Spitfire !

RogerS said:

I was hoping we might have seen some photos of you in the cockpit.

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I will never post a photo of me on a forum, or of my family. I have said this many times before over the years - eg with kitchen build. My wife regards it as an invasion of privacy to post family stuff on-line and I respect that. If you want to see photos you are free to come and visit.

When we volunteer it is through offspring (aeropace engineering, Delft) or a Brazilian pilot fried Anna (who we have known for 30 years). We started off with her in classic Tiger Moths, until a tragedy. She does Spitfire displays, as does her partner (ex airline) Pete.

RogerS said:

There's a lot more out there if you Google Spitfire BS410

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Thanks Roger - great backstory.

I’m not keen on that pale blue livery. I used to live next to RAF Benson which was a base for the Reconnaissance Spitfires and remember being told that the RAF developed a particular shade of pink for flying at dawn and dusk. The fighter pilots were extremely brave but flying alone, unarmed and long range into Germany to take aerial photographs must also have taken some bottle.

AJB Temple said:

I will never post a photo of me on a forum,

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Unfortunately a case of closing the gate after the horse has bolted.

Maybe not on a forum but most people who have held a senior position, owned a business or had their photo taken for official reason can be easily found by a simple name and image search on google. Once they're out there it's far too late to hide our ugly mugs.

You're out there as am I and many others of us. I've even had my photo in Woodworker just for presenting some prizes to a student for heavens sake.

Lons said:

Unfortunately a case of closing the gate after the horse has bolted.

Maybe not on a forum but most people who have held a senior position, owned a business or had their photo taken for official reason can be easily found by a simple name and image search on google. Once they're out there it's far too late to hide our ugly mugs.

You're out there as am I and many others of us. I've even had my photo in Woodworker just for presenting some prizes to a student for heavens sake.

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I know. Annoying to my wife and eldest son. I don't care much, but I want to stay married.

AJB Temple said:

I know. Annoying to my wife and eldest son. I don't care much, but I want to stay married.

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Probably too late for her as well but hey ho.

AJB Temple said:

I will never post a photo of me on a forum, or of my family. I have said this many times before over the years - eg with kitchen build. My wife regards it as an invasion of privacy to post family stuff on-line and I respect that. If you want to see photos you are free to come and visit.

When we volunteer it is through offspring (aeropace engineering, Delft) or a Brazilian pilot fried Anna (who we have known for 30 years). We started off with her in classic Tiger Moths, until a tragedy. She does Spitfire displays, as does her partner (ex airline) Pete.

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Double standards there, I think. You are perfectly happy to have your photo on promotional material for your restaurant. Bigging it up when you're being interviewed for a chef's award in a magazine. Or a finance magazine from a few years back. Yet you think so little of the forum.

Disappointing. Maybe we're not the right place for you.

Alright Roger, completely unnecessary, wind it in mate.

Video arrived today and I've extracted my very first roll in a Spitfire The first one is the pilot showing me how to do it, the rest are mine

And all without any drama, well done you made it look effortless. Would have liked to have been able to hear the engine, was it loud inside the plane with muffs on?

RogerS said:

Video arrived today and I've extracted my very first roll in a Spitfire The first one is the pilot showing me how to do it, the rest are mine

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Awesome Roger!

That's brilliant Roger, thanks for posting.

Excellent Rog and what a view you must have had.

All the nice girls love a looper....

Spit just came over. About 3000 ft. Clear blue sky, 8.25pm. Obviously out of Biggin (maybe 4 to 5 mins flight time away). Sharp right bank turn to the South and I thought he is heading for Dover, but came back 4 minutes later and did a barrel roll, dropping altitude, on the return run. The engine noise gives me goose bumps every time. None came over yesterday (was really hot day), but several today earlyish morning and then evening now.

As it flew away home the sun glinted off the wings like an angel. Not sure there is a better sight.

AJB Temple said:

Not sure there is a better sight.

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There is.

The view from inside the cockpit. Or had you forgotten?

I have always been a huge admirer of what you Brits (and in particular what the RAF) did during the war, especially those early years in the Battle of Britain.
No truer words were ever spoken: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few".

I was very fortunate to have gone to school with an ex-US Navy aviator (RIP). All he ever talked about was flying!
He kept in touch with his active-duty buddies. One friend of his happened to have an aircraft sales business in the family. They bought and sold many vintage aircraft.
On the list of vintage aircraft were (amongst others) a P-51 Mustang, an ME-109, various bi-planes, and a NORD N-3202B TRAINER.

One of the most memorable days of my life was having had the great privilege of flying in that latter trainer with the Navy.
We departed KPBI and flew out over the ocean where the pilot proceeded to execute a few barrel rolls and loops for my entertainment.
I suspect perhaps they were testing my intestinal fortitude! In any case, I LOVED it! Great fun and an experience I will take to my grave.