1000 hrs on Spits

[GeeRam]

Can't be many that have achieved this I would have thought...and still a serving pilot.

Flying Ace Celebrates Career Milestone with Spitfire Ale | Shepherd Neame

Didn't Paul Day pass 1000hrs on Spits before retiring from BBMF....?

[Chris1012]

Well, he certainly has the 'tache for it...

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Paul Day; confirmed - I believe The Major had 2,000 hrs Hunters, 3,000 hrs Phantom, 1,000 hrs Tornado F3 as well as 1,000 hrs on Spits. Those totals may be underestimates.

[Lima Juliet]

Yup, 'Major' Day has more than 1,000hrs spits - he passed that milestone over 10 years ago and he's flown a lot more since!

LJ

[ProSentia]

Charlie Brown: a true gentleman and superb aviator. We'll done, Charlie!

[500N]

Would he be the only current Spit pilot with 1000 hours ?

[Lima Juliet]

And then there is Bill Greenwood in the USA who has over 1000 hours flying his spitfire.

If you want the last fighter pilot to have 1000 hours spits, then it is definately Paul 'Major' Day. Plus Mark and Ray Hanna must have been in and around the 1000hr club before their untimely passing.

If you want the last spitfire ace, then you'd probably have to look at 'Butch' Aikman RCAF.

[Lima Juliet]

500N

Would he be the only current Spit pilot with 1000 hours ?

Define 'current' - Paul Day delivered MJ627 to Duxford about 3 months ago. The aircraft was sold by the deceased owner's estate and so Paul no longer has one to fly. I would suggest that he is still 'current' for now!

LJ

[500N]

Thanks.

I forgot about the US aircraft.

[Lima Juliet]

How could I? I missed out Johnnie Johnson who had over 1400hrs Spits and 38 confirmed victories by the end of WWII. Now that IS an achievement!

Here is Johnnie's final entry...

[NutLoose]

I cannot get my head around this hour counting, fair enough for missions etc, but for simply flying? That baffles me

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Well, on fighters, it's rarely "simply flying".
500 ways to kill yourself every minute. Or not, with a lot of work and not a small amount of luck.

[Hummingfrog]

Well done Charlie

A real gentleman to fly with. I will never forget flying out of Humberside to the rigs when radar informed me that I had an unidentified contact in my 2 O'clock. I couldn't believe my eyes when I identified the contact as a Spitfire. (flown by you)

HF

[AGS Man]

I would hazard a guess that Alex Henshaw holds the record for hours on Spitfires.

[Buster Hyman]

"....Berlin nicely aflame"

I wonder if you could say that now in this PC age we live in?

[Hempy]

I read somewhere once that in WW2 the pilots who gathered the most time on the fighter types were ferry pilots. One female pilot in the States logged over 3000 hours on all types.

[Exascot]

I cannot get my head around this hour counting, fair enough for missions etc, but for simply flying? That baffles me

I agree but we are talking real flying here not sleeping in a bunk whilst a senior 1st officer sits in your seat on autopilot. All my logged hours were at least in the seat apart from popping down the back to chat to SLF or the girlies

[Onceapilot]

Well done Charlie! A considerable milestone you have achieved through skill, courage and hard work! Happy landings!

OAP

[Arclite01]

Why is Charlie not a BBMF pilot - any reason ??

Arc

[Dysonsphere]

I cannot get my head around this hour counting, fair enough for missions etc, but for simply flying? That baffles me

If nothing else its a legal requirment for ANY pilot to track their flying hours, so much so you allow for taxi time as well. and as was pointed out there are many ways to mess up even in a PA28 so unless you have done it don't querry it.