5000 Miles in a Spitfire
Wed Apr 25, 2018 2:16 pm
Hi All,
This is a press release that I'm delighted to be able to send.
Dave
5000 Miles in a Spitfire!
It’s never been done before in the iconic WWII fighter!
This August (2018), the newly-restored Spitfire Mk IX of the Michael Potter Aircraft Collection/Vintage Wings of Canada is flying from its home base of Ottawa/Gatineau, to Comox, BC, and will appear at a number of events. It is the only Spitfire flying in Canada.
Spitfire Pilot Dave Hadfield: “It’s like flying from Lisbon to Moscow, and crossing a mountain range – twice.”
When Mr. Potter took over the stalled project in 2008 in order to create a flying aircraft, he promised to return one day and display the completed, restored, airplane – in all its magnificence. He is excited to be fulfilling that promise!
Departing in mid-July, the Spitfire will spend a week at Airventure in Oshkosh, where it will be center-stage for the themed 100th Anniversary of the RAF. Then it will route through the NW states via Mullen Pass, and arrive in Comox around Aug 03. It will then be the focus of presentations and displays organized by a team led by Mr. Terry Chester, of Comox.
Canada’s highest-scoring surviving fighter pilot, Mr. James “Stocky” Edwards, will be among those featured at Gala Dinners, interviews, “Spitfire Ground-Schools” and many other events. The return flight will begin in late August. The aircraft commemorates Flt. Lt. Arnold “Rosey” Roseland, who flew a Spitfire exactly like this in 1944 with the RCAF – and died in one. His squadron, 442, still exists today, and flies Search and Rescue missions from CFB Comox.
Fingers crossed – a very rare and treasured piece of history will grace the west-coast skies this summer!
Upon its return, the Spitfire will feature in the Ottawa/Gatineau Airshow and the Battle of Britain Flypast on Sept. 15-16, joining the rest of the fighters of the stunning, one-of-a-kind Collection. The aircraft operates with the support of Vintage Wings of Canada, the foundation located at the Spitfire’s home base at the Gatineau airport. It is volunteer-driven, and privately funded.
Trip Leader, and Pilot, Dave Hadfield dave at hadfield.ca
Comox Team Leader, Terry Chester Y2Kspitfire at shaw.ca
Vintage Wings of Canada http://www.vintagewings.ca
This is a press release that I'm delighted to be able to send.
Dave
5000 Miles in a Spitfire!
It’s never been done before in the iconic WWII fighter!
This August (2018), the newly-restored Spitfire Mk IX of the Michael Potter Aircraft Collection/Vintage Wings of Canada is flying from its home base of Ottawa/Gatineau, to Comox, BC, and will appear at a number of events. It is the only Spitfire flying in Canada.
Spitfire Pilot Dave Hadfield: “It’s like flying from Lisbon to Moscow, and crossing a mountain range – twice.”
When Mr. Potter took over the stalled project in 2008 in order to create a flying aircraft, he promised to return one day and display the completed, restored, airplane – in all its magnificence. He is excited to be fulfilling that promise!
Departing in mid-July, the Spitfire will spend a week at Airventure in Oshkosh, where it will be center-stage for the themed 100th Anniversary of the RAF. Then it will route through the NW states via Mullen Pass, and arrive in Comox around Aug 03. It will then be the focus of presentations and displays organized by a team led by Mr. Terry Chester, of Comox.
Canada’s highest-scoring surviving fighter pilot, Mr. James “Stocky” Edwards, will be among those featured at Gala Dinners, interviews, “Spitfire Ground-Schools” and many other events. The return flight will begin in late August. The aircraft commemorates Flt. Lt. Arnold “Rosey” Roseland, who flew a Spitfire exactly like this in 1944 with the RCAF – and died in one. His squadron, 442, still exists today, and flies Search and Rescue missions from CFB Comox.
Fingers crossed – a very rare and treasured piece of history will grace the west-coast skies this summer!
Upon its return, the Spitfire will feature in the Ottawa/Gatineau Airshow and the Battle of Britain Flypast on Sept. 15-16, joining the rest of the fighters of the stunning, one-of-a-kind Collection. The aircraft operates with the support of Vintage Wings of Canada, the foundation located at the Spitfire’s home base at the Gatineau airport. It is volunteer-driven, and privately funded.
Trip Leader, and Pilot, Dave Hadfield dave at hadfield.ca
Comox Team Leader, Terry Chester Y2Kspitfire at shaw.ca
Vintage Wings of Canada http://www.vintagewings.ca
Re: 5000 Miles in a Spitfire
Wed Apr 25, 2018 3:23 pm
That will be great Dave. What an honor to be able to do that. How many stops are planned from Oshkosh to Comex?
Re: 5000 Miles in a Spitfire
Wed Apr 25, 2018 5:32 pm
Great news Dave! Can't wait to see the pics!
Re: 5000 Miles in a Spitfire
Wed Apr 25, 2018 8:02 pm
You know, Dave, nothing says, "Give me the trophy" to the judges at OSH quite like Molson chilled at altitude.
I'm just sayin'...
I'm just sayin'...
Re: 5000 Miles in a Spitfire
Wed Apr 25, 2018 10:07 pm
Brilliant Dan K.! That should sway a few votes.
Re: 5000 Miles in a Spitfire
Thu Apr 26, 2018 8:10 am
Looks like an effective strategy!
We have small bladder tanks in the gun bays, so I may have a 400 mile range if it all feeds correctly. The route will go through the States because it's too hostile to fly North-of-Superior, and there are many more roads and airports in the USA.
There was no one around on Monday, during my first flight, but the owner snapped these:
We have small bladder tanks in the gun bays, so I may have a 400 mile range if it all feeds correctly. The route will go through the States because it's too hostile to fly North-of-Superior, and there are many more roads and airports in the USA.
There was no one around on Monday, during my first flight, but the owner snapped these:
Re: 5000 Miles in a Spitfire
Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:48 am
What a splendid way to spend the summer! Have fun Dave!
Re: 5000 Miles in a Spitfire
Thu Apr 26, 2018 10:12 am
Good for you Dave, I bet you'll have a blast. I look forward to following your travels. 
Re: 5000 Miles in a Spitfire
Thu Apr 26, 2018 11:27 am
Well done Dave, on the first flight and good luck on the trip. I hope it all goes well and look forward to reading about it, if you do a magazine article or whatever.
Re: 5000 Miles in a Spitfire
Mon Apr 30, 2018 1:08 pm
Awesome news, Dave. Please post the schedule of stops when you get it. Especially if you stop in Windsor before crossing the border. My dad will want to see that.
August
August
Re: 5000 Miles in a Spitfire
Tue May 01, 2018 10:36 am
Sounds like an epic adventure. I'm hoping to be at Osh with the camera and media credentials. It would be awesome to put together a photo shoot.
Will
Will
Re: 5000 Miles in a Spitfire
Fri May 04, 2018 11:31 am
All the luck in the world, Dave! What an adventure. Have fun, be safe.
Robbie 
Robbie
Re: 5000 Miles in a Spitfire
Sat May 05, 2018 8:56 am
Thanks for the good wishes!
At OSH we'll have 3 aircraft: the Spit, the Kittyhawk IV, and the DHC-2 Beaver on amphibs. (And the RV6a, of course.)
There is also a very good chance that my brother Chris and I will be playing a concert one night at the Theater In The Woods.
So obviously we have to modify the Spitfire to take a guitar-carrying cargo pod. (The boys are hard at work on it...)
Dave
At OSH we'll have 3 aircraft: the Spit, the Kittyhawk IV, and the DHC-2 Beaver on amphibs. (And the RV6a, of course.)
There is also a very good chance that my brother Chris and I will be playing a concert one night at the Theater In The Woods.
So obviously we have to modify the Spitfire to take a guitar-carrying cargo pod. (The boys are hard at work on it...)
Dave
Re: 5000 Miles in a Spitfire
Sat Sep 01, 2018 5:05 pm
Made it back! Landed back at Gatineau on Thursday, still with the same paint!
It turned out to be more like 6000 miles, with all the doglegs.
I blogged it on FB. Lots of pictures there.
The only real difficulty was the smoke. The NW was burning, for a thousand miles, and I waited for days in Comox and then Spokane.
That Merlin, overhauled at 51 Factory, is a gem. And our team installed systems that were robust and very functional. The aeroplane performed flawlessly.
7 trophies at Oshkosh! A very successful stay on the west coast. Appearances that touched thousands. Even a concert. I'm still on a big High about it.
Dave
It turned out to be more like 6000 miles, with all the doglegs.
I blogged it on FB. Lots of pictures there.
The only real difficulty was the smoke. The NW was burning, for a thousand miles, and I waited for days in Comox and then Spokane.
That Merlin, overhauled at 51 Factory, is a gem. And our team installed systems that were robust and very functional. The aeroplane performed flawlessly.
7 trophies at Oshkosh! A very successful stay on the west coast. Appearances that touched thousands. Even a concert. I'm still on a big High about it.
Dave
Re: 5000 Miles in a Spitfire
Sat Sep 01, 2018 6:01 pm
Congrats on an awesome summer Dave.
Welcome home.
Great to get a chance to see you and the Spit and help out in a tiny way.
Andy
Welcome home.
Great to get a chance to see you and the Spit and help out in a tiny way.
Andy