Low Level Land...

Getting woken from my afternoon naps in the cottage in Wales...
Hawks, Tucanos, F-15s, Hercs and this beast...

On the way in...

Some of the contents of TFC hangar were out in the morning sun...
Later, as I headed out a couple more snaps...

Spotted...

Low and slow, heading home?...

Saunter :: 25.IV.18

Sally B is now out of her winter quarters, Spitfire Mk FRXVIIIe SM845 sat out in the sunshine, Spitfire T9 PT462 and Mustang IV "Sharkmouth" down at ARCo end of site...

19.IV.18 :: Late afternoon amble...

MH434 and PT462 getting some TLC this afternoon...

The Two Seat Spitfire Page book

I've been adding photos to the Facebook group, "The Two Seat Spitfire Page", as and when I have had the chance to capture the T9 residents/visitors at Duxford, and when the owner, Greg Davis, ran a "design a logo" competition my submission won, so I was pleased that it has been included on the cover of his newly published book.

It's a round up of all the two seater Spitfires extant today, and a handy reference for those interested in this mark of Spitfire or who may have had the opportunity to fly in/fly a Spitfire.

It can be purchased here - 

https://www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk/book/greg-davis/the-two-seat-spitfires

April 15 1945 - Liberation of Bergen-Belsen

I visited Belsen in 1981 - something I will never forget....

Sunshine!

Dropped in to DX as the sun had finally broken through - busy GA fly in day today and a GeekCon event in Airspace.
Managed to catch PT462 with her tail feathers attached and giving rides -
Classic Wings Tiger Moths were also busy with passenger flights...

Saunter:: 13.IV.18

Managed to grab a few quick snaps as KH774 was pulled out of H3...

Spitfire T9 NH341, MkIX TD314 and Mustang IV KH774...

Saunter:: 12.IV.18

As it seems to be the topic (or at least was) over on a historic aviation forum, thought I'd take a photo of the DH.9 today on the way in to work...
Also the Sea Fury SR661...
Opposite ends of the piston power spectrum.

Two Seat Roundup...

Someone asked me the other day how many two seat Spitfires there are,  so I drew up this brief list...

The surviving original two seaters are:
T8 Vickers Prototype (from MkVIII)
MT818 (Vickers Canopy) Airworthy UK

T9 Vickers  (from MkIX) (Irish Air Corps)
MJ627 (158)(Vickers Canopy) Airworthy UK
MJ772 (159) (Vickers Canopy) Under Repair UK
PV202 (161)(Vickers Canopy) Airworthy UK
ML407 (162)(Grace In Line Canopy Conversion) Airworthy UK
TE308 (163) (Vickers Canopy) USA damaged

T9 Vickers (Indian Air Force)
ML417 (HS543) now reverted to single seat MkIX Airworthy USA

The T9 "Modern" conversions are:
PT462 (“Grace” Canopy) Airworthy UK
SM520 (Vickers Canopy) Airworthy UK
NH431 (Vickers Canopy) Airworthy UK
MH367 (“Grace” Canopy) Airworthy NZ

Saunter 4.IV.18

56th Rescue Squadron HH60 Pave Hawk was operating at DX today - making a breezy day a little bit more breezy...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Something other than Spitfires...

There are other aircraft at Duxford...
"Wacky Wabbit" was operating today...
And the new Tonka ZA469 is almost fully back in one piece.

Early morning 'drive-by'...

Well, not that early, but on the way over the Bailey Bridge stopped at H3 for a couple of Spitfire related snaps...

MH434, EE602 and MV268 to the left...

...and to the right PT462 modelling her new spring collection...
Note her aerial has been slimmed down. And a close up of the 253 Sqn crest centre now adorning the tail.
Also in the hangar, NH341, TD314, PV202 and BM597.
Later after lunch PV202 and NH341 were spotted out in the sunshine...

Bit of wishful thinking...

...considering we don't have a Malcolm hood Mustang in RAF colours, but with the current rise of two seat warbirds, Spitfire T8/T9, Hispano Buchon HA-1112-M4L (G-AWHC), Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-12, Fiat G-59 4B, not to mention the Mustang P-51D & TF-51D, how about a Mustang T.III?...

I can but dream...

Saunter 15.III.18

PV202 took to the air today while I was working off my dinner...

Happy 82nd birthday...

On 5 March 1936, the prototype Spitfire K5054 took off on its first flight from Eastleigh Aerodrome (later Southampton Airport) with Captain Joseph "Mutt" Summers, chief test pilot for Vickers at the controls.

Wintery Wednesday...

Braved the winter weather to go in today and managed to catch the newly painted Spitfire T9 PT462 in H3 minus her 'tail feathers' which are being painted off the aircraft.
T9s NH341 and PV202 were keeping her company.

Meanwhile, outside the "Spitfaux" R9612 was braving the Beast From The East...

Spotted - Fournado Flight...

Passing overhead, RAF Tornado "VOODO01" ZA542 plus 3 wingmen on heading 247º (info from ADSBxchange)

Saunter 21.II.18

Bit of a murky day all day so not a lot happening, or at least not as I took my post lunch stroll around...

Spitfire T9 PV202 parked outside, BBMF Chipmunk WG486 was running up, TFC Sea Fury T.20 WG655 parked up after more engine runs...