Duxford Sunday 16 May

Here’s a thought… How many of those giving their ‘Expert’ views have ever displayed a Spitfire XIV?? Just interested….(And thats means for real and not on MS Flight sim 2000!!!!!) Can you really judge what is and isnt the correct height? I work in an industry that often requires accurate height estimation, and I find it almost impossible!

Armwaver,

If he was slightly lower than you’d expect at a display (I cannot judge – I wasn’t there) then you must remember he was not at a display. As long as he flew in accordance with the appropriate regulations there should not be a problem.

Whether at a display or not, the Exemption issued to Duxford so that pilots can practice displays only allows them down to their DA authorised height. The CAA very rarely gives lower than 200ft for aerobatic Display Authorisations except to people like Brian Lecomber and the like (i.e aerobatic experts – people who have been doing it for years in aeroplanes that are designed to be flown down to the limit- Extra/Sukhoi etc)). I wasnt there, but if he was lower than 200ft, I’d be interested to see the reaction from both IWM Duxford and the CAA, who give these Exemptions out as a privalege, rather than to any Tom, Dycky or Harry. The last thing the IWM needs right now is another pilot attracting the attention of the locals….even if it is in his own toy!

Robbo,

Stephen Grey’s responsible for his own actions. Just be thankful that you get to see his planes fly.

Every pilot I have known who has hit the ground during a display/display practice has also been responsible for his own actions…Aeroplanes rarely crash without pilot intervention. Note that ‘rarely’ is in italics to cater for structural failures etc..Even that is sometimes pilot-induced. Being a prominent warbird owner does not exempt you from this rule!

Them’s me thoughts just to counter the endless waffle etc..and to provoke the inevitable barrage of more waffle.. :p

Well theres obviously concern ,posts would’nt have been put on here and TFC would.nt have answered if nothing had been said,lets hope all the display pilots read the concerns and take heed, 😮

Well yes, but all those who are “concerned” with the flying weren’t actually there….

That’s my last word on this.

Trumper, my concern was with the undercarriage not the flying.

I think it would be best! My original post was certainly not intended to stir up any hornet’s nest, or castigate Mr Grey’s flying. On the contrary, I thought it beautifully flown and exciting to watch.

Sounds a good idea to me.

I should have said also in my previous post that sometimes a particular comment or statement can be misinterpreted!

Cheers

Paul

Can we just leave it at that? As one of those who started this thread, I’m beginning to wish I’d never mentioned it…… :rolleyes:

Well theres obviously concern ,posts would’nt have been put on here and TFC would.nt have answered if nothing had been said,lets hope all the display pilots read the concerns and take heed, 😮

Can we just leave it at that? As one of those who started this thread, I’m beginning to wish I’d never mentioned it…… :rolleyes:

I think it would be best! My original post was certainly not intended to stir up any hornet’s nest, or castigate Mr Grey’s flying. On the contrary, I thought it beautifully flown and exciting to watch.

Couldn’t agree more DaveB this has been blown out of proportion, bit of a non event really.

When advised of this thread Mr Grey asked me, on his behalf, to apologise if anyone was concerned – he was simply doing a job that needed to be done on a quiet pre season weekend and enjoying himself in the process. He also mentioned that he invariably practices the old safety dictum – “Keep your airspeed up”.

Can we just leave it at that? As one of those who started this thread, I’m beginning to wish I’d never mentioned it…… :rolleyes:

The pull-out from the loops was very gentle with ‘plenty of stick’ to spare. Yes it was a bit low but not exceptionally, certainally nothing like that display in the Yak. The only chance of him coming to harm would have been if there was a catastrophic failure, not much different than if he had been flying straight and level.

Stephen Grey’s responsible for his own actions. Just be thankful that you get to see his planes fly.

Rob

YEP Till theres a big prang and another “lets ground these old antiques ” brigade get more ammo, then we may NOT see any more planes flying.Of course that goes without saying the personal lose of life and mourning families that are left behind.

It sounds to me that the flight did not occur over the airfield but to the north, if that’s where the aircraft are usually seen to be warming up then my guess it’s at least a mile away if not more.

Both. Initially the aircraft departed to the north and could be seen holding some distance off doing aeros at a height of a few thousand. After about 5 minutes, it entered the circuit from the west and performed a low level display along the display datum mainly composed of loops and half cuban style manoevers. It then pulled up and cleared to the north again while other movements took place and then returned for a second set of low level aeros over the display datum. This was again looping manouvers but also wing overs and passes along the display line including a very nicely flown curving knife edge pass.

It sounds to me that the flight did not occur over the airfield but to the north, if that’s where the aircraft are usually seen to be warming up then my guess it’s at least a mile away if not more.

Given that we’re all working on either second hand information or that of casual bystanders (ie myself), I think we should not be too quick to castigate the actions of a pilot whose experience and professionalism is second to none. It would be interesting to see any video or photos taken of Sunday’s flight, but in the absence of that, we should refrain from uninformed criticism of Mr Grey.

Yep, it’s not uncommon for to exaggerate at times. :rolleyes:

Cheers

Paul

Given that we’re all working on either second hand information or that of casual bystanders (ie myself), I think we should not be too quick to castigate the actions of a pilot whose experience and professionalism is second to none. It would be interesting to see any video or photos taken of Sunday’s flight, but in the absence of that, we should refrain from uninformed criticism of Mr Grey.

Many thanks for the information TFC and good to see you post here.

I would have loved to have seen the Spit fly at full power. Must have been awesome!

As for the display practice, I agree with Arm Waver.

I think Mr Grey knows what he was doing! 😉

Anyway, very much looking forward to this years Legends. 🙂

Cheers

Paul

I’d like to thank TFC for posting an official response to what has been said. I would think that if at any time Mr. Grey was unhappy with manoeuvere and had pulled out later than he deemed safe or was not comfortable with, he’d have stopped the practice and perhaps taken a few moments to reassess what the action.

If he was slightly lower than you’d expect at a display (I cannot judge – I wasn’t there) then you must remember he was not at a display. As long as he flew in accordance with the appropriate regulations there should not be a problem.

Just my view
OAW

DaveB – Correct, I wasn’t there. But some of the comments posted by those who were, suggest the aeroplane descended out of sight to a height which made people nervous.

WebPilot stated “I lost sight of the aircraft behind the T2 as it bottomed and I notice that he had put on some bank as if to extend the bottom of the loop.

Fair made my day though. I havn’t had my heart in my mouth watching a display for many years”

… which is where I was coming from in my comment about us being consistent in our views on high energy, low altitude exits.

Regards,

Steve

Nice work TFC, bring on Legends! Can’t wait any longer!!!! 😀

Typo

Sorry, but I made an error in the previous post.
Please note the power settings should have read 2550rpm and NOT 2250rpm.

Steve ,i agree with you 100%,if the Yak pilot was an idiot for his manouvre and Mr Grey did the same thing in his Spitfire then he is also an idiot,i was’nt there to see it so not really fair for me to judge ,unless someone can post some photos or footage.
If Mr Grey can look himself and others square in the face and say he was in total command 100% of the time then i have to assume he is correct ,but i would like to see the manouvres being pulled out abit higher so we don’t have that horrible heart stopping moment and end up shaking. 🙂