Hello everyone,
As many of your know, I am the Deputy Editor of Today’s Pilot magazine.
This summer, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Spitfire, my friend and I will be flying a Piper PA-28 Cherokee aeroplane around the UK visiting as many former Spitfire airfields as possible. We are doing this to raise both money and awareness for the Flying Scholarships for the Disabled charity.
This flight, dubbed the Spitfire Dawn to Dusk Challenge, will form an entry into the Pooleys Dawn to Dusk competition, an annual competition judged by a panel led by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.
We have received generous sponsorship from a number of high profile companies and associations and this has enabled us to fund the project and name a date. Our ‘window of opportunity’ is June 26 thru July 7 and we will decide on the exact date after we have reviewed the long range weather forecasts.
Thanks to impeccable support from the staff at Southampton Airport we will be departing the airport (from whence the prototype Spitfire first flew 70 years ago this year) at 04.30. We will then be landing at a variety of former Spitfire airfields before returning to the aircraft’s base at Oxford Airport prior to the deadline of 21.30.
A number of these landings will be ‘flying visits’ (pardon the pun!) but at selected airfields we will be holding press conferences to speak to the regional press and extol the virtues of Flying Scholarships for the Disabled’s charity work.
Although we have received support from a number of organisations we are still reliant on individual sponsorship to raise funds for the charity. The commemorative D2D polo-shirts are being designed by Pride of the Skies will be available to order very soon (with all profits going to the charity) but you can also pledge online at our website.
The site, at http://www.spitfired2dchallenge.co.uk , is updated regularly with progress reports and includes a list of possible ‘target’ airfields, details of the crew, the charity and the Spitfire in general.
Whether you’re interested in sponsoring the flight (as a company or an individual), are involved with an airfield that would like to host us on the journey or can offer help, advice or encouragement of any type we’d be delighted to hear from you.
Thanks for your support
Steve Bridgewater
Deputy Editor – Today’s Pilot
By: Steve Bridgewater - 2nd June 2006 at 13:28
Hi Mark,
I think Aspen will be a little out of range for our Cherokee – although I’m sure Bill would be the perfect host!
Cheers
Steve
By: Corsair166b - 2nd June 2006 at 05:22
I used to fly a PA-28….nice plane…very different from a Cessna….and CERTAILY different from a Spitfire….
Planning on stopping by Aspen where a certain Spitfire flies from?
Mark
By: Steve Bridgewater - 30th May 2006 at 18:20
For purely selfish reasons I can’t make July 9… I’ll be at Leg Ends that weekend!
Mark A – Hornchurch isn’t operational any more, but nearby Damyns Hall uses ‘Hornchurch Radio’ as its call sign – that’s about as near as we can get.
Anyway, lots of progress to report including sponsorship from Lycoming and Bendix King. We’ve also been joined by Shepherd Neame (Spitfire Ale) as a major supporter. They planning a media launch event for late June and have booked Spitfire BM597 to attend. Date and venue TBC though.
The Cherokee we’re using has also been requested for static display at RIAT in July – which is very exciting for us as we’ll have the chance to promote the charity to an even wider audience.
The website – www.spitfired2dchallenge.co.uk – has all the updates and we’re hoping to post the proposed route on there very soon… as soon as I’ve had confirmation from the last few airfields.
Thanks for your support
Steve
By: Michael_Mcr - 28th May 2006 at 18:40
Cant you make it the 9th July ?
If so, you could get hold of a Spitfire and buzz the World Cup final in Berlin – maybe do a few mock straffing runs and some victory rolls….
Would be even better if you could arrange to fighter escort the BBMF Lancaster over there – would be just like old times .. 🙂
That would be a fine celebration of the Spitfires 70th Birthday !!! … 🙂
By: D. Bergstrom - 13th May 2006 at 20:00
Steve,
Best wishes on your flight! Sounds like great fun and a long day……and all for a good cause.
Cheers, Dennis
By: flyingcloggie - 12th May 2006 at 21:38
will it be broadcasted in other country’s as well.
By: Mark A - 12th May 2006 at 19:46
Have you got PPR for Hornchurch?
By: mike currill - 12th May 2006 at 12:46
Agent K-don’t ask me for sympathy the following day.
By: K. Frog - 11th May 2006 at 18:34
A fantastic idea, I seem to remember somebody taking on a similar challenge using a model spitifre, best of luck!!
By: Binbrook 01 - 11th May 2006 at 14:08
All the Best Steve….
Cheers
Tim (Still recovering) Senior.
By: Agent K - 11th May 2006 at 12:41
I’m planning my own Spitfire challenge, I’m gonna see how much Spitfire Ale I can consume within the same dawn to dusk period……….
By: futurshox - 11th May 2006 at 11:16
All sounds like a lot of fun to me. Good luck with it 🙂
By: Andy in West Oz - 11th May 2006 at 02:51
Any chance of a Spit escort for any of the legs?
Cheers mate, have a corker.
Andy
By: Steve Bridgewater - 10th May 2006 at 14:35
Thanks Shaft, will keep an eye open for you in the NCL area – not sure we’d keep up with you for a formation shot though!
Moggy, that sounds like a great challenge, now why didn’t I think of that…
Cheers guys
Steve
By: Steve Bridgewater - 10th May 2006 at 14:31
Thanks guys, maybe we’ll take the stabilisers off for next year…
By: Camlobe - 9th May 2006 at 21:26
Steve, nice one and good luck. A worthy cause.
Pity your tailwheel is at the wrong end though. :p
By: flyingcloggie - 9th May 2006 at 16:51
Its going to be a long day, but for a good cause.
Herman
By: Moggy C - 9th May 2006 at 14:29
Lacks ambition if you ask me.
I’m planning The PA28 Dawn to Dusk where I shall fly a Spitfire around a load of airfields associated with the Cherokee on the 45th anniversary of it entering service.
Now that’s a plan
Moggy
Hmmmm, looks like I may need some sponsorship… and an understanding Spitfire owner. 🙁
By: Shaft - 9th May 2006 at 13:42
Good luck Steve
im with you all the way!
Shaft
By: Squirrel - 9th May 2006 at 13:09
Good luck Steve & team, with the challenge and I’ll be keeping an eye on your web-site for updates.
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May 9, 2006 at 10:26 am