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Historic Flying Limited's current restoration project, its Mk T9 two-seater Spitfire IAC-161, is making good progress. Its first flight after a total rebuild is expected in late February or early March 2004. It is almost ready to rest on its wheels, with both wings in place and cockpit systems being installed. Its freshly-built Merlin 66, overhauled by Universal Airmotive of Chicago, will be installed shortly.
When airworthy, IAC-161 will go into service with HFL and sister company Aircraft Restoration Company (ARC) as the final rung in the ladder of a unique warbird pilot training programme developed by ARC.
John Romain of HFL said: "For some time we've been working towards setting up the world's finest warbird pilot training programme. Flying a high-performance and rare warbird such as a Spitfire is a tremendous privilege and hugely rewarding, accessible to only a few. It demands good training and progressive conversion to minimise risk and maximise the rewards. When IAC-161 joins the flightline we will be able to take 100-hour PPL's through tailwheel conversion on our Chipmunk into complex and high-performance aircraft with our Harvard. The next and vital step on the way to soloing a Spitfire has been almost impossible before this - time in our dual-control Spitfire."
All training will be carried out by instructors working to military standards of performance, which will stand their students in good stead whether in a warbird or a modern aircraft.
IAC-161 is being fitted with a digital data acquisition system from Pi Research for monitoring aircraft performance and recording flight data. The system can also record video from each flight, with feeds from three miniature cameras on board. The video will be used for passenger mementoes and training purposes.

(photo: Peter Arnold)

Maybe I should start dropping big hints now for my next special birthday. That will be in around 4 years so they will have plenty of time to save up for it.

This depends on whether I make it of course which is by no means certain. Then there's the medical to bluff pass if I do. Maybe it's not worth getting too excited.

A flight in the Grace Spitfire (ML 407) is about 2500 squids, and there is a two year waiting list, best hurry up and get unsubtle Hagar

Ozzy

I might just settle for another trip in the Extra 300. That suited me fine & I could sit in the front. Never did like staring at the back of the instructor's head.

PS. I did think about doing the whole course. Then I could buzz around here doing aerobatics all on my little ownsome. Quite a frightening thought don't you think? LOL  
It would mean starting from scratch & getting a PPL first. They do the primary training in the Bulldog.

Bulldog schmuldog, get up in a Chippy. The ultimate madmans plane

I love the old Chippie dearly but they don't happen to have one. There is one at Shoreham but I thought it would be much better to do all the training with one outfit. Don't you think?

PS. A Tiger Moth would suit me best. I reckon I could still fly one of those now, even after 40 years.

PPS. A tad chilly round the old lugholes in this weather. It might be better to wait until Spring arrives.

There are still a few places that you can log time on the Moth (ah de Havilland and their magnificent machines ).

Ozzy

I reckon that if i give up smoking, drinking and eating I may just be able to save enough cash for a flight.

Alternatively I could save the cash and get a PPL....

I'm looking forward to seeing this plane on the flightline at Duxford next year. Just two years ago we only had two airworthy T-9's in the UK and with one example returned to the air last year and IAC-161, that figure has now doubled It would be nice to see this plane and ML407 together again after both served with the Irish Air Corps.

Hey Ozzy,

There's a mob in the US that advertise Harvard flights.
http://www.warbirdflying.com/ This is the UK version of the same thing.

They take you up and they hand it over to you. (I think they're 30 min flights, about $500-00).

There's a mob in the US that advertise Harvard flights.
http://www.warbirdflying.com/ This is the UK version of the same thing.

Brensec. I could do this in a Harvard at my local airport today if I wished. I might try it one day myself but I wouldn't put that in the same class as doing it in a Spitfire.

I think you said you've already had a trip in a Spit. I think most people here envy you. This is one of my few remaining life's ambitions unlikely ever to be fulfilled.

PS. The outfit from your link IS the one at my local airport - Shoreham. I see

I'd blow the 2500 for a ride!

Ozzy (Spitfireholic)

Last summer there was a restored B-17 in the area and I could have spent $400 for a 30 minute ride.

I'd blow the 2500 for a ride!

Ozzy (Spitfireholic)

And I'd be right behind you in the line pal
We have a collection of model aircraft at work, including a P-51 and a delivery driver last week looking at the model made us all go very green when he told us how he'd had a ride in a two seat Mustang a few years ago in New Zealand. Cost him