Incredible Spitfire Flight

Spitfire Flight MJ 627 - Biggin Hill

My Spitfire flight was bought for me by my family for a special 40th Falkland Islands anniversary/birthday present.

The basics of the Spitfire flight was; I would have 55 minutes in the air, flying from Biggin Hill airport down to Beachy Head, hug the coast for a period (completing the obligatory victory rolls etc., over Beachy) before heading towards Eastbourne and Brighton, eventually turning homeward (to Biggin).

My pilot for the day was ’Smithy’ an ex 30 year Royal Air Force pilot who had flown Lightenings and Typhoons (and a stint with the Red Arrows), so in fairness I was in very capable hands.

We (my wife, my daughter and I) arrived in plenty of time for the pre-flight safety briefing and video and I was soon dressed in the ’aircrew’ flight suit. The weather was perfect for the occasion, with unlimited visibility, how fortunate was that!

Smithy introduced himself to me and Ray, the Operations Manager, took me out to the plane (MJ627) and assisted me to climb in and make myself comfortable. After a short and practical briefing from Ray, regarding the emergency procedures for exiting the plane in the event of …, Smithy climbed into his cockpit and fired the Spitfire up. What an incredible roar that was, let me assure you it will live with me forever! After a short delay from the Tower, we taxied to the runway - us ’Spitfire pilots’ refer to it as, ’we were scrambled’.

An interesting fact about the Spitfire, which you may/may not know, is that the pilot has basically zero visibility with regards to what is in front and as such has to zig-zag while taxiing to ensure a clear view of what is ahead of him.

Any way before long our canopies were closed, our flaps were down and our throttle was opened as we increased our speed down the runway to 85 mph where our wheels started to leave the tarmac and we became airborne. As soon as the speed was about 140 mph we climbed skyward - it was simply majestic.

Spitfire Flight continued - After a little buffeting Wing Commander ‘Smithy’, he wasn’t really but for this flight I have awarded him this rank (I have taken the rank of Pilot Officer), took me through the basics of handling the aircraft. Right hand on the control column and a slight movement to the left and the aircraft wing’s angled and the Spitfire obligingly moved to the left, returning the column to the centre returned the Spitfire to a level position.

Moving the column to the right effected a similar result (this time turning the ‘Spit’ to the right). Moving the column forward dipped the nose and downwards we went, pulling the column backwards brought the nose upwards and skywards we headed - what a great apprentice pilot I was proving to be!

‘WingCo.’ then took me through my paces of stalking the chaser plane, which had my family onboard, (now considered a Messerschmitt 109) and preparing us for an attack. Being informed that we would only have some 15 seconds of ammunition Wing Commander Smithy said, ”We will need to get in close-and-personal so that our shots will be accurate and will hit the target, no point in missing the target, running out of ammunition and changing our status from fighter pilot ‘ace’ to sitting duck!” With that he took the controls and lined us up with the ‘enemy’ (from about a mile out).

Spitfire Flight continued - Counting down the distance to the enemy/chaser plane - 750 yards, 650 yards, 500 yards (still too far to open fire) whilst trying to fix them in your sights, holding your nerve and all at a speed in excess of 200 mph is not easy then suddenly we were 350 yards out and imagining our guns blazing, within a nano-second we were upon them and flying/banking over them.

It was an awesome experience but one I was very grateful to simply be enacting. In reality our war-time pilots ‘the few’ would have been flying so much faster (with top speeds of up to 400 mph), against a determined and dogged enemy and with the over-riding treat of losing their life should they make a mistake. They were all so much younger than I (many only teenagers) and all so incredibly brave.

After the thrill of the enactment Smithy handed the controls over to me and ordered me to fly at an altitude of 2,000 feet coast-bound towards Birling Gap and I, Pilot Officer Eyles-Thomas obliged with a ’Wilco Out’. I was busting to say, ”Repeat Please” but that may have been a bridge too far.

Spitfire Flight continued - Flying the plane was fantastic and in all truth, and whilst flying in a straight(ish) line, MJ627 flew herself. Arriving at the coast I was ordered to bank the Spitfire 90 degrees to the left and follow the coastline towards the old lighthouse Belle Tout, flying parallel with the South Downs way, and onwards towards the Beachy Head lighthouse, which was punctuated with ramblers and dog walkers. It was absolutely wonderful.

The controls were then retaken by Smithy and he turned the plane 180 degrees and headed us towards a neighbouring plane just off the coast. We then flew alongside the private aircraft who acknowledged us with a polite ’dip of their wings’ which Smithy acknowledged with several ‘wing dips’ before banking right and dive-bombing the South Downs way ramblers. I could have cried tears of joy. I was ecstatic!

Several victory rolls and sharp banking manoeuvres later we headed off along the coast passed Newhaven to Eastbourne and onwards to Brighton for a spot of sight-seeing and mutual appreciation of the Brighton Marina development, which, by the way, looks absolutely fabulous from the air.

Spitfire Flight continued - Soon we were heading homewards but not before Smithy took me through a few more moves, including ’cloud dancing’ and a victory roll over the Leigh Cricket Club (Sevenoaks), who were actually playing cricket at the time. Now I ask you is there anything more English than doing a victory roll in a Spitfire over a village cricket club while they are actually playing cricket?

Air Traffic Control at Biggin Tower told us to ‘hold’ for a period of 10 minutes before they allowed us to take up a position for landing, so Smithy used the time wisely and we went off ‘playing’ once again before he finally landed us safely.

All in all this flight (and the whole day) has been an incredible life experience. One that I would repeat at the drop of a hat, should my pockets ever allow in the future.

Spitfire Flight continued - I cannot thank the staff/ground crew enough. They were all fantastic; Ian, Amanda, Ray, Laurie and of course the two pilots flying that day Barry and Smithy, everyone was just simply amazing creating a wonderful family atmosphere - thank you all for a truly tremendous day and I envy you all, you have wonderful jobs (you very lucky people!)

I cannot end this piece without adding that the tour of the Hanger, after the flight, is an absolute must and Laurie, the tour guide, is an encyclopaedia of fascinating information.

Safe flying everyone, we are so very proud of you all 🇬🇧

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