My bucket list always had it. To fly a Spitfire. Impossible, of course. “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” Winston Churchill’s soaring words during the Battle of Britain leave a painful edge today. Of 20,351 Spitfires built, fewer than 35 are still flying.
I’d seen a Spitfire but once, its legendary Merlin engine snarling at an airshow over Arnhem. A Kiwi friend told me years ago that Spitfires flew at Warbirds Over Wanaka, the biennial airshow in New Zealand. I scoured their website. Spitfires, yes. Rides, no.
Then The Telegraph published a story about learning to fly a Spitfire.
Learning to fly a Spitfire?
Alex James, a popular figure in Britpop, plays bass guitar for the British rock band Blur. After a rather decadent lifestyle he has settled down with wife and family. He did a bit of song-writing and TV gigs. He also became a renowned cheese-maker. He has been a pilot for 17 years.
This was a double bucket list irony for me. Rock star. Fly a Spitfire. Damn.
The Telegraph published James’ article on Spitfire training in October, 2012 (link below). Boultbee Flight Academy in the UK offers intro and conversion courses. They even have a fighter appreciation course. You scramble with another Spitfire to intercept a Messerschmitt Bf-109.
I didn’t even look up their website. I could never afford that.
So I just watched Alex James’ video in the Spitfire (click on image below). Here’s a guy who once lolled in champagne with the five prettiest groupies in a hotel. Now awed to tears by a World War II fighter airplane. Lucky bastard.
I’m Alex James and I’ve had a pilot license for about 15 years. But I still can’t actually look at a Spitfire without crying.
The most beautiful handling aeroplane I’ve ever flown.
Such an overwhelming head rush of imagery. You’ve got green and pleasant land, and seeing the other Spitfire… I was crying for most of it.
An incredibly well-balanced, beautiful flying machine.
I watched it a lot. Shared it on Facebook.
Fly a Spitfire, pfft. It could never happen to me.
Posted from Singapore
27 November, 2014
Happy Thanksgiving to readers in America
Next week: Already, I Didn’t Want the Day to End
Alex James’ full article in The Telegraph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/9605171/Alex-James-flies-a-Supermarine-Spitfire.html
The video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8AogiF8OOI
Another Spitfire video I enjoyed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iOoiEbtf2w
Boultbee Flight Academy, Spitfire flight training.
http://www.boultbeeflightacademy.co.uk/
.
Never say never. You never know.
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We never know! 🙂
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Wow, Tonet, I think I know where this story is headed. I await next week’s episode with anticipation.
You might not be able to fly a Spitfire at the Warbirds over Wanaka airshow in New Zealand, but you can at the (unrelated, I think) Warbirds operation based at Ardmore in the North Island: http://www.warbird.co.nz/spitfire.htm
Ardmore is only a short drive from Auckland’s international airport. Something for the next time you’re passing through? There’s no rule saying a once-in-a-lifetime experience can’t happen more than once in a lifetime!
Regards,
Andrew
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Haha! Ardmore, huh? Andrew, we need to meet up when I am in Auckland again. The stories are out of this world. And we can talk flying and New Zealand and flying some more, for hours. Beautiful country, great people, so many adventures, so little time! Wait for the next episode… 🙂
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Ha! I recognise the profile of the gent standing on the Spit’s wing.
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A fine gent indeed! Next episode, in a week or so … 🙂
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Look forward to the next installment. My Spitfire worshiping 10 year old was totally enthralled!
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Hi, we’ll get the next story out in 24 hours or so 🙂 I remember being 10 years old!
Despite its title the next story is firmly rated G.
Tonet
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[…] Fly a Spitfire, pfft. It would never happen to me. […]
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Hello Tonet! Long time no see (or hear, text, etc…). Beautiful Spitfire story. You beat me to it. I was planning a short hop to NZ from Sydney to do just that. 🙂 There are many beautiful WWII planes, but if I had to fly only one, before I die, it would be a Spitfire.
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My thoughts exactly. My bucket list is nearing full, Manny. Happy New Year, and Happy Birthday!!
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Yet another unfilled ambition. Dream …
But possibly a wee goof—I think the Japanese Zero went right through WW2 also? In at one end, and out at the other? I have no idea how much the planes were (or not) the same at each end though.
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You’re correct, Argus. The Japanese Zero was in front line service throughout the war. Perhaps Alex James was thinking of the war in Europe, which started in 1939 as the Spitfire was entering service. I’m not sure when the Zero went operational.
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