How can I get to fly Spitfires at airshows?

He is indeed Ozjag. He started as a volunteer pilot. I strapped him into the Betty Jane the P-51C a few years ago when he started. A nicer person you would be hard to find.

I was reading an article about the Collings Foundation last year and iirc their chief pilot and instructor on the wings of freedom tour was something like 20 or 21 years old. He’s flying around in a B25, B17 and B24!

Dave Hadfield’s advice is spot on – and from a man that did exactly what you want to do. Hold tight to your dream – if you want it hard enough, and are willing to put the work in, you will get there. Don’t ever let anyone tell you it cant be done.

No PPL?
Don’t worry, you’ll be flying Spits in a couple of weeks! 🙂

Formulate a plan, but be willing to adapt, adjust and deviate as necessary (just like flying).
Good luck!

The very bottom-I don’t own a plane and do not have a PPL. I have had a flying lesson though. Luckily I have plenty of time to work towards becoming a Spitfire pilot!

Okay, but where are you starting from?

I was asking how I could work my way up to fly Spitfires at airshows.

Maybe Spitfires rule could come back on here and explain what he meant.

I’ll concur with the above, get lots of tailwheel time.
Work your way up from Cubs or Tiger Moths to Stearmans and Harvards. In other words, train just like service pilots did in the old days.

If you can meet the academic and physical requirements, joining the RAF would be a good way to get time in high performance aircraft.

Be a pleasant, dependable person.

Get a pilot’s license.

Be a pleasant, dependable person.

Put in couple of hundred hours of tailwheel time.

Be a pleasant, dependable person.

Upgrade to a Commercial license.

Be a pleasant, dependable person.

Join an outfit that flies Spitfires — and sweep floors, take tickets, flip burgers, give talks at schools, talk people through the fence, fund-raise, do paperwork, lead projects, wipe oil off the aeroplanes, wipe oil off the floor, manage passengers, flip props, shovel snow, cut grass, and so on.

Be a pleasant, dependable person.

And then offer to fly anything, anywhere, anytime — and don’t damage it.

Be a pleasant, dependable person.

Good luck SR as Tony says anything can happen a lot of being right place right time is a great help.
Now in my 60s I can think back about the amount of times I wondered if ever I would get to fly like the airshow boys but its a bit like Snooker you need to get in that top 16 and be noticed.
The younger you start into it the better chance of something happening for you, I say good luck and chase that dream.
oh one thing, obviously there are the chances out there with the right wallet size to fly a Spit from the back seat, Biggin, DX, Goodwood etc and that may also help you feel just how it is.

I know a guy who currently flies Spitfires, who started in the game under my tutelage (and others), heaven help him. He did what I didn’t, and good luck to him!

Spitfiresrule, hard work and dedication will get you to where you wish to be. There will likely need to be some luck but there are lots of great aviation jobs out there. Get a ppl, volunteer, become a hangar rat and you could go far….several have! Everyone has to start somewhere. I hope you find aviation as exciting as I did when I was starting out. Have fun. If you can pick thru the guff, there will be some sage advice on this forum. Many of us realise we were not borne experienced or knowledgeable or pilots or other aviation professionals. Develop a thick skin for the ne’er Sayers. An aviation career is made up of small steps along a path.

Whats the saying about Warbirds?How to make a fortune with them?Start out with a larger fortune?

The other way is to acquire a boat load money and just buy your way into it;- You could try one or more of the following
– buy and sell crypto-currency at just the right time
– invent & market something that everyone needs and nobody’s got
– set up a financial or property company
– establish a successful internet company
– set up chain of hotels
– win lottery
– inheritance
– marriage to someone who has done one of the above
And a few others

The use of the plural ‘Spitfires’ leads me to suggest you are indeed mistaken

Of course, he could just be very rich and have a fleet of them

Moggy

Hmm, perhaps Squadron Leader Spitfiresrule?

To answer the question asked then:

The owner selects the pilot to display the aircraft

Moggy

If you are young enough join the Air training Corps or Air Scouts, learn to glide, build hours that way its cheaper than power first and instils skills useful later. Read about aviation skills, find a job that either pays very well or a job where you are working with aircraft. Be keen, build a network,look for scholarships. Read the back issues of the last few years of Aeroplane where they do a regular series on how named pilots got to the point of flying Spitfires or similiar( for example Anna Walker in current issue.)

good luck

Absolutely!! If somebody asks for pilot notes for a passenger flight in a Tutor, thereafter for the costs of PPL , then the average running costs of aTigermoth for one year and finally the entry conditions into the airshow buisiness with a Spitfire this guy must have ambitions for shure. If you can take him serious is an other question.

My understanding is that that Spitfiresrule is at the very earliest stage of his/her flying career, but clearly harbours high ambitions !

It seems best to put forward the most relevant advice/overview to a sincere question , regardless of individual circumstances.