Spitfire accident in France. Pilot OK

[Elroy Blue]

https://www.facebook.com/quoideneufalonguyon/video...

Spitfire accident in France today. Pilot OK

[FourWheelDrift]

That's PS890 a PR Mk XIX.

http://www.touchdown-aviation.com/flying-legends/p...

Very weird, if that was a take off.

[TheRainMaker]

Did well to get out of that OK.

[aeropilot]

Have heard a woman in he crowd was injured by a piece of the prop flying into the crowdline.

[FourWheelDrift]

Here's another view video not on facebook so no irritating login window either.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM3LM4_9FO0

[Simpo Two]

FourWheelDrift said:

Very weird, if that was a take off.

Very silly; should have held the stick back to keep the tail down. Perhaps he forgot he was in a tail dragger.

[FourWheelDrift]

Report - https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=1...

[FourWheelDrift]

The thing that still worries me is he is going straight towards the cameraman and doesn't appear to be far enough away.

[CAPP0]

Simpo Two said:

FourWheelDrift said:

Very weird, if that was a take off.

Very silly; should have held the stick back to keep the tail down. Perhaps he forgot he was in a tail dragger.

With my very very limited experience (about 3 or 4 hours max) of learning in a tail dragger, the video did seem to me that he had the tail up very quickly indeed?

[silverfoxcc]

Has the main spar been buggered?

[Saleen836]

Simpo Two said:

FourWheelDrift said:

Very weird, if that was a take off.

Very silly; should have held the stick back to keep the tail down. Perhaps he forgot he was in a tail dragger.

Apparently the plane swung on take-off and the pilot hit the brakes

[aeropilot]

silverfoxcc said:

Has the main spar been buggered?

Looks very much like it has.

I've now seen it reported elsewhere that its not recommend to operate a 19 off grass, with so little prop tip to ground clearance when level, so, the pilot was clearly taking an uneccessary risk if thats the case.
It also seems that there was no accident/fire coverage at this event, hence the public seen trying to lift the a/c to drag the pilot out, which if he had a neck/spine injury could have done even more damage!!
The fire truck took 30 mins to arrive....!!

[Riley Blue]

Hell's bells, hope pilot and all spectators are OK. From 3:00


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnVAPfCgjxI

[Krikkit]

Weird that you would operate without any backup like that! I know the Spit isn't exactly known for bursting into flames, but still...

I suspect it'll be a while (if ever) until that flies again.

[aeropilot]

Krikkit said:

Weird that you would operate without any backup like that! I know the Spit isn't exactly known for bursting into flames, but still...

I suspect it'll be a while (if ever) until that flies again.

It will be a while, but it will fly again, only needs a new airframe, engine, prop etc.,etc.

All Spitfire airframe structure is 'available off the shelf' so that's not an issue (apart from the cost) and IIRC, this has the ex-Shack Griffon 58 engine conversions, so while the engine has likely been shock loaded, it should be too much of a problem to rebuild/replace.
With no fire etc., this isn't a big deal (money and time aside) to get back in the air again.

[Eric Mc]

I think that this Spitfire had been fitted with a contra-rotating propeller at one point. Maybe this ground contact with the prop might not have happened if it still had been fitted.


I'm sure it will be repaired. Spitfires are worth restoring because of the demand in the marketplace for them. The main thing is nobody was hurt.

[Krikkit]

aeropilot said:

Krikkit said:

I suspect it'll be a while (if ever) until that flies again.

It will be a while, but it will fly again, only needs a new airframe, engine, prop etc.,etc.

All Spitfire airframe structure is 'available off the shelf' so that's not an issue (apart from the cost) and IIRC, this has the ex-Shack Griffon 58 engine conversions, so while the engine has likely been shock loaded, it should be too much of a problem to rebuild/replace.
With no fire etc., this isn't a big deal (money and time aside) to get back in the air again.

Interesting, I would've thought the main spare and major structural bits wouldn't be available, they're obviously worth enough to keep producing/repairing them.

[Eric Mc]

When you consider the wrecks out of which flyable Spitfires have been "restored", yesterday's incident resulted in fairly minor damage.

[bungz]

As far as I know if you have the cash you can petty much build a new spit out of new parts, big big money though!

[aeropilot]

Eric Mc said:

The main thing is nobody was hurt.

Actually two people were hurt.