My Spitfire Flight

[Dave Homewood]

Apologies to those who may have already seen this on the WONZ Forum a few months back or the Flypast Forum earlier this week. I thought I'd also share here.

Back in March I had the immense pleasure to be invited by Doug Brooker to fly with him in his lovely Supermarine Spitfire Tr. 9. We flew from Ardmore up the Auckland coast to do a short display over the Museum of Transport and Technology, and then back to Ardmore. What an utterly amazing experience it was, simply amazing. I have had the pleasure to meet, interview and get to know a number of kiwi Spitfire pilots who served in WWII, and I have researched many more. I'm also friends with most of the warbirds pilots here in NZ who fly the type these days. But I never ever thought I'd get the privilege to fly in one till Doug sprung that surprise. The experience - the sight of those elliptical wings on each side, the sound of that Merlin up front, the smells of the fumes and the unmistakable Spitfire cockpit smell, and the overall sensations and vibrations make the flight completely unforgettable.

Anyway, I took my camera along and filmed a number of clips to remember the experience by,and I thought maybe some here would like to have a watch as they actually convey the flight pretty well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKZn_RD2U5w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t8FdyPa0ws

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv11Q55MsPo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g0RhTWO3Mw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1_RKRojpwM

If you'd like to have a similar experience, here's Doug's website
http://www.warbird.co.nz/

[Dave Hadfield]

Nothing like it, is there!

Reading about it, taking photos, modeling, computer games -- none of them even remotely approach the reality of the experience.

[Matt Gunsch]

I know the feeling

[L-4Pilot]

[Dave Homewood]

You're so right there Dave, none of the other things compare, it's a mind-altering experience.

[Dave Homewood]

Where and when Matt? Cool you flew with three Mustangs!

[Chris Brame]

Matt, I hope you don't mind if I fix the first two reversed images:

[Matt Gunsch]

I was with Bill Greenwood flying from Kenosha WI to Oshkosh 98 with 5 Mustangs. Weather was DS and we ended up leaving the formation not long after Anders in Val Halla and Musak in Sue Sue II did. We landed and waiting a couple of hours for conditions to improve. We flew the shortest formation on departure with a flight of BT-13s. We took the runway with them and as soon as we were airborne we left them behind.

I didn't notice the pics were flipped, but Sue Sue and Val Halla were off our Right wing. The 51s were in a V with Bill and I in the slot behind the lead.

Last edited by Matt Gunsch on Wed Jul 20, 2016 12:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Dave Homewood]

Wow, fantastic!!

How's Bill's Spitfire these days? Is it still being restored or is it flying again?

[Matt Gunsch]

Last time I talked to Bill repairs were still on going, but he was planning on getting prop blades soon. Ray is going thru and refreshing lots of things while it is down. The engine is coming together with all the major stuff done, just reassembly and test cell runs to do.

Last edited by Matt Gunsch on Wed Jul 20, 2016 12:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Dave Hadfield]

Matt, we have some Spit prop blades we can sell at a discounted rate. Please ask Bill to get in touch with me, or with Vintage Wings of Canada, Paul Tremblay.

[Matt Gunsch]

Dave, PM sent