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What a Lucky Lady!... Mandy and the Spitfire - 15th August 2007
fly2help is all about making dreams take flight. John Romain, Managing Director of The Aircraft Restoration Company www.arc-duxford.co.uk , recently gave our own Mandy Pantall the chance to fulfill one of her dreams, a flight in a Spitfire Tr.9. Here's Mandy's account of that special flight.
WOW, what a weekend, I still can't believe it!... and I'll certainly NEVER forget it!
I was about to be given the opportunity of a lifetime... and
certainly not one I ever thought I would get! John is a good
friend but I never imagined that this would happen at any
time, let alone today! I was totally unprepared for this,
in every sense; I didn't even have a camera to record
the event, but John managed to arrange a photographer...
Simon Fenwick to the rescue!
Getting into the Tr.9 (G-CCCA) wasn't easy but as far as 'pain vs reward' goes, there was no competition - nothing was going to stop this happening now! With the aid of a ladder and the support of John, Al and Parky, I eventually settled into the cockpit that felt as if it were 'made to measure'! I was overwhelmed by a sense of being 'complete'... corny I know, but true!... needless to say emotions and adrenaline were running high by this point; so much so that I couldn't even plug my headset in due to my shaking hands.
The engine started and the roar of the Merlin from this perspective
made me shiver. I couldn't believe this was actually
going to happen, yet here we were, starting to taxi! I couldn't
resist lifting my headset to hear the classic sound as the
revs increased. By the time we started to roll for take-off
I was already suffering from case of 'leaky eye syndrome'...
Once we were airborne, that was it... perfection!
We were flying in real Battle of Britain territory; along the white cliffs, over the water and then to Friston (where John flew in the film 'A Piece of Cake'). Every sight was absorbed ensuring that the famous and glorious elliptical wing was always in view... I just couldn't take my eyes off it, from this angle it was even more breathtaking. Then, through the intercom came the words "You have control" Oh lord... for a second I just couldn't move my arms... surely this wasn't happening... did I hear him right?... I can't even begin to explain how this felt... but it did happen, it's even in my log book!
After an incredible sortie including a wonderful series of
graceful aerobatics, we returned to Shoreham for a series
of 'run and breaks'... AWESOME... Needless
to say, I was the happiest girl alive... I still can't
really believe it... Me, flying in a Spitfire??... and there
is no doubt that to be flown in the queen of the skies by
a friend made it all the more special.
It's wonderful to have these incredible photographs from Simon, it confirms the fact that it really did happen!... I am still pinching myself on a regular basis!! Every sight, sound and emotion is safely stored in a special corner of my memory; I will never forget a second of the experience, from the initial offer of the flight, right through to the very end! Simon's photographs are a fantastic and a priceless record of the occasion! There are nearly 50 photographs in total, but here's handful as evidence... all these were taken from the ground, no camera ship was involved!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!!
A note from photographer Simon Fenwick: www.simonsfotos.co.uk
During the afternoon I was asked if I would make my way to the Dutch marked Spitfire Tr.9 as John Romain was about to take up a special passenger.
Mandy, it was a delight to see your excitement both on the
ground and in the air and to witness the tears of joy when
you landed. I am honoured to have been asked to record the
event for you.
