Only Flying Mk. 11 Spit

sdennison · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2010 7:37 pm

http://www.flyingmachinestv.co.uk/SpitPL965.wmv

Probably old news. Move or delete if you like.

Ethan · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:59 pm

cool

JDK · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:02 pm

Good spot. We sometimes get the filmmaker posing here, and there's at least one WIX poster in the footage.

JDK · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2010 10:01 pm

Incidentally, as the rollout credits say, the opening shots on the ground and taxi were taken at IWM Duxford, the take-off and ground shot seen in the display sequence is the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden - and I think I spot another WIX poster in high viz and drainpipe ensemble at OW!

Very nice bit of footage.

CrewDawg · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2010 10:49 pm

I can never get enough of watching a Spitfire grace the skys over Duxford (or Old Warden)! Spitfires are my all time favorite fighter!

Thanks for posting that!

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2010 10:51 pm

I hope this stays on the main page. It is a nice display flown in an historic airplane and with a lovely sound.
I have a couple of questions or thoughts.
First, the pilot says it is the only flying Mk XI. I know I saw one fly in Florida. It was at Sun N Fun, we flew some formation together for a photo plane, and the pilot, Tony ? , put on a fine acro show at Leward Air Ranch in it, and then in his Buecker, sp? It was a shade of pink then. I heard that it went back to England. The owner in the video gives a history, but does not mention Florida. So unless this is the same plane, there is or was more than one flying.
Next, In looking at the demo acro in the video, it is obvious that the owner is pretty comfortable in his flying, but it also looks like every roll that he does ends with the nose well below the horizon and thus eating up a lot of altitude.He seems to hold the barrel part a long time. Perhaps he is just building speed for the next maneuver or I am pretty ground shy.

JDK · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2010 10:56 pm

Bill Greenwood wrote:

First, the pilot says it is the only flying Mk XI. I know I saw one fly in Florida. It was at Sun N Fun, we flew some formation together for a photo plane, and the pilot, Tony ? , put on a fine acro show at Leward Air Ranch in it, and then in his Buecker, sp? It was a shade of pink then. I heard that it went back to England. The owner in the video gives a history, but does not mention Florida. So unless this is the same plane, there is or was more than one flying.

It is the same aircraft, PL965 which was painted pink. The US sojourn was with the previous owner Taff Smith, from Breighton, Yorks, IIRC.

Quote:

Returning to the skies in December 1992, flown by the late and sadly missed Mark Hanna. Since then, PL 965 has been a well-loved participant on the air show scene both here and in the USA from where she had recently returned in summer 2004.

http://www.hangar11.co.uk/spitfire.php

Bücker.

There was another PR.XI airworthy (PL983) until it was tragically lost in France with its owner in a fatal accident. This identity is expected to fly again.

Incidentally, the 'Spitfire 944' thread and video would relate to sister aircraft to these two, PR.XI, PL944, I'd assume.[Edit - from this Flickr set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24554019@N ... 911531715/ it's apparently PA944.]

Regards,

Stoney · **Posted:** Tue Jan 26, 2010 12:04 am

Bill
Tony Smith, he's in Ocala and I believe he sold the Spit.

JDK · **Posted:** Tue Jan 26, 2010 12:15 am

Stoney wrote:

Tony Smith, he's in Ocala and I believe he sold the Spit.

Tony 'Taff' Smith (Anthony J. E. "Taff" Smith then of the 'Real Aeroplane Co', Breighton), same chap/guy.

According to the Warbird Directory, PL965 was briefly registered to Robert Fleming in 2004 on the USCR as N965RF.

richkolasa · **Posted:** Wed Jan 27, 2010 11:33 pm

sdennison wrote:

http://www.flyingmachinestv.co.uk/SpitPL965.wmv

Probably old news. Move or delete if you like.

Very cool! Seems like a nice guy that owns her. Not to be critical of his interview, but "occupied Germany"? Can a country occupy itself.

Just kidding, I mean it lightheartedly.

Rich

Robbo · **Posted:** Thu Jan 28, 2010 12:12 pm

JDK wrote:

- and I think I spot another WIX poster in high viz and drainpipe ensemble at OW!

A familiar looking rogue

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Thu Jan 28, 2010 1:41 pm

Stoney, thanks for the info. He put on a fine display in the Mk XI at Leward, but the one in his Bucker was really something to see. He came down the runway inverted at about 30 feet AGL, so that with the open cockpit his head was a few feet above the grass.
If anyone ever gets a chance to fly a Bucker,take it and prepare to be impressed.Delmar Benjamin gave me my chance, my only regret is that I did not want to impose too much so I did not ask him to go to the car and get the parachutes. An incredible flying airplane, and doubly so if you consider that it is a 1930 s design. Still doesn't match the sound of a Merlin though.

Tillerman · **Posted:** Fri Jan 29, 2010 1:54 pm

This Spit was for many years on outside display in the forest of Overloon, The Netherlands. I saw it there for the first time in 1968. I went back there in 1985 and took this photo of her:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air/Supermarine-365-Spitfire/0981383/M/

Good to see it flying again, she is better off since she is in the air again.

This is the same museum in 1968, with me pointing to the B-25 (FR193) which was also there on outside display. Today this Mitchell is placed inside a building.

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Netherlands---Air/North-American-B-25D/0211915/M/

This museum is located on an original WWII battleground, were lots of pieces of military hardware were left after the battle of Overloon. Wrecked and shot-up vehicles were left in the woods and formed the beginnings of the National War and Resistance Museum, today called Liberty Park:

http://www.oorlogsmuseum.nl/index.php?t=en
There is also an extensive collection of beautifully restored military vehicles. Well worth a visit, if you ever come this way!!

Tillerman.

CH2Tdriver · **Posted:** Sat Jan 30, 2010 12:26 pm

I came across this one by accident. A familiar Mk9 in HD. I think I'll buy the DVD it looks nice!

http://aspenhdent.com/

Bill might have mentioned it a while ago but I missed it if he did.

The new "Flying Fighters Series: Spitfire"DVD will put you behind the stick of a real WWII Spitfire and show you how to fly it. Shot with cockpit cameras, from the air in chase planes, on the ground and a close up in the hanger with the covers off, you will get to see every aspect of this incredible plane. Plus with archive footage and Bill Greenwood's expert knowledge, this show also covers the history of the legendary Spitfire.

Pete

CH2Tdriver · **Posted:** Sun Jan 31, 2010 2:48 pm

Just a follow up, I emailed the company about the DVD and the email bounced back....dead end.

Bill.....Maybe you know if these guys ever finished it or if they are still in business?

Pete

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