- Thread starter Ross365
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My Old Landy
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Not grounded officially but I suspect a little nervous since the Biggin Hill two seater had a loss of power and pancaked down in Kent. PM631 was up last week but I haven't seen much activity on the others, sadly.I've just been watching a video of the flypast over Buck House today - it was lead by the Lancaster but all the aircraft following that were modern operational ones + Red Arrows. That seems to imply the Hurricanes and Spitfires are still grounded
Not quite up to the same standard as 1946, when the flypast had 300 aircraft and 500 vehicles accompanied the march past.
en.wikipedia.org
Apparently there's only 257 aircraft at 50% readines in the entire RAF inventory of 500 now.
London Victory Celebrations of 1946 - Wikipedia
Apparently there's only 257 aircraft at 50% readines in the entire RAF inventory of 500 now.
Ross365
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It seems that PM631 has a Griffon engine and not a Merlin https://www.raf.mod.uk/display-team...ws/bbmf-spitfire-pr-mk-xix-pm631-flies-again/
My Old Landy
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That explains it! It does seem strange that they publicly announced that they were no longer grounded then miss the biggest celebration this year!
redlig
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Ref. Spitfires. Right on cue the "news" media reported today that a WW2 Spitfire had crashed .Shock horror ! how many dead /did it crash on a children's school / hospital /nuclear establishment or worse Parliament . Unfortunately for the media it suffered an unspecified problem and landed in a field with no damage or hurt to the people on board. Another story nipped in the bud.
Pigeon_Droppings2
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We normally see them coming out to RAF Northolt but I was in the loft and missed it 
.
I'm sure I read that the crashed spitfire had a passenger?...hows that work then?
.I'm sure I read that the crashed spitfire had a passenger?...hows that work then?
redlig
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Two seated converted to give high cost thrills to punters.We normally see them coming out to RAF Northolt but I was in the loft and missed it
I'm sure I read that the crashed spitfire had a passenger...hows that work then?
Pigeon_Droppings2
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Ahh that makes sense...I was wondering whether it was maybe a replica...or a tight squeeze
.I remember sitting in a Spitfire, our local air museum has one on display that you can pay to sit in. It was a tight squeeze for me to get in...and thats without any of the kit they would have been wearing back in the day!
redlig
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I think you had to be about 19 years old and on wartime ration to fly one. They did say that you would be too old at 26 ,presuming you lasted that long , too fly one in combat.Ahh that makes sense...I was wondering whether it was maybe a replica...or a tight squeeze
I remember sitting in a Spitfire, our local air museum has one on display that you can pay to sit in. It was a tight squeeze for me to get in...and thats without any of the kit they would have been wearing back in the day!
Ubique
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The whole event looked very 'sparse' to me, on the ground and in the air, our current PM sat behind the King looked like he'd rather be elsewhere...
It also struck me that VE & VJ day should be an opportunity for RBL etc. to raise funds - Armistice day was founded on the previous unpleasantness, and claimed the poppy but why shouldn't VE/VJ be a catalyst too?
It also struck me that VE & VJ day should be an opportunity for RBL etc. to raise funds - Armistice day was founded on the previous unpleasantness, and claimed the poppy but why shouldn't VE/VJ be a catalyst too?
chrismac
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I was down in 1995(VJ day parade) with a massed pipebands, playing down the Mall with as many Scottish veterans that were able to make it, it was a huge event compared to what I saw today. We had a jumbo 747 take many of the Scottish contingent down, police escort through London, a tremendous experience really,
This was obviously with all the other veterans from the various regiments from all the commonwealth at the time.
reflecting on this now there are probably very few left with us from that day now.
RobCox
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The Lancaster flew over our garden just after lunch today, very low so probably had just taken off from IWM Duxford a few miles away.
As for Spitfires, throughout the summer there's usually one floating around each day. They might be replicas of course, but they're still nice to see.
I guess we might be in for a good flypast on Saturday as they've got a VE Day show happening.
As for Spitfires, throughout the summer there's usually one floating around each day. They might be replicas of course, but they're still nice to see.
I guess we might be in for a good flypast on Saturday as they've got a VE Day show happening.
oldbikedavey
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It wasn't particularly warm standing on Westminster Bridge waiting for it to occur , that's for sure.....
Windy Miller
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I think the Spitfire that flies over my house several times a week during the summer months is the one that came down in the field. I hope they get it sorted soon - I love the sound it makes!
premmington
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It was the veterans on the BBC I enjoyed. 
The 101 year old ex RAF female fitter - spoke so well for her age - real humble down to earth woman.
---------
On the subject of veterans.
Hats off for Henry Allingham from the Great War. Died 18 July 2009 - aged 113 years and 42 days.
en.wikipedia.org
The 101 year old ex RAF female fitter - spoke so well for her age - real humble down to earth woman.
---------
On the subject of veterans.
Hats off for Henry Allingham from the Great War. Died 18 July 2009 - aged 113 years and 42 days.
Henry Allingham - Wikipedia
Bravheart
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I've just been watching a video of the flypast over Buck House today - it was lead by the Lancaster but all the aircraft following that were modern operational ones + Red Arrows. That seems to imply the Hurricanes and Spitfires are still grounded
The spitfire gearbox was built somewhere in Lancashire. They had a street party and flypast yesterday according to the news last night.
My Old Landy
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Just to be clear, the only Merlin engined Spitfires and Hurricanes to be grounded were the BBMF ones. They are looked after and flown by RAF personnel.
If the MOD say they are not flying, it doesn't affect any other organisations.
They sadly lost Squadron Leader Mark Long and that is why the OP was asking the question.
If the MOD say they are not flying, it doesn't affect any other organisations.
They sadly lost Squadron Leader Mark Long and that is why the OP was asking the question.
arther dailey
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can t seem to find when they are doing hampshire/southampton fly past , due to supermarine they must be doing it surely ?
