One of the few spitfires still in its original paint, i. The makers of the spitfire, supermarine built a demostrator in 1946 with a bubble canopy. Flying a spitfire skirmish the living history magazine. Fly a spitfire biggin hill spitfire flights from biggin hill from only. Under chief engineer dick melton, the aeroplane was rebuilt into a two seat spitfire and utilised the wings from another exisraeli spitfire te517. Fly in a spitfire duxford spitfire flights formation and. We are also the only uk operator of a two seat, dualcontrol, p51 mustang and the worlds only operator of a two seat, dualcontrol, me109. The complete story by and peter arnold, greg davis john sanderson isbn. The supermarine spitfire first flew in 1936 and was the only allied fighter produced throughout world war ii being used until the 1950s. Oct 04, 2018 the boultbee flight academy two seat spitfire sm520 gilda is far from the first of supermarines iconic fighters to grace the runways at leeonsolent. He has now passed and i have always wanted to experience a flight in a wwii fighter.
See our aircraft page to look at some of the spitfires that call biggin hill home. Book a flight experience you will never forget including upgrade options for spitfire formation and tailchase experiences. Ultimate warbird flights are the longest standing supplier of spitfire flights, having been in operation since 1985. Greg davis, john sanderson and peter arnold this is the first book ever published to tell the complete story of the twoseat spitfire. Finding a two seater fighter is not easy but fighter pilot solved the problem. The pilots flying log book which was examined by the aaib started in december 1993. Fly a spitfire over the white cliffs on the south coast of the england, uk. However, supermarine was still able to produce them in great numbers. Airworthy denotes the aircraft currently flying with museums or private owners. Fly a spitfire biggin hill spitfire flights from biggin.
Hi all yes my site on the two seat spitfires is down again i was advised a few weeks ago by my host that he was having take down his site as well as mine. This mark 9 spitfire was originally converted by the vickersarmstrong company, before being sold to the irish air corps. When the last spitfire rolled out in february 1948, a total of 20,351 examples of all variants had been built, including twoseat trainers, with some spitfires remaining in service well into the 1950s. The spitfire was the only british fighter aircraft to be in continuous production before, during, and after the second world war. A highly experienced spitfire pilot will guide you through this unforgettable spitfire flying experience. You could be flying in the two seater gbmsb serial number mj627, code q9g.
Some 22,500 spitfires were built but now only a few dozen are kept in flying condition. Jan 18, 2017 fly a spitfire biggin hill heritage hangar. The stick is amazingly sensitive and yet easy to control. A definitive account that is illustrated throughout.
In twoseat spitfires, greg davis, john sanderson and peter arnold trace the history of this iconic aircraft from its initial design through to those still taking to the skies today. Dads spitfire flight with classic wings from duxford, uk. The manston spitfire experience, manston road, ramsgate 2021. My first wish was a spitfire and if not available a p51 mustang. At the end of the war the spitfire was still a competitive fighter aircraft and several. After being fully restored in the early 1990s, the plane took the skies again and has been gracing air shows across the country ever since. Origins of the two seat spitfire on the into the blue blog. Ix pv202 this spitfire aircraft was built as a single seat lflx fighter at the castle bromwich factory of vickers supermarine in 1944 as part of contract no. The 2 seater spitfires of biggin hill 2019 youtube. Fly beside in formation with a spitfire fighter pilot. Then in 1948, 10 spitfire t mk ixs, were exported to india. Aug 26, 2016 one of the first two seat spitfires to offer the public a chance to experience this incredible ride was ml407 nowadays known as the grace spitfire.
Airworthy 2seat spitfire trainers based outside the uk. Raf veteran hurricane pilot archie mcinnes flies again in the rear seat of our 2 seater spitfire mj627. Heres one of the other two seat spitfires, with what i believe is known as the grace cockpit conversion. We operate two two seat spitfires and both have been converted to the vickers supermarine dual control. This spitfire aircraft was built as a single seat lflx fighter at the castle bromwich. Over 20,000 single seat spitfires were built, with only a few dozen remaining airworthy today. Also attached is a picture of the first blenheim after its crash due to a rich mixture cut during a touch and go. The first recorded flight in a dual seat spitfire was in gtrix on 28 june 1996. Fly a spitfire biggin hill currently has three 2x seater spitfires. Boultbee flight academy offer two seat spitfire flights from only. In 1951, a further six tr9 trainers were converted from the standard mk ix to train pilots for the irish air corps iac seafire fleet.
The production team behind the hollywood blockbuster film dunkirk based three mk. We provide a variety of spitfire experience days from cumbernauld and glasgow, as well as nationwide, including vip spitfire tours, spitfire flights, wing to wing experiences and personal spitfire. Boultbee flight academy two seat spitfire flights from west. With only a few of genuine spitfires still existing, and all our spitfires being kept in pristine condition, this is a truly special experience. Fly in a twoseater spitfire with into the blue pilot. Two seat spitfire flights over the english channel.
Although only 26 were produced, seven still fly, although admittedly one is has been returned to single seat status, and two seat conversions have been added to the number. Later in 1981 this spitfire was moved to old warden where it still wore the code nnd until 1988 when it was coded nna after the chief engineer did further research and made contact with an aviation historian in czechoslavakia who provided copies from the pilots log books that showed that ar501 had been originally coded nna. You can even fly in a 2seater spitfire from raf biggin hill, the most famous battle of britain fighter station, and walk in the footsteps of those brave young men who fought from here in 19391945. The supermarine spitfire is a british singleseat fighter aircraft used by the royal air force. Being a two seat spitfire, it offers you a fantastic opportunity to take family and friends for a flight, or just brag about it down the pub. Apr 18, 2009 the tr mk ix, with the serial number sm250, which was originally a single seater but has been refitted to take a passenger, is one of only seven flying spitfires with two seats. Mar 06, 2015 it was wonderful to have, albeit very briefly a tropical spitfire flying in the uk, a rare sight, not having been seen since the late 40s or early 50s. Twoseat spitfires the complete story the aviation bookshop. Well, spitfires with two seats are incredibly rare. Ted was a commander of a dday landing craft and completed 15 trips onto the beaches initially with troops and then supplies and ammunition.
On 19 september 1964 gaidn was noted at raf gaydon still in its light blue colour scheme with the number 99 emblazoned on its tail. Book an aero legends spitfire flight experience we operate two twoseat spitfires and both have been converted to the vickers supermarine dual control, twoseat design. The remains were sold to upcoming spitfire collector charles church and moved to his workshop in hampshire in july 1984, where a return to flying condition was instigated. Spitfire passenger flights at biggin hill classic warbirds.
Boultbee flight academy has a fleet of owned and managed spitfires. Book a fly with a spitfire experience aero legends. Their two seater spitfires had a double greenhousestyle canopy. A number of mark ixs were converted into two seater training versions designated t9s or alternatively t mk ixs. Operations were still to strafe anything enemy moving on the ground and the squadron. Notably, it was reported that a german bf 109 fighter took a third less time to build than a spitfire aircraft. Fly in a spitfire, mustang or me109 with ultimate warbird flights. Painstakingly restored to airworthiness over a fiveyear period, vickerssupermarine spitfire tr mark ix is british civilianregistered gilda. He did not have a civilian flying instructor rating. One of our 2 seater spitfires mj627 is currently in holland where we were honoured to meet and fly british army veteran ted hunt 99. This particular spitfire is booked all the time, says andrew. The spitfire in question actually saw active duty during the war before being converted into a two seater training plane, it then served in the irish air corps until it was retired in 1960. This is the first two seater mk ix spitfire to be offered at public auction for over twenty years.
The aircraft entered service in august 1940 and during the battle served with 266 and 603 squadrons. As it left biggin hill, another twoseat spitfire took its place mj627. From initial concept through to the examples still gracing our skies today, every known spitfire trainer is fully detailed. The original irish two seater had the second cockpit raised up from the first in a large bubble canopy. Realise the ultimate aviation dream with a flight in the iconic spitfire. The alternative is a p51, but its not really quite the same for brit, in spite of the merlin up front. The history of the supermarine spitfire the spitfire aircraft is a british, single seat fighter plane. Jun 29, 2012 as it turned out this was to be the twin spitfire s moment of glory. Originally designed as a single seat fighter aircraft, some spitfires have been converted to two seaters. This is a discussion group for fans of the two seat spitfires. Fly a spitfire biggin hill raf biggin hill the most famous battle of britain fighter base. Supermarine spitfire the classic british warplane of world. It was one of these that i had the priv ilege of flying in may 2006. Audio recording of spitfire flypast at the 2011 family day at raf halton, buckinghamshire.
I will now be looking into my own site for the type509 spitfire site. Dec 01, 2002 a friend of a friend recently hired a spitfire for a film shoot. The twoseat spitfire page members group has 2,314 members. Supermarine spitfire the legendary supermarine spitfire, probably the most popular british aircraft.
Two seater spitfire flight fly in a spitfire into the blue. This gives you the full spitfire experience with excellent visibility over the famous elliptical wing throughout your spitfire flight. This plane has an amazing log book, having flown numerous ground attack, bomber escort and patrol missions during the war including being credited with the downing of an enemy messerschmitt. Airworthy spitfires around the world flying today military. Sunlive airshows rare two seater star the bays news first. The spitfire has become its own legend, and it continues to be reborn, from history books all over the world and even to the screen in hollywood. Jun 28, 2016 top 10 discontinued airplanes still flying duration. Book your flight with a spitfire and create the most memorable flying experience. I spitfires and a buchon 109 here for a number of weeks during filming.
Spitfire tr 9 one of the notable features of the ranks of flying spitfires is the prominence of the trainer variants. Airworthy spitfires around the world flying today military airshows. A full information pack will be sent to you on receipt of your booking. Our fly in a spitfire experience is a thrilling caa approved ww2 flight experience of a lifetime in a rare twoseater t9 spitfire. We also offer flights in the only twin seat, dual control, p51 mustang and me109 in europe. Trust joined vips at the unveiling of the new aero legends two seater spitfire.
Permission was given for it to be used in the battle of britain film where it was used to train the pilots who were going to be flying the air. During the designs production life, 20,351 were built, including the seafire carrier fighter variant, two seater trainer variant, and many others. There are numerous different experiences available for each aircraft including two seat spitfire passenger flights, spitfire pilot training and spitfire simulator experiences that give non pilots the chance sit in and fly the supermarine spitfire. Nothing in here is to be shared outside this group without permission. With aerial collectives two twoseater spitfires, formation tailchase experiences are also available for two people to enjoy. We operate genuine original two seater spitfires from the biggin hill heritage hangar, at biggin hill airport on kent, uk. Fly in a spitfire duxford spitfire flights formation and tailchase. Enjoy the most thrilling spitfire flights with us in boultbee flight academy.
Resplendent in her invasion stripes, gbmsb serial number mj627, code q9g. The supermarine spitfire is a british singleseat fighter aircraft that was used by the royal air. The aircraft was badly damaged but pilot dan griffith carried out a text book forced landing and. A total of about 93 hours spitfire flying was recorded. There are only a handful of dual seat spitfires still flying, two of them in the uk. On the 4th of august 1952, twin spitfires dove on two mig15s and destroyed them both. It is the only surviving spitfire from the battle of britain still flying and is believed to be the 14th aircraft of the 11,989 built at castle bromwich. It still flies with the battle of britain memorial flight bbmf.
592 362 878 296 849 1392 205 1785 1563 132 1310 686 1203 77 1784 1590 1638 1662 1234 793 844 1096 1774 495 1933 1689 300 1137 1171 1699 1501 1884 227 1694 527 637 1081