Conveniently-located airfield for type conversion, too! https://www.goodwood.com/experiences/experiences/learn-to-fly-a-spitfire.aspx
When I was VERY young (circa 10) there was an entire Spitfire in a car wrecking yard on the Hume HWY through Liverpool. I use to climb all over it and play with the instruments 20/20 vision would have said I should have got my dad to buy it , would be worth a fortune even as a static display
You definitely should have. I wish I was around in the 50s and 60s (like you. ) They were literally giving away P51s and the like back then. The Spitfire is without doubt the most beautiful thing ever made by a man's hands. (Or, in reality, a woman's) If I was faced with the choice of a drive of any car on the planet (and I mean ANY) or to pilot a Spitfire around for an hour or two, it'd be the Spitfire by the length of the straight.
Anyone been to the Spitfire base at Duxford? Worth the visit? I ran out of time and couldn't get there last time I was in the UK, but thinking of making the effort next time
I was there a month ago. I assume you mean the Imperial War Museum at Duxford. Never seen so many Spitfires together in one place in my life. Not to mention virtually every other cool aircraft ever made (including an SR71). Definitely worth a visit. I could easily spend an entire day there, but only had an hour to spare unfortunately.
Can it be done in Australia? To be honest, I don't mean a "joy-flight". I mean a real pilot's experience. I suspect I'll just have to buy my own for that. Although I have thought of cheekily sending my credentials to the guys in Temora... Hey, someone's got to fly the damn things!
Yes,Imperial War Museum. Was over there 2 years ago and sent the other half and child off shopping whilst I spent a day at the Imperial War Museum in London and then Churchill's war rooms. Both were great. Would highly recommend a visit to the home of the Duke of Wellington in London, just fantastic and overlooked by most tourists Apsley House | British Attractions
Not that I know of but maybe in New Zealand depending on how they feel about your skills, hours and bank balance! You should have a pm by now. Cheers I16
We went to Churchill's War Rooms in August this year. I had heard so many good things about it. Churchill was arguably the greatest leader of the 20th century. I have to say, for me, it was probably the most enjoyable attraction we visited when we were in London. Thoroughly recommend. London Eye was great too. It wheelie was.
...an SR-71 that you can actually get close enough to touch, unlike most other major museums! Matt Hall has offered joy flights in his Mustang before, but I don't think it's a regular thing, and as you say, it's not a proper pilot experience (and, um, also not a Spitfire, obviously). That Goodwood-based company I linked earlier will get you all the way to a Spitfire type rating, though! Only takes a few days IIRC. Probably worth the trip if the cost of the training isn't a major impediment.
Haha! I did actually touch the SR71, and many other iconic aircraft. A Mustang has visited Parafield many times (don't know whom's) and offered very expensive joy-flights, and as cool as that would be, I don't want a joy-flight. Perhaps I'll just save my pennies and go to Goodwood and get a type rating. Definitely bucket-list stuff, that's for sure.
Could not find an "aviation" thread here in the Aussie section, so this is the next best thing. Carry on talking planes gents. **Although I think there actually is a dedicated aviation thread here**
Gratuitous Hornet night afterburner video time: Watch This F/A-18 Hornet Torch The Night Sky With Its Afterburners Gotta say I'm pretty jealous of the sorta-near-Brisbane people with Riverfire and alllll those years of dump'n'burn fun *sniffle* But our Pearce Hawks are still cool!
Hmmm. I see this has re-appeared in a transparent attempt to remove the subject from the F1 thread (fair enough! ) FWIW, I would not vote for the Spitfire XIV as a matter of course. The REAL Spitfires (in my view) were the early ones, up to about the MK IX. MK I, IIA, VA and VB (gun only) versions being my personal favourites, from both a history and aesthetics point of view. Basically it must have the Merlin engine, the NON-bubble canopy, and the non clipped wings to really be correct to me. Having said all of that, I wouldn't say no to the later versions but I'd also consider the P51D in the same breath as the later Spitfires as a beautiful aircraft. But the earlier Spitfires are in a class of one.
Ever heard of a little place called Gallipoli ? That was Winston Churchill. In all the glory of his WW2 leadership people often forget the monumental cluster **** of WW1 that he was responsible for. How many ANZAC lives were pissed up against the wall under his command?
Isn't Lowry Jnr the cheque book behind that operation? I reckon he might be the guy who plays with the toys in that case I bought one of those Haynes manuals on the Spitfire years ago. The running costs are truly astonishing and make owning an America's Cup yacht look affordable. I reckon trading your 355 for a flight wouldn't cover the cost. I was amazed at the expense involved.
+1 he was thrown out of office twice for incompetence. His talent was oratory, not strategy. Also forgotten is his part in sending the cossacks to their slaughter at the hands of Stalin after WW2.
Nice. I was at Duxford in 2012.. great place to visit and wise to send any family/non-enthusiasts elsewhere for the day so you can take it in properly. I'm part way through my licence here and have bookmarked the options at Duxford for future reference.. one can dream.. It's eye watering price to go through their pre-req to get trained but where else can you get such a unique thing? I also note some P-51 Mustang options around the globe too.. Yes he does. If I was the cheque book I'd be keen on full time keys to the fun cupboard too! They have warbirds show on every 2 years.. well worth a look.. last year was fantastic weather and turn up.
I think they have enough stuff in working condition that there are still plenty of people needed to fly them. I remember hearing an interview with someone who flew the Canberra and being very envious indeed. I'll put my name down for the Vampire too, if there's a signup sheet
Every time I hear how great Churchill was I get angry due to the Gallipoli fiasco, they always gloss over his disasters
