Repro "Spitfire" doing aeros north of Newhaven, Sx..
 

Has anyone seen what appeared to be a Spitfire but not with a Merlin or Griffon swooping over southern England this afternoon? Half a dozen miles north of Newhaven - Rodmell or thereabouts in Sussex. Big lazy loops from 500ft to 1500ft (height estimates not reliable).

Maybe this is part of a planned event. If it isn't, he or she may be about to enter the mother of all piles of do-dos.

Appeared to be a Spitfire but not with Merlin or Griffon.....probably a Twister...

Photos: Silence Twister Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

Why is the pilot of an aeroplane flying aeros with a 500ft hard deck, away from a conurbation, in trouble? Lower than I'd be comfortable personally, and possibly a little antisocial, but can't see why this should create a problem legally?

G

Assuming the aircraft was cleared for aeros (the Twister is), and he did not infringe anything, I do not understand what the problem is?

Rod1

I must have got my height estimate wrong. He was a couple of miles away. All I can say is that as he pulled out of the loop, going from 9 o' clock to 8 o' clock to 7 o' clock, he then disappeared behind the trees. I was waiting for a column of smoke before dialing 999. But he didn't re-appear. He may have done a steep turn at around 0 feet and motored to another part of his area. This frightened me plenty until he re-appeared elsewhere.

He was good. He had panache. Only loops. No cuban eights, stall turns, barrel or slow rolls which made me think that this was not a regular display.

I've looked at the Twister on google. It could have been one except he had two cannons halfway along the leading edges. They may have been a "faux" add-on. Phenomenal vertical rate of climb and a deep throaty engine sound.

Two miles away and you could see cannons on the wings? I don't think so.

You're quite right.

But he was covering a lot of sky and a lot of space. When he was near, that feature was clear.

Careful with that axe Eugene:cool:

Aerobatics over Swanborough Farm showed up on SD today.

A spitfire replica without a merlin or griffon....thats like a full English without egg, sausage, or bacon. Pointless.

Is the Mk.26b now cleared for aeros in the UK?

G

http://www.atsb.gov.au/media/4548260...-051_final.pdf stated: “The aircraft was prone to aerodynamically stall with little or no aerodynamic precursors and it was not fitted with a stall warning device, increasing the risk of inadvertent stall.”

I would be surprised.....

I've flown, and stalled, a standard UK version MK.26 - it didn't strike me as lacking adequate aerodynamic stall warning, and the stall was only averagely unpleasant - not unlike a PA38. In the case you've quoted, that aeroplane was on final to land - not an aerobatic manoeuvre. Stall and overstress avoidance in high g manoeuvring rely also upon stick force per g, which is an additional warning.

Apart from which, the Mk.26b is a larger and more powerful aeroplane with, doubtless, subtly different characteristics anyhow.

Also, few overseas aeroplanes gain UK approval without some modification.

So, basically, I'd not read anything into that report with regard to aerobatic approvals in the UK.

G

Hi DL.

Is there a point to this thread, beyond the urge to 'drop someone in it'? :=

The Mk26 Spitfire, if indeed that is what it was, is not, as yet cleared for aerobatics in the UK, although I believe that the other Spitfire scale replica, the Isaacs Spitfire, is.

http://www.lightaircraftassociation....Aerobatics.pdf


MJ:ok:

I note that that list is 4 years old - quite possibly other aircraft have been approved for aeros since.

I do agree with your sentiment - this does just read like a desire to drop somebody in it who was apparently just enjoying some aeros in a quiet spot.

G

The 26b is not cleared for aeros in the UK. The Aussie and USA versions are.

Could it have been this display?

Yes, It works out perfectly.

@Mach Jump.

Because I could see him doing only loops, a manoevre which is as impressive as it is easy (at height) he didn't seem like a fully fledged display pilot.

There are times when a tap on the shoulder, if it can be arranged, can save someone from charging into the ground and ending up in a pool of burning fuel along with some bystanders.

[Tonight - Travel Channel - 10.00pm - "Airshow" ]
.

"There are times when a tap on the shoulder, if it can be arranged, can save someone from charging into the ground and ending up in a pool of burning fuel along with some bystanders. "

But this was not one of them - not even close:ugh:

Rod1