Flights in a Spitfire

I still prefer the crane with a large piece of bungy attached engine noise and spinning prop a problem already overcome. I am am sure Baz with his skill on photo shop could give us and artists impresion ?. 10% off for you Robert!!:diablo:

Hang on just a minute.

A number of years ago I wrote an article in FlyPast on this EXACT principle, based on papers belonging to my late father, who worked for the civil engineers, Rendal Palmer and Tritton. It was on the subject of concentric launchers, by which the aeroplane ( Spitfire in the artist’s impression ) was whirled round a pylon until it attained flying speed.

It was proposed at a time when the country was awash with nutty ‘war-winning’ schemes- fortunately it was never built.

The article was published in the early 90’s, and the cover of the mag had the silver MATS Constellation (on ground ) against a lot of blue sky. I would find my copy but it is in deep storage.

I was thinking that projecting a sky scene taken from a forward facing video camera together with appropriate engine sounds may give a reasonable impression of flight to someone seated inside a cockpit. You could also shake the wings a bit.:diablo:

I still prefer the crane with a large piece of bungy attached engine noise and spinning prop a problem already overcome. I am am sure Baz with his skill on photo shop could give us and artists impresion ?. 10% off for you Robert!!:diablo:

Hey Baz this gives me an idea, what we need is a big crane, sit the customer in the cockpit hoist him up and swing the crane round and round like a giant control line model, will be just like flying! At 6 to 8 K to fly in the real thing I think we could charge at least £100 a pop. :diablo: you think Im joking dont you???:dev2:

I was thinking that projecting a sky scene taken from a forward facing video camera together with appropriate engine sounds may give a reasonable impression of flight to someone seated inside a cockpit. You could also shake the wings a bit.:diablo:

Hi Sky High

Yes…If operated under an AOC, the a/c must also have a public transport C of A…I’m not sure if there is an AOC operated vintage type, other than the Rapide, though I’m sure someone knows. I know some people were trying to get a Tiger Moth on an AOC but they may have been defeated…commercial reward is the point. Anyone can fly in any aeroplane unless they have to pay for it.

I’m with a lot of you in that I would have no hesitation in getting into a Permit aircraft (used to own one or two) if I knew or knew of the owner…the problem is that the public at large are generally ignorant of such things and should be protected from those who would take their money and not provide the safest experience.

It’s all well and good until something goes wrong.

Chrs

If its not a Spitfire, its only a plane:diablo:

Hey Baz this gives me an idea, what we need is a big crane, sit the customer in the cockpit hoist him up and swing the crane round and round like a giant control line model, will be just like flying! At 6 to 8 K to fly in the real thing I think we could charge at least £100 a pop. :diablo: you think Im joking dont you???:dev2:

And presumably, Dunbar, that would apply to all the other Harvards as well as Stearmans, Tiger Moths and Austers (if any) flown for commercial gain?

Thank you for that immediate clarification – I guess that this difference in certification is key to the whole discussion – and I stand corrected on my ‘just like any other aeroplane’ statement earlier in the thread.

OK, daft question, but.. The Goodwood Harvard belongs to the flying club there and operates as a training aircraft. To fly in it, one books a lesson and obtains temporary membership of the flying club. Thus, a non-passenger carrying aircraft according to CAA rules is able to completely legally convey members of the public for money, as they are NOT passengers but student pilots.

I’m curious – is this a potential model for a two-seat Spit operation? Only hypothetically – I’m not suggesting that anyone does this or should do it in the future!

Hi Beermat,

I operate T-6G Texan G-TEXN from Shoreham, and we do the same as the Goodwood Harvard…but we can only do so because our T6 has a Public Transport Certificate of Airworthiness, something that a Spitfire will never get. It operates under a Permit to Fly. That doesn’t mean that the engineering standards are necessarily lower or the aircraft is less safe. However the CAA have a duty of care to the public and must ensure that flights that can be bought and paid for in interesting ‘warbird’ types are as closely governed as flights that can be bought and paid for in airliners. Hence approved parts only, major/minor mods, requirement for licensed engineers, 50hr checks, annuals, star annuals etc.

Also our flights are trial lessons…the public must have the opportunity to get their hands on the stick, so it must be dual controls, and the pilot has to be an instructor.

Chrs

www.thunderprop.co.uk

Perhaps a trip ” Down-Under ” is warranted ? 😀 My trip was ” AWESOME ” :diablo: Check out, http://www.mustangflights.com/ 25 minutes spent doing aerobatics and shooting up the local beaches, all for A$1500. Geriatric Jet Jockey 🙂

If its not a Spitfire, its only a plane:diablo:

By the same token Classic Flights and numerous other companies listed recently in Flypast and other magazines are able to charge for flights in a range of vintage “training aircraft”.

OK, daft question, but.. The Goodwood Harvard belongs to the flying club there and operates as a training aircraft. To fly in it, one books a lesson and obtains temporary membership of the flying club. Thus, a non-passenger carrying aircraft according to CAA rules is able to completely legally convey members of the public for money, as they are NOT passengers but student pilots.

I’m curious – is this a potential model for a two-seat Spit operation? Only hypothetically – I’m not suggesting that anyone does this or should do it in the future!

I can see the usual CAA finger wagging occuring.
To be clear Kenneth is correct in his post, all private aircraft operated under CAA regs can not offer rides for fare or reward (the same as any private DVLA registered car), it dosen’t matter if it is a Cessna or a Spitfire, it isn’t a historic types only regulation.
You have to be an approved licenced operator to offer paid passenger flights (again like a car – taxis).
Extra guidance is given under the historic types document, but only due to these aircraft not having the usual civilian standard seating and escape systems etc.

I guess this raises the question of can something like a Spitfire ever be operated under the commercial types licence and then offer rides for money?

There is a guy on the WIX who they say gives rides in his two-seat Spit…friends, warbird fans, ill children.

Make friends with him…:D

Spitfire zealots will remember that Bill Greenwood’s Spit had an expensive embrace with a taxying Hurricane a few years ago, and has yet to return to airworthiness, though repairs are ongoing.

On WIX he expressed concerns that the whole Spitfire scene had become so costly that he might stuggle to operate the aeroplane when it is completed.

He did indeed advertise rides ;-

http://www.milehighskyride.com/warbird/warbird.htm

On the same general topic…doesn’t the CWH offer flights in their lancaster?

If so, I’m surprised more UK fans don’t go to other parts of the world to make their flight dreams come true.

Instead of going to Spain, Disney, etc, etc…go have some fun.

Partially covered here http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=102622&highlight=Canadian+Lancaster 🙂

When I went for my Flight in the Chino air museums P51 It was not a paid flight but an Orientation flight given for joining the museum………………………. I think the rules must be similar over ‘ere…………………..

The words LOGIC and CAA do not fit well together, so a rental /hire flight is safer than a free flight?

On the same general topic…doesn’t the CWH offer flights in their lancaster?

If so, I’m surprised more UK fans don’t go to other parts of the world to make their flight dreams come true.

Instead of going to Spain, Disney, etc, etc…go have some fun.

Military Aircraft flights.

Perhaps a trip ” Down-Under ” is warranted ? 😀 My trip was ” AWESOME ” :diablo: Check out, http://www.mustangflights.com/ 25 minutes spent doing aerobatics and shooting up the local beaches, all for A$1500. Geriatric Jet Jockey 🙂

Not based in wales is he ?

Steve

Nope, Colorado.

Not based in wales is he ?

Steve