She look sumptious, well done to all concerned. Hope to see her on the circuit in the not-too distant future!

For comfy and supremely elegant touring, a Percival Gull Six in maroon and silver livery (OK, so I’d buy G-AEZJ)
As a light business/VIP transport to take friends/family around in style, either a VIP-configured Percival Q6 or D.H. Flamingo (probably the latter ‘cos they’re gorgeous) in midnight blue with gold trim.

For sheer thrills, a BAC Lightning F.6 in all-over natural metal, probably in the markings of 23 or 74 squadrons.

I just stumbled across the video for “Learning to fly” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. A feature film it may not be, but it must have been filmed in one of the big US aircraft graveyards (Davis-Monthan?) in the 1980s. Immediately visible were Convair 440s, Grumman Albatross, Lockheed Neptune and Beech 18 (surmounted by Petty and his guitar) Granted, it’s a bit of thread drift, but well worth checking out (the song is pretty damn cool too)

Well, as said already, they have to keep it relatively simple to make good viewing. I am happy to overlook the Bader/Leigh-Mallory **** up and the fact that they didn’t mention [I]every[I] intricacy of the training programme (though wouldn’t it have been lovely to see a Master fly in place of the T-6!) in favour of giving an overall atmosphere. This is television, not a history textbook, and as such it made damn fine television. I actually thought the brothers made conscientious and engaging presenters, and particularly enjoyed their interview of Bob Foster and Geoff Wellum.

It is easy for us enthusiasts to snipe at this niggling fault or that one, but what you have to remember is that we are not the main audience for this sort of programme. If you put yourself in the shoes of an interested layman, this programme would have bought accross much of the general history of the Battle, and something of the experiences of those who flew, without drowning the viewer in complexities. I liked that it didn’t remain absolutely poker-faced: the brothers had a good laugh with the two veterans and the BBMF aircrew, but their respect for the men was obvious, especially at the closing scene at Capel-le-ferne.

That said, I do agree with the balance point: the portrayal of the Germans as dysfunctional, slightly disorganised buffoons was laid on a little heavy, and it wouldv’e been nice to interview a Luftwaffe veteran.

That said, all in all I thought it was cracking TV.

Good luck!

I have to say one of my favourite schemes was that on TE184. Seems like a bolt out of the blue-I have not even seen a picture of this scheme, so perhaps it is newly-applied. Alternatively, perhaps I have just been unobservant! Does anybody know anything about it? It looked to represent a late-war “personalised” scheme for an “ace” or high-ranking officer.

So I don’t get accused of thread drift, I thought TE184 had a slightly too subdued shade of red. My favourite Spitfire scheme on the UK circuit, and the one that “feels most right” to me is BM597.

Yes, I saw that. From where I was sitting R4118 didn’t look (or sound) obviously unwell when landing and taxying back in, so hopefully any fault was minor. Good to see the pilot taking no chances with a large crowd and a very historic aircraft.