1. #1
    SlickStick's Avatar Banned
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    As there are only a few flight-worthy Spitfire Trainers left in the world, I've heard that they are all in Europe. Do you have any direct information that any of them offer civilain flights?

    I'm planning a trip to Europe next year and I was hoping to possibly be able to take a ride in one of these rare Spitfires. I've always loved the plane and it would be quite an experience to be able to actually fly in one. Plus, I have a couple of online m8s that I want to look up in the UK anyway.

    This will be my first trip to Europe to visit my ancestor's homeland of Netherlands and I am planning on seeing Normandy, as well as some sites in Germany.

    I would love to be able to bring back some pictures of a ride in a Spitfire. Is this possible? Thanks for any information.
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  2. #2
    polak5's Avatar Senior Member
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    I do not know exactly where you live but there is a 2 seater in Galveston, Texas. They might give rides in it, I know they give rides on some of the other aircraft they have available.
    But if your going to make the trip to UK id do it over there, nothing like flying over the channel
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  3. #3
    Hi SlickStick,

    Couple of links for you, but not sure they are very much help:

    http://www.flights4all.com/about_spitfires.asp

    http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...light=spitfire

    http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=2+Seater+Spitfir...ountryUK%7Ccount ryGB

    Ok, I know it that is 3 links, but you can never have too many. Good luck, and if you do get a ride, do not come here bragging about it
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  4. #4
    SlickStick's Avatar Banned
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    Originally posted by polak5:
    I do not know exactly where you live but there is a 2 seater in Galveston, Texas. They might give rides in it, I know they give rides on some of the other aircraft they have available.
    But if your going to make the trip to UK id do it over there, nothing like flying over the channel
    I did not know there was one in Texas. I had read that they were all in Europe and figured since I was planning going there anyways, I'd see if it was a viable solution.

    Wow, Texas, eh? I could visit Da Boyz at the same time.

    Do you know which trainer by FCC ID is in TX or have a link to a site? Is it PT 462 by chance?
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  5. #5
    SlickStick's Avatar Banned
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    Originally posted by Banger2004:
    Hi SlickStick,

    Couple of links for you, but not sure they are very much help:

    http://www.flights4all.com/about_spitfires.asp

    http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...light=spitfire

    http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=2+Seater+Spitfir...ountryUK%7Ccount ryGB

    Ok, I know it that is 3 links, but you can never have too many. Good luck, and if you do get a ride, do not come here bragging about it
    Thanks, Banger ol' boy! I will peruse them later at home. No bragging, but bet your best pair of knickers, I'll be posting as many pictures as my camera can hold!
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  6. #6
    what part of the Netherlands are you gonna be visiting, Slick?
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  7. #7
    SlickStick's Avatar Banned
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    Got this from one of those links:

    "CAN I ARRANGE A FLIGHT IN A SPITFIRE?
    There is only a handful of 2-seater Spitfires in the world, and just three of these are flying in the UK. In addition, to be able to offer trial lessons, any aircraft must have a public category licence, and the instructor too must be licensed to take paying passengers. Presently these two conditions are not met for any Spitfire in the UK. So, unfortunately, the chances of arranging a flight in a Spitfire are pretty slim."

    However, I also found that there are 3 or 4 here in the USA and one of them is a Mk. VIII trainer in Oregon! I need to read more.

    Now, if it takes passengers, how do I convince my family that a trip to Oregon would be as great a vacation as going to Europe?!?!
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  8. #8
    SlickStick's Avatar Banned
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    Originally posted by Sharpe26:
    what part of the Netherlands are you gonna be visiting, Slick?
    I'm still planning and speaking with my aunt about our family tree, my dad's side of the family is from just outside of Amsterdam and my mom's side is from Rotterdam. So, I'm mostly Dutch and coupled with my Algonquin heritage on my paternal grandmother's side, my family tree goes pretty far back here in America and the Netherlands.

    Although, I am only 2nd generation American on my dad's paternal side. My grandfather came to America through Ellis Island in 1918 and my dad was born here in 1926.
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  9. #9
    Xiolablu3's Avatar Senior Member
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    There is that 2 seater Spitfire, I think its called the 'Grace' SPitfire.

    Dont know if its possible to buy a ride in it.


    I strongly suggest you come in summertime. Winter and Autumn (From October to March) can be grim and grey and very wet.

    I suspect the weather here is very much like North New York in the USA (its about the same position relative to the equator as the UK), so if you can, come when the whther is warmer and clear, preferabley early Mid April to late August if you want T-shirt weather.
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  10. #10
    SlickStick's Avatar Banned
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    Originally posted by Xiolablu3:
    There is that 2 seater Spitfire, I think its called the 'Grace' SPitfire.

    Dont know if its possible to buy a ride in it.


    I strongly suggest you come in summertime. Winter and Autumn (From October to March) can be grim and grey and very wet.

    I suspect the weather hear is very much like North New York in the USA, so if you can, come when the whther is warmer and clear, preferabley early Mid April to late August if you want T-shirt weather.
    Thanks for the tips! We were actually planning a late-April, early May trip. I'm hoping for three weeks, but it may be only two. I will have to squeeze alot in. Good thing Europe has such an excellent mass transit system.
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