Spitfire dream comes true

ON September 23, 1940, Pilot Officer Walter Beaumont, 26, climbed into his Spitfire and took off on a sortie over the English Channel.

Two hundred enemy aircraft, mainly Messerschmitt 109s, had been detected over Calais and nearing Dover, they were engaged. PO Beaumont already had eight confirmed enemy aircraft shot down, with two more damaged.

But this was to be his last sortie. He never returned, presumed shot down over the Channel. He was one of 544 RAF pilots who lost their lives during the Battle of Britain.

FLIGHT: The Spitfire takes off with Tim White at the controls. Picture: ANDY ANNABLE / Cam-ARA

Exactly 76 years later to the day, I was strapped into the back seat of a Mark 9 Spitfire at Goodwood aerodrome, near Chichester. I was about to realise a dream I’d had since I was a lad.

It is a great privilege to be flown in a Spitfire, and one granted to very few. The rarity of the two seater Spitfire (there are only six airworthy in the UK), the fact that several of those are privately owned, and the huge cost of operating these thirsty, complex machines sees to that.

However, my dream wasn’t to be a passenger - I wanted to take the controls, and experience the Spitfire’s legendary handling.

A recent relaxation of Civil Aviation Authority rules means people who already hold a pilot’s licence can do this. Thanks to an RAF Flying Scholarship, and some financial help from my parents, I gained my licence in 1968, aged 17. Although I had a long gap when I didn’t fly at all, I revalidated my licence in 2008. Since then I have flown the length and breadth of the UK.

AS a child, I cycled to nearby Redhill Aerodrome to watch the Tiger Moths flying. A child of the 50s, one of my comic book heroes was Paddy Payne, Fighter Ace in the Lion comic. My dream of flying a Spitfire had started then, and now it was about to come true.

This Spitfire was bought at auction in 2009 for £1.7m, by Steve Boultbee Brooks, businessman and flying enthusiast, who established the Boultbee Flight Academy to allow as many pilots as possible to experience the thrill of flying a Spitfire.

My parents, who are in their late 90s and remember the Battle of Britain vividly, very kindly gifted me a one day training course there.

The course aims to give an insight into training those young men undertook in 1940 before being hurled into battle in the Spitfire. The emphasis is on serious training, whilst having lots of fun, and finally 30 minutes in the Spitfire.

THE Spitfire is bigger close up than one imagines. As we taxied out, the long nose housing the 27 litre V12 Merlin engine made it impossible to see ahead, so we had to weave from side to side to avoid bumping into anything.

Then, final pre-take off checks complete, my instructor Chris Hadlow opened up the Merlin with a mighty roar, and we hurtled down the runway.

The acceleration took me by surprise: so fierce that I was pushed back into my seat. In no time we were airborne, and the wheels were up before we skimmed over the airfield boundary in a climbing turn. The trees whipped by just beneath the elliptical wing of the Spit.

Seconds later I was handed the controls. I was actually flying a Spitfire! I explored its handling, with gentle turns. Sweet in roll, it was very sensitive in pitch and it took me a while to learn how not to send the nose up and down like a yo-yo.

We reached the coast and turned east to fly over Arundel Castle. Then it was time to see just what this aircraft could do. We practised attacking boats in the channel which was great fun.

Once we had selected a target, I rolled the wings sharply until the they were just beyond vertical. A glance down the wing and I was looking straight down at the sea. Then pulling the nose round we went into a steep diving turn, then lined up straight onto the unsuspecting boat.

“Let’s do that again” said Chris, “but choose another boat - we don’t want them to get a complex!” So I pulled back on the stick and the Spitfire soared back into the sky for another go.

Then we tried several very tight turns. My stomach went to my knees as we pulled 4.5g. No wonder the Spitfire could out-turn a Me 109. I could see the Isle of Wight revolving in front of me as I held the stick fully over for a Victory Roll.

The Spitfire is every bit as wonderful to fly as everyone says.Returning to Goodwood Chris said “Look for Chichester Cathedral”. I could see the spire rising miles to the north. “That’s how the boys found their way back after a dogfight, coming in low over the coast.”

Another poignant reminder of the Battle of Britain. It had been an intense experience, and I felt very emotional at the end. It was great that both my parents could see me out and back.

Flying the Spitfire was a wonderful experience, but quite a challenge. My respect for the young men who flew them in the defence of our country in 1940 has grown immensely since my flight.

I hope we never forget the huge debt that we owe them.