Just had a free air show of the 'Grace Spitfire'.
Discussion
Just driving through a village near Banbury, and suddenly got buzzed by a Spitfire on full chat, saw it climb out bank round and come back, diving toward a big house in the village. I pulled the car over and got out, it did a 10 minute display or so centred on the house, very low on occasions, certainly no more than a couple of hundred feet up, maybe nearer 100 ft as it pull out of dives etc. a good display, but really did reek havoc in this tiny village, cars all stopped on the main road, traffics at a standstill.
I recognise the plane as the Grace Spitfire' pretty well known one and very recognisable. Was great to see and hear it, but it always makes me cringe a bit when they turn up and buzz about, just so low and in manoeuvres that should there be the slightest thing go awry mechanically or flight wise, there would be utter carnage potentially affecting many properties, people etc. these private displays should surely be 'not below 500ft' by law, it's not an airfield or even open countryside this was right over a village .
Bit naughty, but very nice to get a free display!!
I recognise the plane as the Grace Spitfire' pretty well known one and very recognisable. Was great to see and hear it, but it always makes me cringe a bit when they turn up and buzz about, just so low and in manoeuvres that should there be the slightest thing go awry mechanically or flight wise, there would be utter carnage potentially affecting many properties, people etc. these private displays should surely be 'not below 500ft' by law, it's not an airfield or even open countryside this was right over a village .
Bit naughty, but very nice to get a free display!!
poo at Paul's said:
Just driving through a village near Banbury, and suddenly got buzzed by a Spitfire on full chat, saw it climb out bank round and come back, diving toward a big house in the village. I pulled the car over and got out, it did a 10 minute display or so centred on the house, very low on occasions, certainly no more than a couple of hundred feet up, maybe nearer 100 ft as it pull out of dives etc. a good display, but really did reek havoc in this tiny village, cars all stopped on the main road, traffics at a standstill.
I recognise the plane as the Grace Spitfire' pretty well known one and very recognisable. Was great to see and hear it, but it always makes me cringe a bit when they turn up and buzz about, just so low and in manoeuvres that should there be the slightest thing go awry mechanically or flight wise, there would be utter carnage potentially affecting many properties, people etc. these private displays should surely be 'not below 500ft' by law, it's not an airfield or even open countryside this was right over a village .
Bit naughty, but very nice to get a free display!!
Quick I need a fluffy bunny and 100 yards of cotton wool to protect the OP STAT!I recognise the plane as the Grace Spitfire' pretty well known one and very recognisable. Was great to see and hear it, but it always makes me cringe a bit when they turn up and buzz about, just so low and in manoeuvres that should there be the slightest thing go awry mechanically or flight wise, there would be utter carnage potentially affecting many properties, people etc. these private displays should surely be 'not below 500ft' by law, it's not an airfield or even open countryside this was right over a village .
Bit naughty, but very nice to get a free display!!
What a very odd response. Youre clearly a bit of a div.
My slight discomfort comes from seeing two pilots killed whilst I was controlling them when they got it wrong. In one case, the pilot had been reprimanded a few weeks before for 'flying like a nob' when he ploughed his yak into the field behind his house whilst performing for his son's 5th birthday! Not pleasant on many levels.
Thankfully no one on the ground physically hurt.
So as I say, it always makes me slightly uncomfortable performing like this over cities, towns or settlements, just in case it goes wrong.
Now don't tell me you're so naive that you don't think pilots or aircraft ever f
k up, do you? I know when I used to fly, I occasionally got it badly wrong and whilst that was in stuff that means things happen a bit quicker than in a Spitfire, it still makes me wonder is it right to fly like this?
It was an excellent display and great to see and hear, but, is it the right time and place to fly so low in such sporty manoeuvres? Ignoring the fact that it is against the law, or course.
My slight discomfort comes from seeing two pilots killed whilst I was controlling them when they got it wrong. In one case, the pilot had been reprimanded a few weeks before for 'flying like a nob' when he ploughed his yak into the field behind his house whilst performing for his son's 5th birthday! Not pleasant on many levels.
Thankfully no one on the ground physically hurt.
So as I say, it always makes me slightly uncomfortable performing like this over cities, towns or settlements, just in case it goes wrong.
Now don't tell me you're so naive that you don't think pilots or aircraft ever f
k up, do you? I know when I used to fly, I occasionally got it badly wrong and whilst that was in stuff that means things happen a bit quicker than in a Spitfire, it still makes me wonder is it right to fly like this? It was an excellent display and great to see and hear, but, is it the right time and place to fly so low in such sporty manoeuvres? Ignoring the fact that it is against the law, or course.
Edited by poo at Paul's on Thursday 25th July 19:53
poo at Paul's said:
What a very odd response. Youre clearly a bit of a div.
My slight discomfort comes from seeing two pilots killed whilst I was controlling them when they got it wrong. In one case, the pilot had been reprimanded a few weeks before for 'flying like a nob' when he ploughed his yak into the field behind his house whilst performing for his son's 5th birthday! Not pleasant on many levels.
Thankfully no one on the ground physically hurt.
When was the incident involving the Yak? In what capacity were you acting as a controller?My slight discomfort comes from seeing two pilots killed whilst I was controlling them when they got it wrong. In one case, the pilot had been reprimanded a few weeks before for 'flying like a nob' when he ploughed his yak into the field behind his house whilst performing for his son's 5th birthday! Not pleasant on many levels.
Thankfully no one on the ground physically hurt.
mattdaniels said:
The display was for a private wedding near Upper Heyford.
If it was below 500feet it's not necessarily against the air law rules as there are exemptions for displays, and if you really were a controller you should know that.
Indeed, and I can't remember the rule without consulting my books but isn't it something like a gathering of over 500 people constitutes a public display? I expect Ed could tell us If it was below 500feet it's not necessarily against the air law rules as there are exemptions for displays, and if you really were a controller you should know that.
Anyway at Booker we often pull what you might call aerobatic manoeuvers well below 500' often as low as 100' and that's without an engine! Heaven help us... Living close to White Waltham, we often get a certain bi-plane pilot "larging" it over our place or very near. 
The single-engined BBMF stuff generally chugs by at a leisurely pace (the multi-engined ones always sound awesome).
The same goes for the Yaks, although one was a bit lively towards Wokingham the other night.
The single-engined BBMF stuff generally chugs by at a leisurely pace (the multi-engined ones always sound awesome).
The same goes for the Yaks, although one was a bit lively towards Wokingham the other night.
poo at Paul's said:
.......but it always makes me cringe a bit when they turn up and buzz about, just so low and in manoeuvres that should there be the slightest thing go awry mechanically or flight wise, there would be utter carnage potentially affecting many properties, people etc. .....
I would consider it a privilege to depart this mortal coil courtesy of an errant Spitfire doing what it does best. Damn, a single liner and I still had to come back to correct a typo.....
Edited by King Herald on Friday 26th July 20:50
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