Spitfire flights, anybody?
 

Would anyone out there have any idea where a flight in a Spitfire could be arranged, preferably in the UK?

I'm trying to sort out this 'trip of a lifetime' as a 60th birthday present for my father, but everybody I've asked seems to agree that it's an impossibility.

I was convinced that there used to be a place in Florida that had a 2-seater in which Joe Public could buy a flight, but the details seem to have been 'cosmically radiated.' Pesky sunshine!

Anyway, thanks in advance for any nuggets of info you can give me.

Carolyn Grace used to do them, sorry don't have much more info than that. Duxford would be the place to start.

Gunner,

Having flown out of Filton aerodrome in Bristol I know that they keep a number flying spits there. As to whether you can pay for a go in one of them is another matter.

I've had a look at the website, http://www.bristolfilton.co.uk and couldn't find anything...maybe someone else can do better.

Good luck,

SB22

I think I've seen them at Kissimee in Florida.

Y_B

The Grace Spitfire is the only one I know doing that sort of thing, from Duxford as previously said.

Last I heard it was about £800 and a two year wait.

Gunner

Does it have to be a Spitfire? I can think of other warbirds flying that would be easier to get him into. Duxford is the Mecca for that kind of thing although the Royal Naval Historic Flight at Yeovilton will allow you to "buy" a back seat in a Fairey Swordfish for a wad of cash. Wind in your hair, leather helmet, Irvine jacket, picture with a Lewis gun in your hand......much more fun than a Spitfire ride. (I know, I used to fly them).

I think you will find all the info you need on Spits at http://www.wcmr.com/tnine/ or at any of the many links from this page. It also comes complete with that magic merlin sound.

Thanks everyone, I'll let you know if I have any luck.

Cheers

Got a bloke from work who wants to do the same thing. Is there any more 2 seaters about after that incident at goodwood..???

Here is a (current???) list of airworthy Spits in the UK; I guess any of the T9s would be suitable, although it will be up to you to make arrangements with the owner.

P.S. Here is the link for the two-seater (TF-51) Mustang in Florida. It doesn't say how much it costs, but they do offer flight training, as well as joy rides (who wouldn't like to have a P-51 type rating!).

I suspect the Grace Spitfire may not be available presently.

However there was a post here a while ago about a prize of a ride in a 2-seater at the Isle of Man:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...threadid=91036

I believe its run by the Southern Comfort flying group

I think there's a guy operating a two seat Spit out of a field in North Wales, who offers/sells rides.

I met him and the spit recently when he flew into Sleap (EGCV) to conduct a number of joyrides from there. Now comes the painful bit, I think he was quoting £1,500 per half hour trip.

He and the aircraft were featured recently in Pilot, where all the contact info was included.

Hope that helps.

That link to the list above is not up-to-date.

I did contact the fella in North Wales but he wants too much cash for what I had in mind, a pprune discount was what I was hoping for...!!! :{

As Mark1 said, I'm afraid Carolyn's Spit isn't very well at the moment. A serious amount of very expensive work going on at currently.

Check out the Grace Spitfire website at

www.ml407.co.uk

for a contact address. If you write explaining what you want, Carolyn will send you an application form.

The cost being mentioned here is about right, as is the waiting time, though older people do tend to get their turn faster! Also an advantage if you can fly at short notice.

The engine is out at the moment, but from what I understand the spare is now ready and will be fitted once some other routine work is done now that there is access to the engine bay.

It should be ready for next season.

RD

Can't think of her name at present, however, the lady down at Westernport Airfield, Tyabb, Victoria - south of Melbourne, has a two seat Mustang in her collection and prices seemed "reasonable" earlier this year.

I think she has a website under "the old aeroplane company" title.

She also has a Trojan and Harvard and there were some very interesting planes down there.

A Word of Warning

I made arrangements to fly one in Florida, flew all the way out there, stayed in a hotel, turned up and they said "we have sold it and therefore the insurance is invalid."

Not a word of apology.

W

Old Aeroplane Company
 

I don't think that The Old Aeroplane Company has a website of its own, but some limited information (including telephone number) is available here.

Gunner, its up to you but the Spitfire T9 out of North Wales can be contacted via Phil Winterbottom, C\O Browns Holiday Park, Towyn Road, Towyn, Conwy, North Wales LL22 9HD. The flights are generally made out of Sleap Aerodrome in Shropshire.

Lets face facts here - it aint going to be cheap. As disscussed eleswhere on pprune to operate a serious warbird in this country is expensive. Most Spit operators will arrive at a cost of around £2500 - £3000 per hour based on annual costs against number of hours flown. The owner\pilot has some 150 hrs on Spitfires now so is proberbly one of the most experianced Spit pilots around.

Can't comment on the costs quoted but I think you'll find the phrase used is 'contrabution and donation'. Best if you contact them yourself and discuss what you want to do. I believe they operate a fairly short waiting list but the last time I spoke to them they had received quite a few referals from people who had known people who had enjoyed a flight with them so cant to to bad.

Not wishing to appear a party pooper, but I would check the legalities of paying for a flight in a aircraft such as a Spitfire operated on a UK Permit to Fly before I fly.