Alex Henshaw flies a Spitfire today.

Great event and thanks for the nice pics PerfectPic Co. You can almost see the big smile on the face of Alex in that spit! 🙂

J.V.

As I said before, it’s actually Karel Bos in the air-to-air shots with John Romain in the front seat. There were no air-to-airs done with Alex, an unfortunate missed opportunity.

I still can’t believe Daz, as a self-confessed Spitfire fanatic, hasn’t read “Sigh for a Merlin”.
He’ll be telling us next he hasn’t got any of Jeffrey Quill’s books. 🙂

Spitfire – A Test Pilot’s Story! :p

After you have read ‘Flight of the Mew Gull’ and ‘Sigh for a Merlin’, read his latest book ‘Wings across the Great Divide’, another excellent book.

I still can’t believe Daz, as a self-confessed Spitfire fanatic, hasn’t read “Sigh for a Merlin”.
He’ll be telling us next he hasn’t got any of Jeffrey Quill’s books. 🙂

Great event and thanks for the nice pics PerfectPic Co. You can almost see the big smile on the face of Alex in that spit! 🙂

J.V.

superb….our president and a true gent!

Roobarb you are quite correct. Alex flew on the first sortie after which Karel Bos then jumped in for the photo sortie.

That’s funny, the guy in the back seat of IAC161 looks remarkably like Karel Bos, owner of HFL and not very like Alex Henshaw at all. Maybe my eyes deceived me yesterday.

Robbelc –
Alex already has an MBE but in view of his enormous contribution to British aviation in both peace and war I think a knighthood is richly deserved. As to whether he would accept such an honour only he will know. Certainly he is one of my heroes as he must be for countless aviation enthusiasts.
Cheers,
Trapper 69

This guy is a god, both pre and wartime. Weather a MBE or such like would mean much to him is for Alex to decide? But he must be the last prewar pilot withstand a Spit flight? It’s time that people like him were more widely know. Kids today eh! :rolleyes: 😉

. The Hawker Tomtit at Old Warden was one of Alex’ as well. Arrow Active G-ABVE was another

Bruce

G-ABVE was not owned by Alex Hensahw. Alex owned the Mk.1 Arrow Active G-ABIX. He was practising aerobatics in this aircraft on 30 December 1935 when the engine burst into flames and Alex was forced to bale out. Fortunately he was wearing a parachute – for the first time! The Mk.I Active was destroyed in the crash, but Alex survived and wrote about his exploits in Flight of the Mew Gull. I will add to everybody elses recommendations and say that both of his books are well worth a read!

The Mk.II Active G-ABVE was purchased by Desmond Penrose who also owned Percival Mew Gull G-AEXF before they both moved on to new owners at Breighton.

Fergy1

I always wished that the Parkinson show would return to its roots and ….

…. let the Emu back on.

I loathe Parkinson, he’s an insufferably smug and self-satified caricature of the boorish Yorkshireman. He and Freddie Trueman should be stranded on a distant icecap together.

Rant over.

Good on Mr Henshaw!!!!!

Moggy

And don’t forget “Flight of the Mew Gull”. I believe he still holds the South Africa to England record in it from the 1930’s. The Mew Gull still exists of course and flew in formation with a Spitfire at Duxford at one of the recent shows. Great to have these two icons still around.

A fellow by the name of Chalkie Stobbart is planning an attempt to break Alex’s Cape dash record in a modified Van’s RV-6 as and when he gains enough sponsorship. He plans to fly the route in reverse – Capetown to Biggin Hill and back.
Haven’t read Sigh for a Merlin but if it’s as good as Flight of the Mew Gull I may just have to follow in Daz’s footsteps to Waterstone’s!

The Hawker Tomtit at Old Warden was one of Alex’ as well – he used it to fly between his home and Castle Bromwich. Arrow Active G-ABVE was another

Bruce

🙂

Mark

Mew Gull and Spits

And don’t forget “Flight of the Mew Gull”. I believe he still holds the South Africa to England record in it from the 1930’s. The Mew Gull still exists of course and flew in formation with a Spitfire at Duxford at one of the recent shows. Great to have these two icons still around.

Photo on, I believe, airliners.net. Spits were EP120 and TD248, I think.

And don’t forget “Flight of the Mew Gull”. I believe he still holds the South Africa to England record in it from the 1930’s. The Mew Gull still exists of course and flew in formation with a Spitfire at Duxford at one of the recent shows. Great to have these two icons still around.

The article says that Alex last flew a Spitfire 20 years ago – I seem to recall he flew in MJ627 a few years ago. I take it he was just a passenger that time, and not taking control? :confused:

Daz,

You are such an enthusiast of all things Spitfire – and you havent read the best book on it??

Bruce

Guilty! :rolleyes:

However, I will order it from Amazon tonight!