Flying Legends 1/4 scale MK9 Spitfire

[BRIAN RAWCLIFFE]

Congratulations Mike,from a fellow warbird fan.

[Dave Smith]

Well done mate, a great achievement.

[Phil Clark]

Nice one Mike....

Phil

[Neil Hutchinson]

Hi All,

I just want to say what an achievement Mike's crossing was. Lots of things were against, not least the weather, but the boy done good!!! I would also like to add that I'm so glad I was asked to go on the trip. The memories will be used to get my own back on the kids, when I'm in my dotage!!!

Great job Mike.

All the best,
Neil

[Neil Hutchinson]

Hi All,

If anyone thinks its easy chasing small aircraft around the sky take a look at the video. The small dots towards the end are the Eurostar that Mike & Chris were in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfR4QcuA7po

TTFN,
Neil

[stewart clifford]

For Sale, one blue Spitfire, high mileage, worn out engine, has slight salt corrosion, real Legend, one happy owner

Great achievement Chocky and thanks for having me along to help out. It was fantastic to be part of this as Neil said. I watched them take off and fly out to sea, weird to see a model flying off out of the airfield boundry and no one being concerned.
Myself and Andy had to bring Mikes car back on the train, when we got there French customs asked where we had been, I told him Calais Aiport, he then asked why? Oh poo I thought, what do I tell him? when I told him what Mike was doing he said "ok, switch off the engine, I'm getting the dog"

It must have been amazing being up there in the plane seeing what was happening and Neilly captured it well as always.

Not surprisingly we spent the whole weekend listening to those immortal fighter pilot words "There I was" complete with hand gestures.

What next?

[Neil Hutchinson]

What's next, Stewart, I still think Irish Sea crossing - nothing to easy!

TTFN,
Neil

[Denis Brown]

What's next, Stewart, I still think Irish Sea crossing - nothing to easy!

TTFN,
Neil

I heard them whispering about something called a Vickers Vimy

[Mike Booth]

For Sale, one blue Spitfire, high mileage, worn out engine, has slight salt corrosion, real Legend, one happy owner

Great achievement Chocky and thanks for having me along to help out. It was fantastic to be part of this as Neil said. I watched them take off and fly out to sea, weird to see a model flying off out of the airfield boundry and no one being concerned.
Myself and Andy had to bring Mikes car back on the train, when we got there French customs asked where we had been, I told him Calais Aiport, he then asked why? Oh poo I thought, what do I tell him? when I told him what Mike was doing he said "ok, switch off the engine, I'm getting the dog"

It must have been amazing being up there in the plane seeing what was happening and Neilly captured it well as always.

Not surprisingly we spent the whole weekend listening to those immortal fighter pilot words "There I was" complete with hand gestures.

What next?

Stewart, you are a Legend yourself mate for having the 'right stuff' approach.
Half the battle with this sort of thing is the psychology, your kind of 'stand back French types, Im going out to the runway with the model, lets get this thing done' not only amused me, but also took a lot of the pressure off my shoulders.
It was no different in the car as you know.
Well done mate and thanks a million for the humour, it was great to have you and Fighter Factory energy on board.
Neil, superb effort.
I am writing the whole thing up now , so in time you will be able to read just what it felt like to have you own scale creation sat in formation twenty metres away, running flat out for the English coast at 1300 ft.
Vive l'esprit de corps mez amie.

[Bob Thompson1894]

my hat comes off Mike. Looking at that video, I cant believe you didnt just lose it out over the channel. Amazing stuff. Well done is a bit feeble....

[Neil Hutchinson]

running flat out for the English coast at 1300 ft

The flat out bit maybe - we couldn't catch you in the Cessna - but 1300ft more like 500! Look where we were in the Cessna on our landing approach. No-one really knew exactly where you were till Manston ATC got a visual on you, posing around Ramsgate, awaiting some Muppet to wonder onto the scene with a camera {:<P

I'll have picture done & on a DVD in the post tomorrow.

TTFN,
Neil

[Mike Booth]

running flat out for the English coast at 1300 ft

The flat out bit maybe - we couldn't catch you in the Cessna - but 1300ft more like 500! Look where we were in the Cessna on our landing approach. No-one really knew exactly where you were till Manston ATC got a visual on you, posing around Ramsgate, awaiting some Muppet to wonder onto the scene with a camera {:<P

I'll have picture done & on a DVD in the post tomorrow.

TTFN,
Neil

OK thats great Neil thanks, in a way i can see why Simon wasn't keen to follow us out, because initially we climbed to 1300 but were down to 500 come mid channel relentless in our pursuit, it was fine even though i had to back the speed off to 80mph and come into about 30 metres distance with the Euro, it would of been easy to fly the Spit into the cloud base.
A much faster, bigger aircraft joining astern may have been tricky to spot us safely.
After the murk though we were back up to 1500 for a while.
We could hear Simon talking to Manston the whole way, so if I was to get any chance of you getting air to air shots I had no choice but to orbit out over the bay while Manston told you where we were.
Home for tea and cake it was... Bloody good show all round chaps.

[Bob Thompson1894]

Yes, yes, Mike- but did you prang any of those bally Jerries?

[Neil Hutchinson]

Hi Mike,

Just thought - I didn't get my 2 rashers of bacon & an egg before I went on that sortie!

[Mike Booth]

Stu and i did Neil, full English in Deal looking out at a grey sea through the stair rods.

[Dave Parry]

What a fantastic achievement by all concerned, well done everybody I think Mike is still up there in the clouds. I bet you can’t guess what the front cover of the next Journal will be.

[chris willis]

Well done Chockey old chap, you are now in the History books ( look under Sir Chockey ) look forward to that cover Dave, also well done to the Fighter boy, and Neil as well for all their hard work, well done Connie & Squadron Leader.

[Mike Booth]

I would Like to take the opportunity here to extend my sincere thanks to all LMA committee members for your vote of faith and your support with my Cross Channel flight.
I would also like to thank Graham Ashby and Ken Shepherd.
Also to all team members who played a part on both attempts in October and this month.
Your hours on the motorway and time sat around at Manston were greatly appreciated.
In particular to Neil Hutchinson and also, Stewart Clifford, who was the ideal wingman and ground crew chief.
Its clear that with this sort of operation its vital to have someone around who is not only humourous, but importantly, has a positive mental attitude towards the operation.
The weight of pressure on my shoulders was lifted considerably by his wit and patience.
Many thanks also to all of those who have expressed their support and congratulations here and via email.
Hopefully you will not get tired of seeing those blue wings in one or two articles that will be published about our venture in the near future.

[Mike Booth]

New developments for next year.
Watch this space.

[Mike Booth]

I'm currently working on a Griffon cowling for the Spitfire kit, so very soon I will be able to offer the kit as a 14, 16, 18, and PR 19 at no extra cost.
Please look at our website for prices and kit ordering. Full fitting out and painting.

http://www.flying-legends.co.uk