For my birthday my son bought me...............

[John Liddle]

... a flight in a ...........



Spitfire!

Spitfire by John Liddle, on Flickr


What an amazing experience.

[Trev B]

WOW John, lucky you. Hope it was/is a good flight - enjoy

[Daisy M]

Looks a great day for a flight as well, happy birthday also.

[ST-EOS]

WOW John, I got a card

[Farider]

Happy birthday John and enjoy your flight, I’m sure it’ll be a brilliant experience (is there space for a camera?). One of my colleagues where I used to work had a flight and he said it was wonderful.

where are you taking your flight from?

Ian

[John Liddle]

Thanks for the good wishes chaps - birthday was actually in July, but the flights are well booked up ahead, so we went on Thursday the 29th Sept.

Happy birthday John and enjoy your flight, I’m sure it’ll be a brilliant experience (is there space for a camera?). One of my colleagues where I used to work had a flight and he said it was wonderful.

where are you taking your flight from?

Ian

No cameras (or anything else for that matter) allowed in the cockpit - if you drop it, there is no floor so they have to get the screwdrivers out and take the plane apart to retrieve it.

We flew from Duxford with Aerial Collective. They have 2 planes, so my son decided we should take a formation flight - him in one and me in t'other.

I was allowed to do a bit of flying (straight and level and a couple of VERY gentle turns) and the pilot toook me through a couple of barrel rolls and a loop.

I hope it's OK to post the pictures below - they are from the on-board cameras and presumably not Canon.

Flying in formation.

In formation by John Liddle, on Flickr


At the top of the loop

At the top of the loop by John Liddle, on Flickr

[Trev B]

Two great shots John however they were taken. Glad you had a good flight

[Brian Sugden]

Fantastic experience and a brilliant birthday present. I'm just happy if they remember mine!

[Bill53]

Excellent shots John, wonderful birthday pressie and looks like you thoroughly enjoyed the experience - congratulations.

[Farider]

A great trip John and lovely to see your pics

Ian

[Lavenderhill]

WOW, what a fantastic birthday present. great pics and it looks like you had a wonderful time with good weather as well.
Belated happy birthday for July.

What was it like to actually fly the Spitfire?

Rose

[John Liddle]

Thanks Rose.

WOW, what a fantastic birthday present. great pics and it looks like you had a wonderful time with good weather as well.
Belated happy birthday for July.

What was it like to actually fly the Spitfire?

Rose

I was surprised to be told that I would only need 2 fingers on one side of the column and my thumb on the other side to control the aircraft - gently gently is the order of the day (especially for those who have not flown a plane before!).

While making one of my (timid) turns, the pilot requested that I give the aircraft a bit more nose up - I made what I thought was a suitably small movement of the stick and found that we were beginning to point the nose skyward! It really is a most responsive machine - you feel that you are part of it and I can well see how the WW2 pilots loved it.

The pilot I had commutes to Duxford in his own small aircraft and then spends the day flying Spitfires - what a life!

[Colin W]

Excellent! You are very lucky, what a great birthday!