Want to know what it’s like to fly in a Spitfire at Duxford? Here’s what our previous passengers have to say about their amazing experience.

We often talk of “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunities, but flights in these rare two seater Spitfire flights really do fall into that category!

Restrictions
Minimum age 18 Years oldMaximum Height 6ft 6 inches (198cm), no minimum height.
Maximum weight 230 lb, 105Kg You will be weighed and measured on the day. Passenger dimensions must allow full and unrestricted movement of the control column.
You need to be healthy and agile enough to climb into the aircraft and safely experience the dynamic nature of the flight – if you have any concerns over your suitability you should consult your GP. You should not participate if you are on prescription medication, suffering from a cold, are pregnant or suffering from any condition affecting your breathing or consciousness
It is generally accepted that if you are fit enough to hold a private driving licence you should be fit enough to participate in this activity.

Availability
WHEN BOOKING A DATE AND TIME – PLEASE NOTE THE TIMES GIVEN ARE FOR THE PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING AND NOT THE ACTUAL FLIGHT TIME.
Flights are available on selected dates throughout the season between April and October.

Duration
The flight experience times are from when the aircraft moves off to when it comes back to a standstill (known as chock to chock). Airborne time will be approximately 10 minutes shorter than your chosen experience time. Please allow at least half a day, and ideally a whole day, at the venue to allow for pre-flight briefings, Q&A sessions with the pilot, photography time, and for any weather delays.

The Aircraft
Due to aircraft availability and maintenance schedules, the T9 Spitfire used may not always be the aircraft PV202 featured in our information.

Meal Arrangements
Light refreshments will be provided on arrival and there is a Restaurant and several cafes available on site.

Weather Restrictions
All flights are weather dependent and therefore subject to suitable flying conditions. If a flight has to be cancelled it will be rebooked for an alternative date, which must be within 12 months of the cancellation date.

Clothing Requirements
You will be kitted out with your own PPE (personal protective equipment) consisting of a Flight Suit, Helmet and Gloves. You will need to provide your own footwear; this should be sturdy and offer ankle support.

A full information pack will be sent to you on receipt of your booking.

ALL BOOKINGS ARE CONFIRMED INSTANTLY BY EMAIL.
Please contact us if you do not receive your confirmation email immediately after booking.

Spitfire Mk Tr IX

A short history by Chris Scholfield of Classic Wings

There can’t be many people who have seen a Spitfire flying at an airshow, an open –air concert or a ceremonial flypast and wondered what it would be like to climb aboard and see those elegant elliptical wings soaring over the English countryside from the cockpit.

It may come as a surprise to many that the Royal Air Force didn’t have a two-seat Spitfire for training pilots in the Second World War. The usual route to gaining the coveted fighter pilot’s wings was to do the basic training on a Tiger Moth or Miles Magister, advanced training on a N.A. Harvard or Miles Master then off to an Operational Training Unit for an introduction to the Spitfire or Hurricane. The absence of a two-seater was in part due to the pressing need for all the fighter versions that could be delivered. Whatever the reason, the system worked and the Spitfire was in the thick of the action from the Battle of Britain to D-Day and beyond.

As supply of the aircraft became a little easier, other air forces took delivery and it is believed that the South African Air Force modified a Mark V to take a second pilot although it was used as a liaison aircraft rather than as a trainer. The Russians were not so coy and modified several Mark IXs by the simple expedient of chopping a hole behind the pilot and putting in the extra seat with basic controls to act as a rudimentary trainer.

At the end of the war the Spitfire was still a competitive fighter aircraft and several newly reformed air forces bought large quantities as the nucleus of their squadrons. With this came a requirement for a two-seater and so Vickers Supermarine dusted off the plans for what was to become the sole T8. This provided the basis for a production version based on the Mark IX and this found a useful export market.

Numbers are hard to confirm but the Indian Air force bought 9, the Irish Air Force 6, the Royal Dutch Air Force 3 and the Royal Egyptian Air Force 1.

More recently several owners have modified their aircraft in to two-seat variants in order to share the Spitfire flying experience with others. As might be expected, it is a complex project to carry out the conversion which entails removing the forward fuel tank to enable the front (pilot’s) cockpit to be moved 12 inches forward. This helps maintain the balance of the aircraft.