Warbird Information Exchange

Hello,
New guy here. Please excuse me if I'm posting this in the wrong forum.
I've located 5 Spitfires that are 2 seat trainers. 3 are in the UK. 2 are in the US. I grew up during WWII and a ride in one would be one of the highlights of my life. I don't care whether it's in the US ot the UK. My wife and I are going to Duxford next year (our 3rd visit) so I could manage a ride in the UK.
I'm retired UAL so getting places is no big deal. (NO, I wasn't a pilot.)
Anyone out there know of the availability of a Spitfire ride for the general public.
I know CAF and PoF offer rides in some of their Warbirds and they are not inexpensive. For a WWII Warbird nut like me, the adventure is well worth the expense.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Mudge the adventurous

Bill Greenwood (Colorado) has ride information for his Spitfire that can be found here....
http://www.milehighskyride.com/warbird/warbird.htm

Nerd...Thanks much. His size restrictions rule me out. I'm 6'6" and 240lbs.
Probably gonna' rule me out of any other "Spit" ride, too. RATS

Mudge the disappointed

Sounds like you are custom made for a B-25 ride.
There is one here in Minneapolis-St Paul availible...

Or a SBD ride thats when the CAFs SBD gets back in the air.

You might have some luck getting a T-28B/C ride somewhere in your area. I'm 6'4" 220, and don't have any problems riding in those birds. Dual controls, and it's a blast. There's a lot more T-28's than Spitfires too, theres gotta be someone around with a Trojan you can get a ride in.

_________________
DEEP THOUGHTS BY KIDS:
"If we could just get everyone to close their eyes and visualize world peace for an hour, imagine how serene and quiet it would be until the looting started. Age 15 "


Deep Thoughts,
Jack Handy

Thanks for all the input. As far as the B-24, B-25, and B-17 rides go...
"been there, done that". Closest thing I could compare the rides to would be what I would imagine riding in a very large beer can is like.
Did the B-25 when I was a boy in this here USAF '55-59.
B-24 & B-17 were last year.

Mudge the downhearted

The best next thing would be a ride in Crazy Horse. You should get in and out with no problem. If you fly with Lee, take a throw away camera so Lee can take some great shots of you going up in a loop or in a roll. Its worth every penny. Trust me

Cheers,

Lynn

GO TO OLYMPIA, WA AND TAKE A RIDE IN THE AD-5W SKYRAIDER OR P-51D WITH BRIAN REYNOLDS AT THE OLYMPIC FLIGHT MUSEUM. BOTH HAVE DUAL CONTROLS.

Mudge,

I suggest you contact Caroline Grace through her web site, as you are going to Duxford next year the "Perfect Lady" is based there and it might be possible

Stuart

what's the going rate for stallion 51 and crazyhorse, anyone know? just curious, it's not listed on their site. and is there any 'fighter' rides on the east coast? this summer is reserved for a b-17 or b-24 flight, but definitley want to get up in a fighter soon too!

brian

I was told that there is almost a two year waiting list for rides in the Grace Spitfire?? I to wanted to go to Duxford and ride in there Spitfire.


Cheers,

Lynn

I've already contacted Carolyn Grace. No answer yet.
The Olympia P-51 ride sounds interesting. I'll contact them.
The Dixie Wing of the CAF in Atlanta offers a P-51 ride for $750. $500 of that is tax deductible as a donation to a non-profit group.
Contact Christopher Madrid at: cjmadrid@yahoo.com
Thank for the added info. Maybe I'm gonna' get a "Spit" ride yet.
Lynn...If you can swing it, go to Duxford "Flying Legends" July 9-10, '05 whether you get the "Spit" ride or not. It's a blast. Anyone who loves WWII Warbirds will get something in their eye when the 8 Mustangs and 8 Spitfires start the show doing "Lazy 8's" across the field. You could close your eyes and the sound of that many Merlins would get to you.
Mrs. Mudge and I will be there and would love to meet any of the forum folks. We've been there twice and it got me both times. I've got all sorts of info on it. Way more than you can get off the Duxford website so anyone that's interested, gimme' a holler.
I made a CD of the 250 pictures I took at this years show. If anyone would like to see them, I'll burn a copy and send it to you.

Mudge the hopeful

Last time I checked on the costs for a ride in the TF-51 Crazy Horse at Stallion 51, it was $1600 for approximately an hour or so's flight. This was in the spring of 2003, so it may have gone up since.

Walt

Olympic Air Museum's P-51D (a 2 seater) ride is a TAX DEDUCTIBLE $650 with museum membership. I asked if I was too big and they said probably not. Might just have to do that one.

Mudge the semi-mollified

ps. I'm still gonna' pout if I don't get a "Spit" ride.