say he will approach flying a Spitfire with the same careful analysis as he's shown in his public life. I know it may come as a surprise but these people aren't idiots. Best of luck to him.
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Quite right Dave Wilson, why shouldn't he be able to fly it. How many hours did the average WWII pilot have before bing let loose with a Spitfire.
I am sure Mr. Pitt will have many hours of training before he goes solo i. It, is not as though there are no two seat Spitfires available if you have the money to pay for the training |
Best of luck to him. Maybe he's a Ppruner already?;)
Somebody mention it to him :ok: |
It, is not as though there are no two seat Spitfires available if you have the money to pay for the training |
One hopes Mr Pitt will not be bit by his Spit.
Do we know what mark it is? A delight to fly by all accounts, but not easy to taxi and take off - espec. later marks prone to torque induced yaw and roll IIRC? Was it just the Griffon engined ones that did so? Easy on the throttle and foot on right rudder as experienced pilots like Sir Tim Wallis found out. And as for the `Spitfire bounce' on landing... |
Originally Posted by Dave Wilson
Why the vitriol? We need high profile people like the Pitts and the Vordermans and the Travoltas to keep GA and warbirds in the public awareness. I've no idea what sort of pilot Brad Pitt is but if he has the nouce that he's shown in his business career I dare say he will approach flying a Spitfire with the same careful analysis as he's shown in his public life. I know it may come as a surprise but these people aren't idiots. Best of luck to him.
He has kept up his fast-jet skills courtesy of the USAF & USN, picking up loggable flight-hours in F-16s & F/A-18s (and some left-seat time in a B-1 Lancer). Airport Journals |
That's a great story Green Knight.
You guys are very lucky over there - civilians being allowed to own and fly fast jets. |
No kidding - but I once had Brad and his missus in the back of the cab. They were both delightful pax and took a great interest in our job - in fact Brad sat in the jumpseat for t/o and mrs Brad sat with us for the landing.
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Tartare are you in the UK? If you are (and apologies if you aren't) there are plenty of civilian fast jet owners and pilots here. You just need very deep pockets...:)
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Probably thought it was another kid...
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No Dave - in Orstraylia.
Yes of course, you're quite right - my error. There's a few over here too. And a glorious Hunter that occassionally streaks through NZ skies. I didn't really understand what a blue note was until I heard that sound. Fantastic. |
Maybe Brad can dogfight with Tom Cruise - owner of a Mustang I believe.
Oh - and not the Ford version :ok: |
Tartare the Hunter has not flown for a long while now, got a nice covering of dust here in Tauranga Still looks the part though.
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Sad to hear Ferg.
I imagine it'd be pretty pricey to keep airborne. Saw it knifing across the horizon over the Hauraki Gulf a few years ago. What the hell is that sound? - I thought. Then saw the jet; he was in a steep turn - I was looking directly at the underneath of him. The planform looked like an arrowhead. At first I couldn't work it out - and then realised - holy heck - that is a Hunter. |
and then realised - holy heck - that is a Hunter.
Hunters pop up in the strangest places - we did have some ex-Singaporean ones here in Oz, but I think all grounded now? But 2 years ago I was in California at Pt Mugu, and saw about 3 Hunters there - evidently used for various targeting training or trials. |
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