Spitfire MT818 engine runs

kingsgrphic………..

Interesting to read your reminiscences on HAC at Eastleigh. I hung around there ’62 – ’64 and was fortunate to have a few taxy rides in IDN, down to fuel up. Always attracted a lot of attention from the passengers awaiting the flight to Jersey. Thought I was going to get lucky with a flight on one occasion but John Fairey turned me down!!!

Are you sure it was a Pitts Special? Seem to remember Cosmic Wind G-ARUL “Ballerina” came in through Eastleigh, it too was green and gold.

It was matt-lacquered for the ‘Masterpiece’ display a while back and has had some of the paintwork touched-up during the refurb. The question of the actual scheme has been mentioned a few times as you can imagine but the owner wants to retain the current scheme.

Has it been painted? Looks rather Matt finished than when I saw it last.

It’s taken a while but here’s a short video of one of the engine runs we carried out on MT818

https://youtu.be/LP_mKHKF6lw

It won’t be long now, weighing on Tuesday…

I’m so glad I came across this thread. In about 1956/57 I was one of a few lucky lads (of 9- or 10-years of age at the time) to get to sit in the back seat of G-AIDN when it was owned by Vivian Bellamy at the Hampshire Aero Club at Eastleigh. Happy days, when we could sit out on the unfenced grass and watch the ‘planes, or help push them in and out of the hangar. I also remember the arrival of the Pitts Special, which came over from the USA by sea and was assembled in the HAC hangar. The first flight of that was quite something. I’ve never seen anything quite as exciting as that tiny bi-plane. Metallic green with gold details. Very snazzy.
Tony, still living within sight of Eastleigh. Where you can no-longer sit and watch the ‘planes!

Looks like Ormond Haydon Ballie’s T-33, Sea fury FB11 & a Yak-11

The Yak 11?

Far more interested in what’s in the background of that last pic

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Come on guys. Surely…

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Shamelessly stolen form another thread!

T J

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?29901-2-seat-Spitfire-G-AIDN-race-99-(Zombie-thread-from-2004)&highlight=knebworth

Some good history of MT818 shown here

It’ll be good to see airborne, it’s a wonder TomW hasn’t posted about it. Where are you Tom?:)

First Spitfire I ever sat in,, my mum was dating a Met officer at RAF Andover and the best way to keep the kid out of their hair was down to the hangar with bunches of rags to clean it. MT818 was a frequent flyer over the Houghton area doing aerobatics as Mr. Fairey lived close by, always a treat to watch it. Glad to see it will return to flight soon.

I was wondering what was happening with this one. Thanks for sharing the video!

Definitely nice to see her resurrected. I remember seeing her in the dark blue/silver colours.

Hi All,
I used to deliver Mr whoever Fairey/Davies/Bayliss/Miller ? (I always thought Fairey) his papers when G-AIDN was at Bagington, if memory strikes me right he also owned at the time a pits special, but was always a good tipper at Christmas….:applause:

On 2 July 1969 G-AIDN was noted at Middle Wallop in a dark blue livery with a white horizontal line along the fuselage although by the air show at RNAS Yeovilton on 21 September 1974 the two-seater had been painted in the overall yellow depicted in the model
From 1978 to 1983 G-AIDN was the property of George F. Miller of Baginton and later Dinas Powys and during his ownership the two seat Spitfire was damaged while landing at Baginton on 6 February 1978. The Supermarine trainer was then repainted at RAF St Athan in 1980, emerging as MT818/G-M as pictured below by R. Harrington.

Post amended as the ownership had a 1/2 stake sold and changed hands while at Bagington in the 70’s, I delivered papers during this time frame and joined the RAF 1978 so with that in mind it could have been either Mr Fairey/Mr Davies/Mr Bayliss or Mr Miller taking the above information into account but I do remember the chap having a pits special as well at the time. Either way great news.:applause:

More G-AIDN Photo history. http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/001078500.html

More G-AIDN History :- http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1968/1968%20-%200789.html

Geoff.

This was also the first Spitfire I ever saw in the flesh , must have been in the early 60’s at Eastleigh in the pale blue overall scheme .

What a great place to see your first!

This was also the first Spitfire I ever saw in the flesh , must have been in the early 60’s at Eastleigh in the pale blue overall scheme .

Yes, the original scheme ( one of ) would be a nice choice, but I suppose if it ends up joining the ‘£3,000 whiz-round’ fleet ( not saying it will ) the sales package probably would require warpaint for the authentic ‘Battle of Britain’ atmosphere.

Nice to see this one coming back to life after so long. Thanks for the update.
It was also the first Spitfire I remember seeing flying in a pale blue livery which then changed to a dark(royal?) blue with silver stripes down the fuselage sides.

Roger