Two seater Spitfire flights are now a reality! Following changes in the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) rules these Biggin Hill Spitfire flights mean the impossible is now possible thanks to this very special T9 Spitfire that will be operating tandem flights from this legendary airport that was one of the principal fighter bases in the Battle of Britain.
We are very proud to be able to offer these incredible experiences. We often talk of ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunities but these two seater Spitfire flights really do fall into that category. Of course with high running and maintenance costs on these classic warbirds our tandem Spitfire flights aren’t cheap but can you put a price on aviation heaven?
So what about the Spitfire you’ll be flying in? Well two seater Spitfires are incredibly rare. Over 20 000 single seat Spitfires were built with only a few dozen remaining airworthy today. Supermarine did come up with the concept of a two seater training version of the plane but none were ever ordered and only one was built. But there followed several instances of ‘unofficial’ conversions so after the Second World War Supermarine launched the idea again and a handful of Mark IX Spitfires were converted into two seaters called TR9s.
Resplendent in her invasion stripes G-BMSB (serial number MJ627 code Q-9G) was owned by Maurice and Peter Bayliss for many years before being bought by RV Aviation Ltd. This plane has an amazing log book having flown numerous ground attack bomber escort and patrol missions during the war including being credited with the downing of an enemy Messerschmitt Bf 109 on September 27th 1944. After being damaged and put into storage the aircraft was bought by Vickers Armstrong in 1950 MJ627 was one of the Spitfires converted to a tandem and sent to the Irish Air Corps before retiring in 1960. The Bayliss family breathed life into the old girl when she was fully restored and took to the skies again in 1993 exactly 50 years since she first flew.
Imagine what it’ll be like to sit under your bubble canopy in the rear cockpit waiting with bated breath as the Merlin engine kicks into life. All we can say is that we’re pretty sure the date you got to fly in a TR9 Spitfire over the famous RAF chapel of Biggin Hill and through the Kentish skies will be indelibly inscribed in your mind and your heart for ever.
