Fly A Spitfire -- With a Corsair!

Join Dave in the cockpit of a Mk IX Spitfire for a 2-ship formation Air Display at the Borden Airshow -- with a Corsair! -- and hear Dave's commentary about what it's like to fly such iconic aircraft. Lots of tips about the Spitfire; plus info about what makes a successful -- and safe! -- airshow display.
Song: "On Track" (c)2018 Dave Hadfield, from his aviation album: "Climbin' Away".
www.hadfield.ca
These aircraft are owned by pilot and restorer Mike Potter, are based in Gatineau, Q.C., and are displayed in association with Vintage Wings of Canada www.vintagewings.ca
This Corsair was damaged in an unrelated landing accident a year later, so these scenes are especially poignant to the volunteers and spectators who have been so impressed by it in the past.
NOTE: There are many comments about how long it takes to go through the checklists and get the thing airborne. In the B of B the ground crews would have started the engines and done the mag checks etc before sunrise. As soon as the pilots appeared on the airfield they'd go to their aeroplane, talk to the crew about it, check that all the switches and levers were in the right position for a Scramble, and -- very important! -- arrange the parachute and harness "just-so" for a quick strap-in-and-go; and brief the ground crew about exactly how they were going to coordinate the startup and launch. BUT... I fly many different aircraft types, our ground crew have many different duties, and we have no time-imperative. So we use checklists -- which have been shown many times to reduce the "oh-crap-forgot-that" mistakes.

[@frankcyr3473]

Amazing video, I love the voice over explaining what is going on. Thank you for taking the time to make this. I look forward to future videos!

[@mycroft1905]

"It's the engine sound that people like as much as anything." Yes indeed. So why the never ending commentary over the PA on the ground? Some airshows play non-stop music. These people need to shut up, respect the audience and performers and let the planes have their say. Great vid. Thanks for posting.

[@dawidos117]

Exactly! 100%! 👍🏻 Yes, it’s the engine sound I love. That is why there is no room in my life for electric vehicles of any sort. 🤮

[@UPTHETOWN]

Two very special aircraft to me, my dad looked after both of these (also swordfish) when he was on carriers during WWII

[@brianstyrczula9466]

Wish I was in the back seat, tip of the hat Bro.

[@BikerJim74]

I get goosebumps whenever I hear that Merlin

[@warshipsdd-2142]

Two of the most iconic tail-dragger warbirds, wonderful-thanks

[@ZacYates]

I love your videos Dave! I remember reading about the “Y2K Spitfire” restoration in Classic Wings when I was growing up, so it’s wonderful to come along with you in your videos flying her. Especially in formation - you hold station so well! Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.

[@HoNau77]

Its a pleasure to watch! Thank you a lot!

[@zontral]

Fantastic videos. Thanks for making them!!

[@DanielDeRudder]

Thank you very much for this pilot's perspective of an air display ! A nice detail was the insertion of some photographs taking from down below in the crowd !

[@I-0-0-I]

So happy that the youtube recommendation engine served me well today! Thank you for the flight sir!

[@rodneyelliott5995]

Many years ago I had the great privilege to fly with Peter Kinsey in the Grace Spitfire and that was a profound and exhilarating experience. Shortly after taking to the air at Duxford, Peter asked me how I wanted to experience the flight. Nice and steady, or to experience the full handling capability of the Spitfire? Naturally, if not without some apprehension, I decided what was possibly to be a lifetime opportunity and experience had to be with aerobatics. To put it mildly, Peter gave me the flight of a lifetime, so much so there were times when I was almost completely disorientated. I often think about reliving the experience but, so far, the opportunity as eluded me. To the Warbird Workshop video, however, as fascinating and interesting as it has been to view the reconstruction of the Spitfire following the accident, I doubt I shall be rushing to view the remainder of that UKTV series. Yet again the idiotic film makers have not only ruined the experience with inappropriate (supposed) music, they have overwhelmed the entire experience, so much so the Merlin sound was rarely heard. Furthermore, at times, the cacophony increased to such a crescendo that the dialogue was hard to follow. It is a common failing by so many film makers of this genre and I just cannot understand where they think they are coming from and to what type of audience they believe their productions are supposed to appeal. In short, they behave as if they are indolent children who have too many toys and cannot resist playing with all of them and simultaneously too at times.

[@scottyb6765]

That is a splendid video. Been to many airshows and the museum at Planes of Fame Ontario CA. Really nice to see what happens in the plane and listen to you explain how and why. Another wonderful flight of Mr Mitchell's magnificent bird.

[@arnold9526]

Thank you for posting. This was my Dad's favourate WW2 Aerocraft.

[@robertmorey4104]

Great video, love the narration. Awesome footage. Not bad singing too.

[@Treeman196]

That's something you don't see everyday thanks very much for these a corsair and a spitfire what could be better on a easter Sunday

[@ShevillMathers]

A BIG Thank You to all who made this video presentation possible. 👍😁🤗🇬🇧🇦🇺🦘

[@kevinboyd-kevinboydvideosa6961]

Thats Brilliant right from the start. Well worth a watch and some quick lessons for the Armchair Pilot.

[@balsumfractus]

Thank you for taking me along in the Spitfire....even though I never left my sofa....I really enjoy your helmet cam videos!!

[@ianmcgee9945]

Another wonderful video, thank you so much!

[@noone-75]

Thank you mister for awesome vid. Spitfire and Corsair are beautiful. Wish there was a Mustang too, but oh boy, that Spit Merlin sound. Awesomeness. Keep it up!

[@Avetorro]

Excellent video, I only fly spits in combat simulators but I’ve learned so much from this.

[@spitfiregraham]

What a great video, Thank you for sharing!!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@Chain21SAW]

Hi Dave , new to your videos and I have to say they are very special . I came to flying later in life and have started a PPL mainly bush flying in Cessna s in Africa . Your walk thru.take offs are so interesting to a learner .. I wish I’d have discovered flying earlier in life ! But I’m having fun now ! Flying whenever I can .. Thanks again for your time in sharing these experiences 👌

[@Lawrence-ui1hv]

Bloody magnificent! What a display of two legendary ww2 aircraft and great commentary. I'd love to see a Spitfire, Hurricane, Mosquito and Lancaster flying in formation one day.

[@Warbird-Aviation]

Shat a nice video. lovely to watch! Thank you so much for this

[@kbjerke]

My TWO favourite fighter aircraft of all time!!!

[@arclight4625]

Thanks for the footage!

[@longtimepittsowner5589]

Terrific performances.expertly flown.Dave you must be the single most experienced Spitfire pilot flying today.

[@ThePorridgeGobbler]

Don't forget the Battle of Britain Memorial Display Flight at RAF Coningsby in the UK 17:44

[@strat0871]

Very nice show, thanks.

[@johnw3638]

That still photography is awesome. Of course it takes an awesome pilot to put the plane where the photographer can get the shot. Beautiful aircraft

[@fredandmarysuesmith6812]

See ct no

[@YYZRL203]

Great video! Thanks Dave!

[@plumbs7199]

Absolutely love it ! Thanks heaps!

[@marchindy]

Great video and editing sir.

[@arnhemseptember2009]

That was great fun!!

[@dannymattice20]

Very nice Dave and thank you. Love both aircraft but sure miss the Corsair. Keep up hothead good work

[@carolinetran2355]

Sure miss it too was my favorite specially when it flew with the Mitchell or the f86 Sabre

[@mickemike2148]

WOW! Thanks for sharing!

[@ianrobinson8974]

08/03/2121 Interesting to see the inside efforts of the pilot in this display. On the 5th I saw a display in Temora, NSW, Australia. Three spitfires, an Avenger and many more planes. Celebrating the centenary of the Royal Australian Airforce.

[@MarcvanExel]

Totally awesome! Thank you!

[@peterconnan5631]

Beautiful, thank you.

[@JohnFourtyTwo]

I love those old war birds, nothing else sounds like them. From what I've seen on The History Channel, the U.S. Navy didn't like the Corsair when it first came out because they were prone to crash on the flightdeck because the pilot was sitting so far back and couldn't see what was in front of him, so the Navy gave them to the USMC who figured out how to land them on a carrier by using a Landing Signal Officer on the carrier to give the pilot information he needed so he could safely land the plane onboard. I was in VFA 151 Vigilantes onboard USS MIDWAY (CV 41) from 1990-1992 and thoroughly enjoyed that experience. I could've reenlisted in a F/A-18B two-seater had I scheduled the request in time which included a condensed egress course but my transfer date was fast approaching so I settled with a regular reenlistment in the Ready Room instead. My reenlisting officer was prior enlisted and I was his first non-family member he reenlisted, he reenlisted his brother about a month prior to me who was in another squadron; he later on went to fly with The Blue Angels and he took Mary Hart from Entertainment Tonight up on a flight during an interview one day.

[@daniellastuart3145]

IT was the Royal Navy who figured out how to land the Corsair on a carrier the R N were flying them off carriers 8 Mouths before the Americans go and learn some History

[@JohnFourtyTwo]

@@daniellastuart3145 I read about it in Pappy Boyington's biography a few years ago and he credited the USMC with successful carrier landings. I know the RN flew them also but the USN flew them first before the USMC & RN and abandoned the plane to the USMC due to they didn't consider it suitable for carrier use.

[@167curly]

I have the feeling that the avionics on the top of the dash are not 1940 models? I love how your Spit seemed to leap off the runway. What a thrill for both pilots and the spectating crowd on the ground! Thanks for sharing.

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

No need for a big reflector gunsight, they ruined many faces in survived crashes.

[@VimyScout]

Just beautiful 👌

Brilliant!

[@lars-erikbtkerpetersen9466]

Awesome... 👍🤗

[@angusmcgherkinsquirt]

Thank you.

[@Lazengogh]

Thank You.

[@robe6723]

Hi Dave, another great video! How sensitive are the controls of the Spitfire? and how much control movement is needed when gently maneuvering? thank you. All the best, R.

[@MarsFKA]

0:15. What a great lineup. Do they all fly? Er...I'm talking about the aircraft...

[@MarsFKA]

3:00 Taking off among the grapevines at Omaka air field.

[@Getoffline123]

nice plane

[@Dzordzikk]

Hi Dave, how much G´s you perform on airshows like this +/-?

[@adamwheatley5097]

Good to know thanks. Just about to start my DA workup in a Mark XVI

[@davehadfield5906]

We had one, but I never flew it. I was always looking over at it in formations...

[@adamwheatley5097]

@@davehadfield5906 To be fair Dave it doesn't sound like you go short of warbird flying on various types :) !

[@KJKsimmer]

"No longer any runways at Borden." - I used to live at Barrie, went to a show there in the days when runways still existed. So, who decided to dump all over the history of Borden by getting rid of runways? No respect for the position that AIRFIELD held in Canadian aviation history I guess. All that said, what a brilliant video. And by the way Dave, I used to attend a little church in Omagh... Familiar ground for you.

[@davehadfield5906]

Really? That's about 100 yards from the ball diamond.

[@KJKsimmer]

@@davehadfield5906 Yes. If you ever knew Arnold McDuffie, he pointed out a certain grass strip close to it. Love your content. These in cockpit videos are superb, as is your commentary. Keep them coming.

[@desertpoj]

A man of many talents; I enjoyed your soundtrack. Is that Vintech from my home Village of Gransden, Cambridgshire? Your accent and the RCAF F18s remind me of when I was doing a EWO course at RAFC Cranwell; I was flying F3s at RAF Coningsby at the time. There was a Canadian F18 guy on the course and we were chatting about Spitfires. I offered to take around the BBMF and got the keys off the boss and let ourselves in the hanger. As it was dark I had to turn the lights on revealing around 4 Spitfires, two Hurricanes, a Chipmunk, a Dakota and a Lancaster. The guy was dumbfounded. He sat in a Spit for ages and just didn’t believe that they were real and that they flew. Beautiful video, thank you.

[@davehadfield5906]

Good story! I do the same thing! The Vintech I refer to in the video is not in the UK, it's at our hangar at Gatineau airport.

[@FrontSideBus]

It must be quite something to fly those aeroplanes, I mean most light aircraft people fly have 200hp and you have a couple of thousand lol. Fantastic sound but I must admit I prefer the more feral sound of the Griffon!

[@WrightCycloneR1820]

Well, what can anyone say? Another great video, and some really awesome display flying in iconic aircraft. Just noticed the VWoC Spit doesn't have canon bulges, is there fuel in there instead? Great shame there are no runways at Borden, here's hoping that flying can return some day, even if just a grass strip. Such a historic site, it deserves to be the Canadian Duxford.

[@davehadfield5906]

Yes, we installed four 12.5 gal bladder tanks in the gun bays for our "5000 Miles In A Spitfire" program in 2018.

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

Later Spitfires removed the shallow gear up tyre bulge and instead curved the undercarriage leg cover to accommodate a slight leg droop. It is aerodynamically better to have any draggy bits on the wing’s underside.

[@jmace5964]

We either take off or blow up (battle of britian) great video

[@waynester71]

I thought the same.. “How much longer Ops, we either stand down or blow up, which do you want”? 😄

[@GLee-lk3rf]

Nice :D

[@lucien-3764]

RR-Merlin got Best sound; Sorry P&W!

[@boogie153]

Wow, amazing, explaining the flight and what a pilot has to look for ! 👍 I wonder at which speed did you make the fly-bys ?? Did you ever give them full throttle and speed ??

[@davehadfield5906]

Thanks. No, we never use full power because the engines are very expensive to overhaul, and we'd be past the crowd too quick.

[@boogie153]

@@davehadfield5906 Thx a lot for your fast reply, i understand that this engines are really precious parts of engineering. How fast are you flying during a "fast" fly by ? Just to get a feeling for it, 200 to 300 mph ?

[@davehadfield5906]

@@boogie153 About 240 mph, but it depends if you want to accumulate energy for the next maneuver, or shed it to stay in close to the crowd.

[@adamwheatley5097]

Great videos. Do you display and formate at +6 boost and 2650rpm?

[@davehadfield5906]

No, there's no need for that kind of speed. I set the RPM at 2400, and then have lots of flex for throttle-movement without overboosting. Too fast and you zip past the crowd too quickly, and the turn-arounds are too lengthy.

[@garymoodie6996]

When was this video filmed? And is the corsair back flying again?

[@Iclo420]

Doubtfull, considering the heavy damages

[@davehadfield5906]

The display was 2018. The accident occurred a year later. Nil fix yet.

[@fumblerooskie]

Seems like a pretty short takeoff

[@jandal8905]

No doubt which is the prettier of the two ...

[@kevinmalloy2180]

Wow. Almost like being at the controls-next time I’m in my Champ I’’ll “think Spitfire”...

[@davehadfield5906]

I watched Gen. Richard Rohmer fly our Champ at Edenvale a few years back, and he did curving-fighter approaches every time. Made you stop and think...

[@ronniemackinnon3237]

Once again,,great video!! I understand the need in some aircraft for curving fighter style approaches. I love doing them, thru a left base I feel I can judge my app better. As I am a private pilot trained in square, am I just developing a bad habit? Ur thoughts?.

[@davehadfield5906]

@@ronniemackinnon3237 In a nosewheel aircraft none of this matters. In a tailwheel aircraft if the circuit is empty, do what you like. If however you have to follow 3 C-150s or Katanas on 3-mile finals, you haven't much choice except conform, go elsewhere, or fly at a low-use time of day. But the important thing is to go flying ;)

[@dannymattice20]

Darn spellcheck. I meant keep up the good work. Sorry

[@rollsmerlin1659]

these show announcers that don't bother to read up on display aircraft to at least get some of the terminology correct are pathetic ! ... Merlin Royce ?! sheesh !