Spitfire Operations for 22.5 years

My arrival at RCAF Trenton Ont. July 83, A priority # must be obtained to use this drome...

I was charged: Landing Fee $10.00

Handling Fee $7.42

Prov. Tax $2.52

Fuel $74.19

 Total charge $94.03

They asked, in my departure would I fly by for their camera photo : On take off I simply flew " straight ahead "

My arrival in Ottawa, Requested for the opening of the New Museum, but was not permitted for a fly by so...

I flew by the city of Ottawa, and on the sounding of the cannon- exactly at the moment I dipped the wing, saluting " Billy Bishop"

On my arrival at St. Hubert RCAF for a show their, a red faced S/ldr came running out " get that aircraft off our tarmac "

( 401 Sqn was the last I flew with D-Day op's )

I found a civilian storage hanger ( Terrific )

My return to Windsor from Montreal I made sure No Refueling at RCAF Trenton - I used Kingston Ont.

No landing Fee's and the Fuel was Free.

Ottawa- after a air show in Fulton NY a hydraulic line for wheels lowering fractured... I inverted in the circuit, to take the weight off pins, selected down and rolled over

yawing left than right until the wheels locked in the down position ( the control tower was all shock up )

Again the RCAF, Ottawa would not allow hanger to repair the line - the DOT not only gave a hanger for repair but paid for and did the repair.

Hamilton Ont. Air Show - I had to pay for fuel used and my overnight lodging ??

I never went back to Hamilton or landed at any RCAF dromes again ...

Air shows and Heights to Fly

Who can judge 300/400 FT.?? ( a limit officials try to impose on aerobatics displays )

I always ignored and started an inverted pass etc.. from the deck - it is then easy to judge height throughout an inverted pass etc...

Because of security and respect with the Spitfire and its operation - I  sometimes displayed a Grumpy Attitude to some.

However my strict adherence to the rules of operation versus chairborne artist certainly paid off for the 22.5 years of low low level precision aerobatics and the final outcome of :

Aircraft and Pilot in one Piece