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This invited letter represents one of ‘Life's Moments’!
Mention ‘Spitfire’ to any aircraft buff to provoke a skyward glance, while awaiting the discrete but distinctive growl of the Merlin engine. I'm fortunate to have flown a wide variety of aircraft from jets to single engine antique flying machines, even a Mustang, but the iconic Spitfire eluded my grasp – until a few months ago…
Poised on her narrow track undercarriage the Spitfire resembled an athlete on the starting blocks straining for release. My mentor ‘Cliff’, otherwise known as Marshall of the Royal Air Force, Sir Clifford Spink, seemed quite relaxed about explaining that forced landings should be made gear up to avoid tipping over, and that the fire extinguisher wouldn't be much use with 120 gallons of high octane aviation fuel just a few feet away. There was no safety mechanism to prevent accidental retraction of the undercarriage on the ground – a sure way to unpopularity with the owners. Health and Safety did not feature prominently in the design!
Pressing the boost and starter button resulted in the prop turning very slowly before the Merlin growled into life spewing smoke from all 12 exhaust stacks. Music it may be to some ears, but 27 litres of supercharged, unsilenced engine 6 feet away produces an earth-shattering roar. On the ground the limited visibility and narrow undercarriage requires care with manoeuvring. The cockpit is cosy, so much so that the control column is hinged halfway up for lateral movements. Opening the throttle requires right rudder as she bounces over the grass gathering speed, but once airborne she changes character. The surge of power produces continuous acceleration as the nose points skywards and we rocket into the blue. This aircraft wants to fly. It is truly at home when it is airborne, very sensitive on the controls, particularly in pitch. Like the classic Chipmunk you only need to think what you want to do and she does it for you, but the difference in speed and climb rate is phenomenal. Although Plus 11 Boost can be achieved the instructions are to spare the engine and use no more than Plus 4, which is plenty. Rolls are rapid and easy. The horizon spins around effortlessly. Now for a loop. The looping radius is particularly small for such a fast aircraft, However, once over the top, the view of rapidly approaching terra firma may have induced me to pull up rather enthusiastically. ‘BRRRR’ the stick vibrated like a stick shaker on a jet. I had inadvertently produced an incipient G stall. The moment I released back pressure she forgave me instantly. Thereafter all manoeuvres were like silk. This aircraft flourishes when flown with love and grows on the pilot by the minute. You become almost drunk with the power and ease with which she can be thrown all over the sky. A real thoroughbred!
The airspeed indicator goes round a second time as you exceed 280 miles/hour and it was on its second revolution as we crossed the airfield hedge at 50 feet before rocketing skywards in a victory roll.
It is hard to imagine how quickly time passes before we reluctantly returned to earth. Pure magic!