Don’t panic though, it took off from here…

[url=https://flic.kr/p/VKqXxg]Messerschmitts spotted over Kent, Spitfire scrambled[/url] by tom howard, on Flickr

2nd flight test apparently, only it’s second flight in the last 3 years, the first being 3 weeks ago.

Got a video of the fire up, will upload when able, doesn’t sound as nice as a Merlin IMB(British)O

Now, on to the Spitfire, which young, brave, handsome fighter ace are they going to send up to swat jerry out of the sky? Uuummmm…

[url=https://flic.kr/p/WotVgG]Me[/url] by tom howard, on Flickr

Yep 😀

well, no, not really. the ‘schmitt was a coincidence and was out and back before my turn in the back of the really rather lovely MJ627

[url=https://flic.kr/p/VKskGe]Messerschmitts spotted over Kent, Spitfire scrambled[/url] by tom howard, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/VGGC29]Messerschmitts spotted over Kent, Spitfire scrambled[/url] by tom howard, on Flickr

Went for a bit of a spin from Biggin Hill, takeoff was pretty similar to a regular airline takeoff, but after maybe fairly 30s, the pilot pulls up and WHOOSH, big G force that forces a totally involuntary grin! Out towards the Thames Estuary, over Brands Hatch, saw the motorbikeists tooling round significantly slower than i was going (between 200 and 250mph).

Then he let me have a go. I. FLEW. A. SPITFIRE. 😀

first thing that hits you is just how sensitive it is to the slightest movement of the control column, resulting in some interesting stomach feelings, especially combined with the nervousness of having never flown anything before/not wanting to kill us or the plane.

so after a few swooping turns the proper pilot took the controls back on we turned back toward Brands and as we get there the pilot asks ‘would you like to do a victory roll?’

‘nah your’e alright mate‘

Lolz, not really, nose down to pick up speed, then pull up and a full barrel roll. More enforced grins.

Back towards the airfield and it starts raining, which gives a fantastic sensation of speed, and we touch town as smoothly as any airline landing.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/VKqxhn]Messerschmitts spotted over Kent, Spitfire scrambled[/url] by tom howard, on Flickr

Amazing experience, I know its expensive (once in a lifetime) but its sooo worth it! The Biggin Hill heritage hangar is worth a look round too if you are local, and you can sit in a proper one too

Have got interior videos of the flight, but don’t have the means to upload them yet, but will do when i get home, so you can all watch my mug grin like a loon..

Brag over…

Messerschmitt Bf109

Looks great fun, well done!

Nope, ME109 according to the chaps that fly it

Wow, what a great way to spend an afternoon. I have fond memories of displays at Biggin where the Spitfires etc would disappear down into the valley at the end of the runway, and suddenly spring back up and fly along in front of the crowd around 10 foot off the ground. They wouldn’t be allowed to do that now.

Someone please Photoshop the appropriate goggles and scarf on to that photo!

Top stuff!

Did the hanger tour and sit in a spit experience a couple of years ago when they were in the old pink hanger – wore a stupid grin for a fortnight being able to sit on a real air worthy spitfire. The 109 was there then having major maintenance carried out. We stood just outside the hanger and watched the two seater spit firing up and take the boss of jcb for a flight, watched it taxi back too, what a sound!!!!
Would love to be able to do the flying experience in one, very envious of you.

It was commonly called the Me 109, most often by Allied aircrew and even among the German aces themselves, even though this was not the official German designation.[4] The designation “Messerschmitt Bf 109” was issued by the Ministry of Aviation (German: Reichsluftfahrtministerium) and represents the firm that originally built them, the “Bavarian Aircraft Works”, or Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) in German. The confusion arises because design work began in 1934 at the BFW firm and, as was customary, the model was designated by the prefix Bf. On July 11, 1938 the company was renamed Messerschmitt AG due to Willy Messerschmitt becoming its new owner, and the prefix Me was applied to all new models after that date, whilst existing types retained their Bf prefix

Best thread ever.

Well done you you are entitled to bragging rights in perpetuity.

I looked up the prices as soon as the business was launched. One day hopefully.

As I posted once before as a teenager I had the pleasure of doing a big Spitfire day with Bob Stamford Tuck and Douglas Barder, been a boyhood dream to fly in one ever since

Christ on a (27.5″, 1×11, 6″ travel, Enduro) bike!

The guy goes up in a Spitfire and gets picked up for getting the name of a plane wrong. 🙄

Well done Tom it looks like a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Best thread ever.

+1 Much happiness all round

I watched as a Messerschmitt was being assembled nearby at Headcorn last week. The owner didn’t want to fly it over for some reason. Not the same one I guess as you saw.
Previous week to that I spotted a pair of wings, with the German cross on, on a trailer near Dover. Strange thing was that I could see shadows of roundels under the paint work, don’t know what that was about.

Just looked at the price… 🙂

Dear, but worth every penny.

I don’t do envy. Normally…

Nice one matey.

BTW my neighbour just sold this http://www.hurricaneheritage.com/
Used to make a pleasant evenings viewing /listening over the fields.

Stanford-Tuck and Bader.

Wow. Jealous.

Has the grin gone yet?

Still at 98%…

Never have I needed a like button so much!

Sorry for the North Americanism, but THAT IS AWESOME!

Well done. You have my envy! 8)

Nope, ME109 according to the chaps that fly it

They’d be wrong, as per rabyoung’s post above

That. Is. Ace.

What an amazing experience. Do you have any airborne pics?

I thought I saw a Spitfire yesterday around 1630, as I drove round the south of the M25, guess it could have been you, OP

Brilliant, little else to compete with a Spit, the sound of a Merlin!

Amazing! Thanks for posting. Gonna start saving now.

Amazing!

The owner didn’t want to fly it over for some reason.

Probably trying to keep the hours down on the airframe/engine.

Previous week to that I spotted a pair of wings, with the German cross on, on a trailer near Dover. Strange thing was that I could see shadows of roundels under the paint work, don’t know what that was about.

Possibly one of the Spanish Hispanio Buchons that was repainted as a Me Bf109 for use in the Dunkirk movie.

As and aside, that’s one thing that really irritates me about that film, the german planes quite cleary have the wrong engine (Buchons were 109 airframes with RR Merlin/Griffon engines, as unsurprisingly, the DB601 engines were somewhat hard to come by/get spares for after the war…) I know they made a big thing about it being ‘live’ and ‘non-cgi’ but with the movie wizardry they have now, how much effort would it have taken to put the correct engine on in post production…

Hispanio Buchons

Hispano. There’s no second “i” in it. 😉

You are right though. They look wrong.

Was the little Messerschmitt a Fokker?

What an amazing experience. Do you have any airborne pics?

No, though I do have forward and rear facing videos that I’ll upload when I get access to the required tech.

I thought I saw a Spitfire yesterday around 1630, as I drove round the south of the M25, guess it could have been you, OP

Not me, I was up around 10, but they run the flights all day so could have been the same plane. I guess there would have been delays with the changeable weather through the afternoon

Hispano. There’s no second “i” in it.

Git 😉

Also got an external video of take off, but the hangar where the guests hang (heh) out is a fair way from the runway so it’s not the best, will put that up too

If you click on my pics there’s a whole album on Flickr too, will add more as I get them from other cameras

Well. Jell.

…what an awesome experience!

Just registering my envy. Definitely a bucket list experience.

However, when the inevitable lottery win drops in, I’ll go for the whole shebang, formation flight over the cliffs plus dogfight with a 109. Think that’s about £20,000!!

Think that’s about £20,000!!

a snip at £15,000 for 2 Spits chasing down a ‘Schmitt. You have to make your own cannon noises though…

I can understand a maple leaf on a Spitfire but why is there a Saltire on the Messerschmitt?

Just along the road;

The Loch Doon Spitfire P7540

Err I think that’s supposed to be in a Spanish Civil War livery

Well done OP, it’s on my list too.
They fly over sometimes and love the sound of the engine, I’m like a kid when I hear it as I rush to try and grab a quick glimpse 🙂

Apologies for the delay

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeJmBQpto1E[/video]

The Highlights

0.30 engine start
5.15 is take off
11.00 to 17.ish me flying/mincing
17.50, big swooping turns, Brands on the LHS, into victory roll at 19.00
24.15 start landing
24.45 wheels down

Also have a rear facing cam view, but figure no one wants to stare at my grinning mug for half an hour…

you lucky man!