Chocks Away !

[44DHR]

I was privileged to enjoy the sunny clear weather yesterday in two classic British icons.
After an overnight stay at the hotel in the grounds of Goodwood House, the wife and I headed for the Solent Airport and I enjoyed a flight over our beautiful Island. I had the chance take the controls for quite a bit of the flight and realised how both needed firm control and responded to every input.
I chose the date of the 15th May as this was the anniversary of when the first prototype Spitfire flew from Southampton on May 15th 1938, unbelievably 81 years ago. Also a few days from the anniversary of my E type being despatched from Browns Lane on the 10th May 1967, 52 years ago.
I still think both are still stunning after all these years and personify form and function.
Highly recommend the experience !

[Durango2k]

I had a game of that name on the Acorn Archimedes... early 1990s....

Carsten

[Ian Cooke]

Hi Dave

Well, you certainly had a great day for it and I would have seen and heard you as I live almost under the flight path. I'm a regular visitor in my E type to Solent Airport when the Spitfire is flying and enjoy a coffee with what has got to be the best view from any coffee shop window:



I took my step dad to the airport last summer and mentioned to one of the Boultbee guys that he had flown Blenheims in the war. Before we new what was happening we were out on the Apron and Dad was invited to sit in the Spitfire which was such a thrill for him. I also got to sit 'up front' and have been dropping not so subtle hints ever since about my forthcoming big birthday!

Glad you enjoyed the experience and can recommend it so highly.

Regards

Ian

[Gfhug]

Dave, a slight correction to dates. The prototype K5054 first flew on 5th March 1936, it was the first production Spitfire K9787 that was flown on 15 May 1938. Still they were both Spitfires

Geoff

[Simon P]

Great photos! Looks like you had a superb time (hard not to really! ): there's something about Spitfires and E-types that definitely makes them belong together.

(PS Geoff: good Spitfire knowledge! )