lucky lucky man

[pistonlager]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11004370

Why is it that TV people get to go in them.
They're civilians.

[davepoth]

It's a civilian spitfire though?

[pistonlager]

Really, I thought that pleasure flights were not allowed due to CAA classification.

[Eric Mc]

It's not a pleasure flight. It was part of Radio 4 Today Programmes coverage of the Battle of Britain 70th Anniversary. Reporters often get rides in warbirds.

[spitfire-ian]

pistonlager said:

Really, I thought that pleasure flights were not allowed due to CAA classification.

They're not allowed to take paying passengers.

[pistonlager]

spitfire-ian said:

pistonlager said:

Really, I thought that pleasure flights were not allowed due to CAA classification.

They're not allowed to take paying passengers.

I wouldn't mind going for free!

[Simpo Two]

Nice gentle report - not much info but far better than some screaming girlie.

[M-J-B]

Interesting to look at the elevators and rudder during that film.

Looks like quite a lot of down elevator and some right rudder, is that what's required to trim a Spit?

[Simpo Two]

M-J-B said:

Looks like quite a lot of down elevator and some right rudder, is that what's required to trim a Spit?

You'd trim with trim tabs. With a passenger in the back making you tail-heavy I imagine you'd need to trim 'down' to keep the nose level. Purely guesswork of course as I've never flown one!

[Eric Mc]

It looks like the 2 seater has been painted up in 1940 markings - presumably for the BoB 70th Anniversary.

Of course, there were no two seat Spitfires in 1940.

[FasterFreddy]

Eric Mc said:

It looks like the 2 seater has been painted up in 1940 markings - presumably for the BoB 70th Anniversary.

Of course, there were no two seat Spitfires in 1940.

No doubt the same aircraft used for the Ewan & Colin McGregor documentary to be shown soon on the BBC.

[Eric Mc]

Perhaps. There are a couple of two seaters flying in the UK - the most filmed ones being that flown by John Romayne (and used by Evan Davies for this morning's report) and the other is the Carolyn Grace Tr9.

The RAF never used two seaters. They were modified by Vickers (usually based on Mk IXs) for export post war.

[pistonlager]

Eric Mc said:

Perhaps. There are a couple of two seaters flying in the UK - the most filmed ones being that flown by John Romayne (and used by Evan Davies for this morning's report) and the other is the Carolyn Grace Tr9.

The RAF never used two seaters. They were modified by Vickers (usually based on Mk IXs) for export post war.

The Grace Spit recently moved to RAF Bentwaters in Suffolk, it used to be a Yank base for the A10 Tank Buster.
Isn't the other 2 seater the Charles Church one that was up for sale earlier in the year.
Can't wait for the BoB flypast at the end of the Duxford show on the 4/5 September check out the IWM website.
Junes' Flypast mag was a good read, a Spitfire Special.... PORN!

[S 8 GRN]

Evan Davis and his blue eye shadow taking to the sky.

I can't look at the guy without a chuckle.

[Eric Mc]

pistonlager said:

Eric Mc said:

Perhaps. There are a couple of two seaters flying in the UK - the most filmed ones being that flown by John Romayne (and used by Evan Davies for this morning's report) and the other is the Carolyn Grace Tr9.

The RAF never used two seaters. They were modified by Vickers (usually based on Mk IXs) for export post war.

The Grace Spit recently moved to RAF Bentwaters in Suffolk, it used to be a Yank base for the A10 Tank Buster.
Isn't the other 2 seater the Charles Church one that was up for sale earlier in the year.
Can't wait for the BoB flypast at the end of the Duxford show on the 4/5 September check out the IWM website.
Junes' Flypast mag was a good read, a Spitfire Special.... PORN!

I visited Bebntwaters in 41987 and received a guided tour of their A-10s (81st Tactical Fighter Wing).

The Romayne Tr9 is ex Irish Air Corps and was painted in its original Irish colours for a while after its rebuild (following a fatal crash in 2000).

[M-J-B]

Simpo Two said:

M-J-B said:

Looks like quite a lot of down elevator and some right rudder, is that what's required to trim a Spit?

You'd trim with trim tabs. With a passenger in the back making you tail-heavy I imagine you'd need to trim 'down' to keep the nose level. Purely guesswork of course as I've never flown one!

Sounds ok apart from the fact the elevator was 'down' therefore pushing the nose down and I would expect some 'up' elevator.

But then I can't fly either!

[pistonlager]

Eric Mc said:

pistonlager said:

Eric Mc said:

Perhaps. There are a couple of two seaters flying in the UK - the most filmed ones being that flown by John Romayne (and used by Evan Davies for this morning's report) and the other is the Carolyn Grace Tr9.

The RAF never used two seaters. They were modified by Vickers (usually based on Mk IXs) for export post war.

The Grace Spit recently moved to RAF Bentwaters in Suffolk, it used to be a Yank base for the A10 Tank Buster.
Isn't the other 2 seater the Charles Church one that was up for sale earlier in the year.
Can't wait for the BoB flypast at the end of the Duxford show on the 4/5 September check out the IWM website.
Junes' Flypast mag was a good read, a Spitfire Special.... PORN!

I visited Bebntwaters in 41987 and received a guided tour of their A-10s (81st Tactical Fighter Wing).

The Romayne Tr9 is ex Irish Air Corps and was painted in its original Irish colours for a while after its rebuild (following a fatal crash in 2000).

You should get a copy of Junes' Flypast, it has a Bentwaters article too and a piece on John Romain and his company and,
a list of all Spitfires today, just had a look, 3 TR9 two seater flying.

I'll never tire of Spitfires, just got to get a job in media.

[Simpo Two]

M-J-B said:

Simpo Two said:

M-J-B said:

Looks like quite a lot of down elevator and some right rudder, is that what's required to trim a Spit?

You'd trim with trim tabs. With a passenger in the back making you tail-heavy I imagine you'd need to trim 'down' to keep the nose level. Purely guesswork of course as I've never flown one!

Sounds ok apart from the fact the elevator was 'down' therefore pushing the nose down and I would expect some 'up' elevator.

You'd push the stick forward a little on take-off to get the tail up - is that what you saw?

Once off the deck you trim for 'hands off' level flight. The interesting part is when you want to raise the undercarriage.



These armchairs are brilliant aren't they!

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 19th August 22:27

[M-J-B]

Simpo Two said:

M-J-B said:

Simpo Two said:

M-J-B said:

Looks like quite a lot of down elevator and some right rudder, is that what's required to trim a Spit?

You'd trim with trim tabs. With a passenger in the back making you tail-heavy I imagine you'd need to trim 'down' to keep the nose level. Purely guesswork of course as I've never flown one!

Sounds ok apart from the fact the elevator was 'down' therefore pushing the nose down and I would expect some 'up' elevator.

You'd push the stick forward a little on take-off to get the tail up - is that what you saw?

Once off the deck you trim for 'hands off' level flight. The interesting part is when you want to raise the undercarriage.



These armchairs are brilliant aren't they!

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 19th August 22:27

The elevator was pushing down in level flight.....

[john_p]

M-J-B said:

Simpo Two said:

M-J-B said:

Looks like quite a lot of down elevator and some right rudder, is that what's required to trim a Spit?

You'd trim with trim tabs. With a passenger in the back making you tail-heavy I imagine you'd need to trim 'down' to keep the nose level. Purely guesswork of course as I've never flown one!

Sounds ok apart from the fact the elevator was 'down' therefore pushing the nose down and I would expect some 'up' elevator.

But then I can't fly either!

If the CoG was further back more down elevator would be required to keep the nose level, wouldn't it?

Anyway it's not an exact science.. the trim could be anywhere based on fuel load, pilot / camera weights, rigging of the aircraft, any patches or repairs done over time, etc