Minding my own business, playing with my 'twanger' in the afternoon sun - and 'out of the blue' a Spitfire at 500ft came directly over the back garden 
Spitfire over the garden
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The Eastbourne airshow was this weekend & we’ve had lots of interesting stuff including a Spitfire buzzing around.
The one we’ve seen is a Griffon engined one as I think the Merlin powered ones are still grounded.
The one we’ve seen is a Griffon engined one as I think the Merlin powered ones are still grounded.
This one sounded like a Griffon - not as instantly recognisable (emotional) as a Merlin, but great to have one pass low over the garden on a sunny day
Afaik it’s only the BOB Memorial Flight Spitfires that are grounded following the sad loss of plane & pilot earlier in the summer.
That said, I haven’t seen/heard any at all lately, and given that we’re only a few miles from the memorial, they’re usually fairly common.
That said, I haven’t seen/heard any at all lately, and given that we’re only a few miles from the memorial, they’re usually fairly common.
On a regular basis we get a couple over our house in Wetherby. Most times it’s this one from Leeds East. Reason being is James ‘Ginger’ Lacey was born and bred in the town. Ironically, his house was knocked down and replaced with a well known German supermarket who honoured him with a blue plaque 
Living near Goodwood, Spitfires fly most days a week over my house during good weather…
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Spitfire Flights & Experiences | Goodwood Aerodrome, West Sussex
Take to the skies from our historic airfield over stunning landscapes, take control and experience an unforgettable flight package in an iconic plane!
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Same here with Biggin Hill, there seem to be more of them than Cessnas these days.Living near Goodwood, Spitfires fly most days a week over my house during good weather…
Spitfire Flights & Experiences | Goodwood Aerodrome, West Sussex
Take to the skies from our historic airfield over stunning landscapes, take control and experience an unforgettable flight package in an iconic plane!
Used to see the Spitfire most days doing paid flights from Duxford when I lived in Willingham, Cambs. I am now in Swanton Morley, Norfolk, and one was doing the same thing out of Norwich airport for a couple of days last week.
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One occasionally flys out of Dunkeswell Aerdrome Honiton,usually here for the week..
On paying flights..
On paying flights..
Just checked.
£2975 for a 30 minute paid passenger flight.
£2975 for a 30 minute paid passenger flight.
I did go and look and enquire and thought if £500 I would give it a ago,
But yes,sadly out of my price range,at Dunkeswell you can nearly touch it from the perimeter..
Dunkeswell is a backwater airport and you can even drive down too the end of the runway or the start
I honestly thought £500-£1000. Maybe interested.
But not nearly £3000. Rather buy a possession than a memory.
But not nearly £3000. Rather buy a possession than a memory.
There was an early evening flying show at Duxford on Saturday. The plane is probably on the way home. Is there a more evocative sound then that of the Merlin? Not to me.Minding my own business, playing with my 'twanger' in the afternoon sun - and 'out of the blue' a Spitfire at 500ft came directly over the back garden
My brother (Ex-RAF) did this from Headcorn a couple of years ago. He went for his briefing and much to his delight, found that he knew the pilot! I think it's fair to say that he got value for money in the 40 minutes he was up there. He went along the coast to The Battle of Britain memorial in Folkestone, in between various rolls and loops. He was a bit green when he got back and had to be revived by beer but he still talks about it regularly.
My Father-in-law (aged 90) has flown in a Merlin engined Spitfire since the sad BoB MF crash.
He took off from Biggin Hill and did a lap of the White Cliffs. He loved every moment!
He took off from Biggin Hill and did a lap of the White Cliffs. He loved every moment!
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It's the eternal balance, isn't it?
£3k will buy thr thrill of a Spitfire experience, or a decent bicycle to travel the world and create volumes of memories.
... Or any number of inanimate objects that just occupy space.
As a guy once said to my friend while watching a Spit flypass
"I dont know if I want to salute, cry or have a wank"
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