Quiz-Anyone know what my Avatar depicts ??

[Thirdway]

I'm not sure it's all that obvious as it's such as small photo but it happened very close to where we live and is an interesting story.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj73NTO8144

The guy who normally flies the Spitfire at airshows was aked to try this stunt, he refused but told the producers that he knew someone who could........his 60+ year old Dad !

It's real footage and the aircraft is very close to the water and Bridge with a difficult entry and exit. You really do have to have some guts to do this. It's at the Bridge near Winston and this picture gives a clue to just how tight it was.

http://www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/winston.html

Makes a few knee down bends look easy.

[neilbaldry]

Spiffing old chap! I do know its a Mk.IX Spit in the video. 4 bladed prop, cannons and a rounded tail, see.

Tally ho red (its the fastest colour!) leader!

[gary tompkins]

I worked as an apprentice fitter for Marconi Avionics 1980-85 at Rochester. During this period the MAPS (Medway Air Preservation Society), were busy restoring WW2 aircraft at the airfield. The apprentices often got old aircraft parts to work on as projects, and in the mid 80's I spent time repairing a chin scoop from a Hawker Hurricane, possibly the one shown at the bottom of this page.

http://www.spifirememorial.org.uk/spifire/aircraft.htmthis

None of the aircraft we fettled bit's for in the 80's went on to fly, but some of the later MAPS restorations were fully airworthy, including the spitfire XI shown in this clip. I remember standing outside the factory (visable in background) in 1993, watching this being taxied & test flown. The sound of that V12 Merlin on low passes made me go weak at the knees :hail:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xPfIcC5h4s&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK2SWkJX4Ho&feature=related

The Spitfire's original test pilot Mark Hanna' sadly later died as a result of injuries sustained in an aircraft crash in Spain on Saturday 25 September 1999.

[Thirdway]

The Spitfire's original test pilot Mark Hanna' sadly later died as a result of injuries sustained in an aircraft crash in Spain on Saturday 25 September 1999.

It was Ray Hanna that flew the Spit under the bridge, Marks Dad of course.

[big pete]

That is epic but this does it for me . Genuinely wish I knew this had been happening I would have driven down to see it and try to met a boyhood hero, Richard Todd a mans actor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1OuyIe0pig&feature=related