[TorqueSplit]

Reported on another forum - Spitfire crashes after take off at Biggin Hill today.

[DarrenL]

Just on Facebook:

"Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar Ltd

Spitfire MK912 this afternoon suffered a loss of power after takeoff and forced landed back on the airfield. The aircraft is badly damaged but Pilot Dan Griffith carried out a text book forced landing and is OK."

[Flying_john]

Dan has been taken to London hospital with shoulder and arm injury.

[AerBabe]

I'm not sure that 'text book' is quite the right phrase. However, good to hear the pilot is ok. That's the important thing after such a rough weekend.

[joystick]

Anyone know which runway he used ? The pic shows it near the hangars in east camp.

[BlackheathBloke]

An official statement from BHAL

http://www.bigginhillairport.com/2015/08/spitfire-incident-at-london-biggin-hill-airport/

Date posted: 03-08-2015

A Supermarine Spitfire based at the airport’s Heritage Hangar was involved in an emergency landing soon after take-off at 1236 today when the pilot reported a rough-running engine.

The emergency landing was successfully carried out on a grass area with the airport boundary. The pilot suffered only minor injuries and was taken to hospital for precautionary checks. The aircraft incurred some damage as a result of the landing.

The incident was attended rapidly by the airport’s Fire & Rescue Service. Units of the London Fire Service were also present on a supportive stand-by basis.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch of the DoT has been informed and will carry out a thorough investigation of the cause of the incident.

Will Curtis, Managing Director of the airport company, said:

“Spitfires are very much a part of our heritage here at Biggin Hill and we must commend the pilot on his swift and decisive action in the circumstances. We look forward to seeing the aircraft flying again before too long”

The Spitfire, which took part in the Battle of Britain 75 years ago this summer, will be repaired and returned to service in due course. The airport is home base for the Heritage Hangar where a number of Hurricanes and Spitfires are restored and maintained.

[jollyrog]

The Daily Mail have covered the incident, without too much (just a little) sensation.

The pictures are very helpful though. One shows a Spitfire, sort of upside down, wedged in some trees. Another shows the same Spitfire, right way up, holding on a runway. The caption on that states "... pictured before the crash", which I think is useful information for Daily Mail readers.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3182325/Spitfire-crashes-Biggin-Hill-Airport-losing-power-taking-off.html

[BlackheathBloke]

The Daily Star has another slightly better pic that shows the crash site, and managed to work in 'plummet' to the first sentence.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/457086/Spitfire-plane-crash-Biggin-Hill-Airport-London

[Boxkite]

The Biggin Hill statement says it took part in the BoB....... 4 years before it was built. Even the DM got it right this time.

[akg1486]

The Daily Star [...] managed to work in 'plummet' to the first sentence.

And they referred to the pilot as "very experienced", quotation marks and all.

[Paul_Sengupta]

I guess because someone actually said that perhaps?

[akg1486]

I guess because someone actually said that perhaps?

Perhaps, but that's not how it reads.

Sad news, but good to hear that the pilot is OK.

[gfry]

That's going to take **** loads of T Cut!

[foxmoth]

Certainly not textbook ending upside down! That is not meant as a criticism of the pilot - without knowing details I cannot comment on how well he managed in the circumstances, but textbook is not how to describe it!

[dcr226]

In my text book, being able to walk away is a 10/10 result after an EFATO

No sure what best glide would be in a Spitfire, but its going to be a great deal more than a PA28/172