So what aircraft have you been obsessing about today??
Discussion
Irish Air Corps.
No two seat Spitfires were manufactured new. They were all post war conversions, all except one being based on the single seat MkIX. They were all for export - with the customers being Ireland, Holland, India and Egypt.
The RAF never flew TrIXs. Despite this, most restored TrIXs are flying around in spurious RAF markings. Often these markings are the colours worn by the actual aircraft when it was still a single seater.
The two seat Spitfire was designed as a trainer, so giving the instructor a good view was the prime reason why the rear canopy is raised. The two seat Mustangs you see flying today have been modified to carry a passenger, partly to generate revenue as in the US warbirds can carry paying passengers.
Some of the restored two seaters have been fitted with low profile rear canopies which, although not being technically correct, do retain the "look" of the single seater, Carolyn Grace's is a good example -
No two seat Spitfires were manufactured new. They were all post war conversions, all except one being based on the single seat MkIX. They were all for export - with the customers being Ireland, Holland, India and Egypt.
The RAF never flew TrIXs. Despite this, most restored TrIXs are flying around in spurious RAF markings. Often these markings are the colours worn by the actual aircraft when it was still a single seater.
The two seat Spitfire was designed as a trainer, so giving the instructor a good view was the prime reason why the rear canopy is raised. The two seat Mustangs you see flying today have been modified to carry a passenger, partly to generate revenue as in the US warbirds can carry paying passengers.
Some of the restored two seaters have been fitted with low profile rear canopies which, although not being technically correct, do retain the "look" of the single seater, Carolyn Grace's is a good example -
Edited by Eric Mc on Saturday 8th June 14:21
It's not as simple as buying a flight. There's some convoluted CAA rule about the carriage of passengers in warbirds and as I understand it you either win a ride as part of a competition, or as part of a job (i.e. TV documentary presenter). The other way as far as I know is to effectively do a type conversion. This requires you to be an existing pilot, you then train on a Harvard, and finally onto the Spit.
Alternatively, there was 2 seat Spit in Colorado that was easier to access, but it's not exactly over the rolling green hills of England.
I looked into it a few years ago as my Godfather (English, but living in San Fransisco) offered to pay for the both of us to do it if I organised it. I'm not sure if the situation has changed (I doubt it's got any easier since) but I'm sure someone like Eric will come along shortly and give a better, more full explanation.
ETA: It seems that the course is run at Goodwood, still required to be an existing pilot to start with it seems:
http://www.goodwood.co.uk/experiences/experiences/...
Alternatively, there was 2 seat Spit in Colorado that was easier to access, but it's not exactly over the rolling green hills of England.
I looked into it a few years ago as my Godfather (English, but living in San Fransisco) offered to pay for the both of us to do it if I organised it. I'm not sure if the situation has changed (I doubt it's got any easier since) but I'm sure someone like Eric will come along shortly and give a better, more full explanation.
ETA: It seems that the course is run at Goodwood, still required to be an existing pilot to start with it seems:
http://www.goodwood.co.uk/experiences/experiences/...
Edited by Boatbuoy on Saturday 8th June 23:15
Eric Mc said:
The two seat Spitfire was designed as a trainer, so giving the instructor a good view was the prime reason why the rear canopy is raised. The two seat Mustangs you see flying today have been modified to carry a passenger, partly to generate revenue as in the US warbirds can carry paying passengers.
Some of the restored two seaters have been fitted with low profile rear canopies which, although not being technically correct, do retain the "look" of the single seater, Carolyn Grace's is a good example -
It wasn't just the canopy that was raised on those examples, the rear seat was too. The modern two seaters like the Grace Spitfire have the rear seat at almost the same height as the front, making them look better, but not true replicas of the original Spitfire trainers. Having said that, IIRC some exported Spitfire trainers had lowered rear seats too.Some of the restored two seaters have been fitted with low profile rear canopies which, although not being technically correct, do retain the "look" of the single seater, Carolyn Grace's is a good example -
Most of the two seaters today ARE original TrIXs and would,in original two seat guise would have been fitted with the raised rear seat and canopy.
In the mid 1960s, the few airworthy two seaters flying in the UK at the time were given lowered rear canopies so they could be used as camera planes during the filming of "Battle of Britain". They featured in background shots and didn't look too out of place.
The picture I posted of the TrIX in Irish markings had been converted to have the lowered canopy. However, it was involved in a (sadly fatal) accident at Goodwood in 2000 and, during its restoration to airworthy condition, it was decided to restore it to "proper" TrIX configuration. It was also decided to restore it to its original Irish colours.
In more recent years, it has been repainted in Dutch colours.
There was one TrVIII which was kept as a company demonstrator (G-AIDN). It is currently being restored to flight.
The retractable tailwheel is the sign its based on the MkVIII.
In the mid 1960s, the few airworthy two seaters flying in the UK at the time were given lowered rear canopies so they could be used as camera planes during the filming of "Battle of Britain". They featured in background shots and didn't look too out of place.
The picture I posted of the TrIX in Irish markings had been converted to have the lowered canopy. However, it was involved in a (sadly fatal) accident at Goodwood in 2000 and, during its restoration to airworthy condition, it was decided to restore it to "proper" TrIX configuration. It was also decided to restore it to its original Irish colours.
In more recent years, it has been repainted in Dutch colours.
There was one TrVIII which was kept as a company demonstrator (G-AIDN). It is currently being restored to flight.
The retractable tailwheel is the sign its based on the MkVIII.
Boatbuoy said:
It's not as simple as buying a flight. There's some convoluted CAA rule about the carriage of passengers in warbirds and as I understand it you either win a ride as part of a competition, or as part of a job (i.e. TV documentary presenter). The other way as far as I know is to effectively do a type conversion. This requires you to be an existing pilot, you then train on a Harvard, and finally onto the Spit.
Alternatively, there was 2 seat Spit in Colorado that was easier to access, but it's not exactly over the rolling green hills of England.
I looked into it a few years ago as my Godfather (English, but living in San Fransisco) offered to pay for the both of us to do it if I organised it. I'm not sure if the situation has changed (I doubt it's got any easier since) but I'm sure someone like Eric will come along shortly and give a better, more full explanation.
ETA: It seems that the course is run at Goodwood, still required to be an existing pilot to start with it seems:
http://www.goodwood.co.uk/experiences/experiences/...
Thanks for thatAlternatively, there was 2 seat Spit in Colorado that was easier to access, but it's not exactly over the rolling green hills of England.
I looked into it a few years ago as my Godfather (English, but living in San Fransisco) offered to pay for the both of us to do it if I organised it. I'm not sure if the situation has changed (I doubt it's got any easier since) but I'm sure someone like Eric will come along shortly and give a better, more full explanation.
ETA: It seems that the course is run at Goodwood, still required to be an existing pilot to start with it seems:
http://www.goodwood.co.uk/experiences/experiences/...
Edited by Boatbuoy on Saturday 8th June 23:15
although it looks like it may remain a dream. I'll stick to flying the pa28 around and making spitfire noises for the time being.
Having had my first go in a Harvard the other day, I can thoroughly recommend it. The budget won't stretch to a Spit conversion but I will be doing a full Harvard check out at some point in the near future. In the meantime, I'll carry on obsessing about every V12 warbird and the means to finance one.
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