Flying a Spitfire Air Display, with a DH 115 Vampire

Spitfire Mk IX airshow with Dave Hadfield, and formation passes with DH Vampire, at the Great Lakes International Airshow in June 2018. Helmet-cam and voice-over by Dave Hadfield. Song "On Track" (c)2018 Dave Hadfield www.hadfield.ca
Note: aerobatics were not allowed during this display. The aircraft was fresh out of the restoration shop, and there was no opportunity to gain the accreditation for an aerobatic show. But it's possible to fly a routine that displays a Spitfire without going inverted.
This is the first time a Spitfire and a Vampire have flown together in Canada for about 40 years.
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.

[@flymachine]

Loving your stuff, who wouldn’t. Thank you so much for taking me on the ride it’s an absolute privilege we take for granted, I’ll live my dreams through you and this channel.

[@ShevillMathers]

Fantastic displays by both you guys, so impressive that you have such a devoted group of supporters/volunteers to promote early aviation to the general public. My early medical training days in the RAF had me stationed close to the EE Lightning base, so we had spectacular views of those early supersonic jet trials. My posting to post war Germany in 1956 was a real treat in many ways, it was the era of those first jets, Hawker Hunter, Canberra Bomber and the Lightning. I got a bit of flying in at the nearby aerodrome, all those early wartime aircraft were still in use. We had a great glider club, 30 shillings a year m/ship and a shilling a launch. Fun days for a very young man. One of my lifetime hobbies has been R/C model building/flying right from the mid 50’s with valve radio sets. At nearly 86 I have turned to quadcopters that I can fly on our 5-acre rural property. Left England in ‘68 for a new medical career in being part of founding the first Clinical School in Hobart Tasmania Australia. Many years ago I had the good fortune to make friends with a WWII Spitfire who also wrote the training manual for helicopters. Those times have sadly passed, an era of pilots and aircraft we will never see again, I am glad to have lived through this period of time. I enjoy immensely your flight presentations, every aspect is spot on, not seen better anywhere. Long may you enjoy flying these old birds-and sharing your passion and expertise for us all to enjoy. Kindest regards from Tasmania Australia-Southern Cross Observatory-42 South.👍😁🇦🇺🦘

[@juststeve5542]

Simply wonderful, thanks for sharing. As a Brit with a Spirfire mad father I've seen many flying, but this is the first time I've seen a detailed run through of the process and it was fascinating. And thanks for not putting any stupid music over that wonderful engine note, so many times I've seen great footage ruined by a pointless soundtrack, just let the Merlin do the singing :-D

[@davehadfield5906]

Thanks -- I do have a Spitfire song, but it's not recorded yet.

[@JamesLangford-Cosslett]

Thank you again for this wonderful video. I am lucky enough to live in England and love going to the air shows at Duxford.

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

What a truly fantastic video. The spitfire is by far the most beloved aircraft here in Britain and it’s nice to see them being enjoyed elsewhere.

[@stewartrowley1]

One last point you didn't need to do aerobatics in the Spitfire,just watching her fly in such a silky smooth nature is so me more better than flinging her around the sky.Thank again.

[@davehadfield5906]

Thanks for the remarks! It's a lovely aeroplane.

[@kelvinearwicker5891]

Brilliant video and great narration. Thanks Dave 👍👍👍

[@jamesrussell7760]

Superb, Dave. Absolutely superb. The Spitfire has to be one of the most beautiful aircraft ever, just like the lady she is.

[@pilot3016]

A lady in the air... and a bitch landing.

[@FrontSideBus]

I think I read somewhere that in the 50's, Vampires used to use old Spitfires that had been filled with concrete as target practise... :(

[@doronron7323]

What a super(marine) production. I've seen a lot of Spitfire cockpit ride video, and this was by far the best. Congratulations to all involved. It would be great to have a camera up on the tail looking forward. Hell, I'm more than satisfied with this.

[@davehadfield5906]

I agree. More video, from more angles, is definitely in the future.

[@steve_neuser]

Outstanding demo, Dave! Don't think there's a sweeter piston engine sound than a Merlin!

[@HaroldDickert]

Hey Dave, thanks for another great video. Don't know how I missed this one till now. Loved seeing the two aircraft together.

[@davehadfield5906]

Thanks Harold!

[@tompierce5969]

Great filming and commentary, Ive really enjoyed watching "flying with Dave" over the last couple of days.

[@nigeldewallens1115]

I just came across this today! That was just wonderful to have your commentary and to see the view from th pilots sort of eyeline! Thank you so much and to see that De Havilland 115 Vampire! Just magical! I hope the team that looks after the plane you flew are coping with the Covid-19 and wish you all well with it in Canada!

[@dinshawmuncherjee5123]

This guy Dave is a super cool and confident pilot. Wish he'd been my instructor when I was a pupil on the North American T6 G/ Harward. His position keeping in formation was just spot on!! Wish him well and happy landings always. Superb commentary too.

[@cavu22]

I just love this Dave. Your comments about handling are my exact impressions. What a great view as we can sit on you shoulder and ride along. Very special thanks so much. brings back some great memories for me.

[@davehadfield5906]

Glad you like it, Dave. This video has been a useful briefing document at VWoC, for new pilots on the Spitfire, and for our stock non-aero airshow fighter display.

[@tomthompson7400]

fantastic video , great narration

[@campbellbox]

Great footage and really informative narration. Thanks for taking the time to put this together.

[@johnandrews3568]

Great photography and even better editing. Well done and thanks again, Dave

[@stewartrowley1]

Great talk through on your film loved it Thank You. You are one lucky man to fly such a beautiful historic aeroplane.

[@ShevillMathers]

Fantastic experience thank you for sharing your wonderful talent and experience.👍😁🇦🇺🔭

[@olddogg60]

It is a pleasure to watch you fly. 👍

[@CBGSpotter]

Love watching these videos, its very interesting to note the way the North American warbird pilots fly, its rather different to most European pilots, particularly on the take off. Rarely do you see Spits here leap off with the tail wheel so low. Awesome stuff :)

[@ched9867]

Great flying. Great videos. Great photographs. Just great!

[@woooster17]

That was superb.. I flew every moment with you. My ambition, along with 1000s of others is to fly in @ 2 seat Spit.. Boultbee perhaps 🙏🏽

[@Acheiropoietos]

Handy having the word 'throttle' written on that widget there Dave

[@markthibault8579]

Excellent footage and insightful narration. It's cool to ride along in such a stunningly awesome airplane.

[@johnmckenna8989]

...The dedicated volunteers in Comox did a great job starting the restoration of Y-2K, I visited often......I do think they should be given some recognition for the excellent work they did and what they accomplished....

[@davehadfield5906]

I flew this Spitfire out to Comox to acknowledge that.

[@davidsullivan8236]

Any way you look at it the spitfire is wonderful to watch I think its great that you and your colleagues keep both these aircraft flying, in Australia there is an ex RAAF vampire sat on top of a pole at the entrance to the local shopping centre, I don't know how well it is being preserved or by whom

[@lessharratt8719]

OMG this puts a smile on my face.

[@ErnestGutschikAviation]

Excellent video Dave! Very nicely done!

[@Abby1952]

Thank you Dave, beautifully done. A seen the MKVlll Spitfire here in Oz a couple of times and the Merlin definitely does it for me.

[@dennisryckman5210]

I was at that show! Thanks for sharing the cockpit BTS!

[@EnglishLawyer]

Beyond fantastic!

[@CanadianGrenadian]

Thanks Dave, this will come in handy when I get my Spit😂

[@sstocker31]

Wow thanks for the ride Dave.... that's the closest I'll probably ever get to flying a spitfire, your commentary as it went along was fantastic thanks so much! The photo shot at 25:13 is really cool, you don't see many shots like that which capture the cool shape of the engine cowling.

[@pilot3016]

And the Vampire jet? Everyone laughed at the Reno Air Races a few years back when it took off to join the other hot shot jets in the event. Well.. that thing hauled ASS.

[@alanbarnstable6874]

Fantastic video, and really interesting commentary.

[@TCMontyDibs]

Superb ,Thank you to all those involved in keeping these aircraft airworthy .Great video :)

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

Lovely formation, I was fortunate to see 2 vampires fly in formation with a Sea Vixen and Vulcan back in 2015, alas the Vulcan has come to the end of its flying career and the sea vixen suffered damage during a gear up landing a couple of years ago.

[@TyCetto]

Where can I buy those pictures of the two planes together? WOW, they as STUNNING!

[@davehadfield5906]

Eric Dumigan airic.ca

[@q8padi]

Beautiful video and pictures well done 😘👌

[@jakubzurek4539]

Great video and even better commentary. What sort of boost and RPM settings would you use if you were permitted to do aerobatics in the Spitfire?

[@davehadfield5906]

You just use what you need. So, for simple loops and Cubans, 6 lbs and 2500 rpm would be ample, although I don't have my notes handy.

[@n176ldesperanza7]

The Mark IX in my opinion has the best lines and proportions of any fighter ever. This one has the later fin/rudder which may not be the best looking of the two types but still looks great. I'll never get to fly one but this experience was pretty close. Does it have any flight load protections like an elevator bob weight or is it "as designed?" Thanks so much!

[@davehadfield5906]

Spitfires are almost neutral in longitudinal (pitch) stability, and are also very light in pitch control force. So you don't want to mess with what they came up with back then -- they gave it a lot of thought. Jeffery Quill's book makes that quite clear. I really like the big rudder. This is the only Spitfire I've flown, but I am impressed at the way it can sometimes be steered on the ground without brakes -- just aerodynamics. Very clean flow along the fuselage even with the tail down.

[@n176ldesperanza7]

@@davehadfield5906 Dave--Very kind of you to reply. Reason I ask is that I once flew back seat in a Commemerative Air Force P-51D and they had added an elevator bobweight to protect the 70-year-old structure against inadvertent excessive g-load. I noticed when pulling in a turn (there's a stick in the back seat) the bobweight really was effective at resisting adding more back pressure/g. Perhaps they did that because they take riders of varying levels of experience and have to be extra careful, whereas only an expert like you will be allowed to fly that Spitfire. Cheers and stay safe!

[@rutchiemctavish]

Hi Dave, great video! quick question: on base / continuous turn (21:26) it looks like you reduce prop pitch, are you in fully fine the entire time? Thank you

[@davehadfield5906]

No, after takeoff you set the RPM via the lever, and the constant speed unit changes prop pitch to give you whatever you selected. Before landing you push the lever full forward to select Fine pitch, and it governs to a max of 3000 rpm.

[@rutchiemctavish]

@@davehadfield5906I’ve just rewatched it and seen that you tighten the friction!

[@balsumfractus]

Very well done video, and a great display! Were there any throttle adjustments during the display? RPM's sounded pretty consistent throughout........

[@davehadfield5906]

No, not much until it was time to formate with the Vampire. It's simpler to just set the power at a high-cruise, and then play with the energy.

[@TheWGLOVER]

Well presented.

[@gyrogearloose1345]

Love your stuff Mr Hadfield, music included! Thanks very much for the vids. Just a word to the cameraman, if I may. Decide on where the camera is going to point. That's your shot. Commit to it. Do it and then move on to the next. And the transition; smoothly does it. Enough jumping around! Ok I said my piece. No offense intended. All is great is beautiful. Thank you. Love and Peace, Gyro. And, I just realised - duh - you are shooting it yourself - helmet camera I suppose. Well that lets the cameraman off the hook! And triple Kudos for you: you're flying it, you're shooting it, and you're loving it! Thank you very much!!!

[@davehadfield5906]

Good lesson, but there is no cameraman, only me, and my objective is to fly the airplane, not make a video. So, I'm lucky to have anything useable at all.

[@gyrogearloose1345]

Hats off to you Sir !

[@Fabianwew]

Great footage

[@Colin_Wait]

Fabulous!

[@MultiSkyman1]

Seems weird having that round loop control stick.

[@rudolfmouthaan7892]

I my eyes war planes are not pretty to look at. There are however two exceptions in history. These are the elegant looking supermarine spitfire and the modern, already 40 year old, General Dynamics F16. It's nice to see the spitfire flying along a jet plane.

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

Interesting you say the spitfire is nose heavy compared to the mustang, is this due to the extra fuel tank put in the mustang to balance the aircraft when they put the merlin in them?

[@davehadfield5906]

No, it's just that the Spitfire was light in the tail to begin with, and they never made the fuselage longer when the engine upgrades happened.

[@benters3509]

A very good video.

[@Backwardlooking]

👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@Daniel-rb6vu]

Cool..very cool !!

[@TonVerkleijT3]

Is the Spitfire your alltime warbird then? Or the Mustang since that's not as nose heavy?

[@davehadfield5906]

The Mustang is a lot better for a long cross-country flight.

[@grownjohnboy]

Anybody that doesn't want to steal this aeroplane and fly it like you stole it has no place watching this video. After 5:00 I'm seeing stars. A mere 250KT and you're hardly having fun. If life is all about curves, a Spitfire and her's are what flying is about.

[@baselhammond3317]

So why not use the full 11 ib?

[@brianperry]

If I were in that house I would say pass as low as you like, so I can hear the snarl of the merlin good and loud..

[@coopersrace7277]

Does the owner get to fly it, or is he just a collector?

[@davidkreutzkamp6602]

He has flown the 51 in the collection before as well as the other fighters in the collection so I imagine he does with this spit as well.

[@balsumfractus]

So 3000rpm snd 11lbs of boost are the limits on this engine?

[@davehadfield5906]

The prop governs to a max of 3000 rpm. As for boost, the different Merlins have different ratings, and some outfits reduce that further for longevity. There's no reason on ours to go past 6.

[@balsumfractus]

@@davehadfield5906 thank you for the reply! I realize that there is no need to run these engines to the max since you are not in combat. I was just wondering what limits were placed on this particular engine to enable it to serve well into the future without issues. It sounds fantastic in the video .......thank you for taking us along!

[@jadams3427]

Nice to see Y2K up there !

[@davehadfield5906]

The only flying Spitfire in Canada.

[@jadams3427]

@@davehadfield5906 Has Mike Potter sold his Mk.XVI then ?

[@davehadfield5906]

@@jadams3427 Yes, in 2018. It went to Belgium.

[@cambo1200]

Who wouldn’t want a warbird flying low over their house?

[@chocks9350]

Next fine find some glasses with a camera in, so we can set the view from your eyes, please....