Spitfire Academy

Hi Kenneth
As far as I know, any licence that allows you to fly in the UK is acceptable. There is expected to be a reasonable amount of interest from the US – the chance to fly the Spitfire in her ‘natural’ environment…I think the WW2 experience of thousands of US airmen who came to these shores still resonates across the pond…

Hi Kenneth
As far as I know, any licence that allows you to fly in the UK is acceptable. There is expected to be a reasonable amount of interest from the US – the chance to fly the Spitfire in her ‘natural’ environment…I think the WW2 experience of thousands of US airmen who came to these shores still resonates across the pond…

Kenneth , are you trying to be the King of negative posting here?
Go somewhere else and start a new thread if all you want to do here is bash the CAA and EASA.

The only negative statements in my posts in this thread are in the last one and are neither directed towards the operator, nor the CAA (but EASA, and that I stand by).

The contents of the other posts display enthusiasm and try to reply other posters (re differences in types of approval) with no negative overtones whatsoever.

Please read them more carefully.

Kenneth , are you trying to be the King of negative posting here?
Go somewhere else and start a new thread if all you want to do here is bash the CAA and EASA.

The only negative statements in my posts in this thread are in the last one and are neither directed towards the operator, nor the CAA (but EASA, and that I stand by).

The contents of the other posts display enthusiasm and try to reply other posters (re differences in types of approval) with no negative overtones whatsoever.

Please read them more carefully.

Kenneth , are you trying to be the King of negative posting here?

You should be aware that many hours of behind the scenes work has been put into this project and it is proof of what can be achieved by adults who have a common aim..the safe operation of aircraft in the UK.

Go somewhere else and start a new thread if all you want to do here is bash the CAA and EASA.

Kenneth , are you trying to be the King of negative posting here?

You should be aware that many hours of behind the scenes work has been put into this project and it is proof of what can be achieved by adults who have a common aim..the safe operation of aircraft in the UK.

Go somewhere else and start a new thread if all you want to do here is bash the CAA and EASA.

My view was that if you have no previous experience on similar types, or even have some tailwheel experience, 1 hour on a Tiger Moth, 40 mins on a T6 and 40 mins in the T9 Spitfire will not get you anywhere near a standard where you are an instant ‘Spitfire Pilot’

I guess for those with money to burn, yes, you can tell ya mates down the golf club you’re a ‘Spitfire Pilot’, but until you’ve flown it solo, and slipped the surly bonds, you ain’t anywhere near it..

However, I wish them well.

Since I in an earlier post indicated that I, as a PPL holder, would be very keen on this, let me assure you that in no way am I assuming that I would be able to solo any of these three aircraft on the basis of 1 hour, 40 minute and 40 minutes dual, respectively :rolleyes: And I honestly don’t think you would find any PPL who is of a different opinion. So quite a harsh opinion in my opinion too…

I’m looking forward to the day when the CAA will allow experience rides for all those without Licenses, and I am confident that this will happen in the near future

Absolutely no way that this is going to happen – i.e. be allowed by EASA – before that organisation finally kills off General Aviation (which at the current rate of new ruling is going to happen within the next 15-20 years at the latest).

My view was that if you have no previous experience on similar types, or even have some tailwheel experience, 1 hour on a Tiger Moth, 40 mins on a T6 and 40 mins in the T9 Spitfire will not get you anywhere near a standard where you are an instant ‘Spitfire Pilot’

I guess for those with money to burn, yes, you can tell ya mates down the golf club you’re a ‘Spitfire Pilot’, but until you’ve flown it solo, and slipped the surly bonds, you ain’t anywhere near it..

However, I wish them well.

Since I in an earlier post indicated that I, as a PPL holder, would be very keen on this, let me assure you that in no way am I assuming that I would be able to solo any of these three aircraft on the basis of 1 hour, 40 minute and 40 minutes dual, respectively :rolleyes: And I honestly don’t think you would find any PPL who is of a different opinion. So quite a harsh opinion in my opinion too…

I’m looking forward to the day when the CAA will allow experience rides for all those without Licenses, and I am confident that this will happen in the near future

Absolutely no way that this is going to happen – i.e. be allowed by EASA – before that organisation finally kills off General Aviation (which at the current rate of new ruling is going to happen within the next 15-20 years at the latest).

Well… that would presumably make the operation of NX611 and Sally B much more viable, wouldn’t it?

Well… that would presumably make the operation of NX611 and Sally B much more viable, wouldn’t it?

Dunbar,

I assume you’re involved, and I wish you all the very best with the project. I’m looking forward to the day when the CAA will allow experience rides for all those without Licenses, and I am confident that this will happen in the near future

My own experience is that once you’ve had a taste of R-R Merlin you’ll want some more….:cool:

Dunbar,

I assume you’re involved, and I wish you all the very best with the project. I’m looking forward to the day when the CAA will allow experience rides for all those without Licenses, and I am confident that this will happen in the near future

My own experience is that once you’ve had a taste of R-R Merlin you’ll want some more….:cool:

Hi Ewan

That’s a tad harsh…it is a taster course as described, though solo standard is possible with training. I think there are many people who would derive great satisfaction from getting the Spitfire in the log book and actually flying the aircraft. Once in a lifetime experience? For many, yes. But what an experience…

Instructor only flying below 1000′ for the T6 and Spitfire (taster course). The rest is up to the student…one thing is for sure, anyone who does the course will know what its like to slip those bonds strapped to a merlin and the most iconic aircraft that has ever been built. That memory will live with them and be revived every time they see a Spitfire. Instant Spitfire pilot no, but certainly one of the few who have shared the experience

Cheers

Hi Ewan

That’s a tad harsh…it is a taster course as described, though solo standard is possible with training. I think there are many people who would derive great satisfaction from getting the Spitfire in the log book and actually flying the aircraft. Once in a lifetime experience? For many, yes. But what an experience…

Instructor only flying below 1000′ for the T6 and Spitfire (taster course). The rest is up to the student…one thing is for sure, anyone who does the course will know what its like to slip those bonds strapped to a merlin and the most iconic aircraft that has ever been built. That memory will live with them and be revived every time they see a Spitfire. Instant Spitfire pilot no, but certainly one of the few who have shared the experience

Cheers

Oh yes, it IS perfectly legal and all done with the CAA’s blessing and encouragement. However…….

My view was that if you have no previous experience on similar types, or even have some tailwheel experience, 1 hour on a Tiger Moth, 40 mins on a T6 and 40 mins in the T9 Spitfire will not get you anywhere near a standard where you are an instant ‘Spitfire Pilot’… As a taster, then yes…Maybe hands on during upper air work but not even touching the take off and landing….Hence my query about the insurance angles…. When I was, ahem, getting my bum in warbirds, a minimum of 50 hours P1 in a T6 was required before they would even think of insuring you.

I guess for those with money to burn, yes, you can tell ya mates down the golf club you’re a ‘Spitfire Pilot’, but until you’ve flown it solo, and slipped the surly bonds, you ain’t anywhere near it..

However, I wish them well.

Oh yes, it IS perfectly legal and all done with the CAA’s blessing and encouragement. However…….

My view was that if you have no previous experience on similar types, or even have some tailwheel experience, 1 hour on a Tiger Moth, 40 mins on a T6 and 40 mins in the T9 Spitfire will not get you anywhere near a standard where you are an instant ‘Spitfire Pilot’… As a taster, then yes…Maybe hands on during upper air work but not even touching the take off and landing….Hence my query about the insurance angles…. When I was, ahem, getting my bum in warbirds, a minimum of 50 hours P1 in a T6 was required before they would even think of insuring you.

I guess for those with money to burn, yes, you can tell ya mates down the golf club you’re a ‘Spitfire Pilot’, but until you’ve flown it solo, and slipped the surly bonds, you ain’t anywhere near it..

However, I wish them well.

Spitfire Academy

The Spitfire in question is, of course SM520 (a.k.a. G-ILDA) which was sold at auction at Bonham’s in 2009 for £1.5 million.

Bonham’s auction catalogue for the sale contains a pretty detailled history of SM520, You can see it at: http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/WService=wslive_pub/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=EUR&screen=lotdetailsNoFlash&iSaleItemNo=4233813&iSaleNo=17254&iSaleSectionNo=2

After shelling out £1.5 million for a Spitfire, it is going to take a lot of joyrides…err, sorry, “pilot training” to make back that sum!

Spitfire Academy

The Spitfire in question is, of course SM520 (a.k.a. G-ILDA) which was sold at auction at Bonham’s in 2009 for £1.5 million.

Bonham’s auction catalogue for the sale contains a pretty detailled history of SM520, You can see it at: http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/WService=wslive_pub/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=EUR&screen=lotdetailsNoFlash&iSaleItemNo=4233813&iSaleNo=17254&iSaleSectionNo=2

After shelling out £1.5 million for a Spitfire, it is going to take a lot of joyrides…err, sorry, “pilot training” to make back that sum!

Kenneth – a quick web search on CAA public transport C of A will bring the information you want.

As far as I understand it, commercial training is not subject to the same requirements as commercial transport….