Have you ever had one of those days when you feel you're in a time warp? Everything looks normal, but there's something odd in the air and you just can't place your finger on it. Well today was a bit like that. The sun was trying (but failing) to break through, and the rain was threatening but not falling. There was an unseasonal autumnal chill to the breeze.
In the distance I could hear the rumble of a plane. That's not unusual, but the sound today had a distinctive drone to it. Familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. Now as it happens the view to the rear of the garden is restricted and I rarely see anything approach until it's on me (my excuse for the number of shots of sparrowhawks I've missed), but today the drone became insistent and loud, and I had an inkling that something special was about to happen. I turned the camera skyward. 
Spitfire!
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIA P7350
As that beauty swept out of view, another plane flew over the garden. Not quite as low, but low enough (and certainly in reach of my 300mm lens).
Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc PZ865
I was still recovering from the surprise, when I heard some more aircraft drone. A little further away this time, toward the South and at altitude. I imagine that some 60+ years ago these wouldn't have been too welcome a sight over the South Coast, but I was thoroughly delighted!
Bandits at 3 o'clock! (Messerschmitts, I presume)
Encounter in the skies
The final elements of this impromptu display were a couple of more modern looking planes flying in formation. I've no idea what these are, but they flew past about half an hour later.
Aircraft identification courtesy of bbmf.co.uk
Flying Red Fox Blog
18 Aug 2007Wow you were very lucky to see that 😀 Your own free private air display hehe 😛
Must have been a nearby aerodrome air display they were flying to/from, nice to see. Last month we have Goodwood airfield festival of speed and they have fighter jets doing some displays that fly over my place but due to it being so wet last month i only heard the rumble of them.
BANDITS AT 3 O CLOCK Words! hehe, translation, Foxes at 3 o clock 😉
Words
18 Aug 2007Hi Mark… seems it's part of the preparations for the Shoreham Air Show in September. It was just so weird to see a Spitfire come in like that. It more or less just appeared over the back fence with no warning (apart from that drone they make). Quite made my day, and took me back to making all those Airfix models as a kid.
Flying Red Fox Blog
18 Aug 2007Cool, i might go to that if iam not working, you could always go plane spotting with me one day but as we both work and the weathers unpredictable that would be tricky lol:P
I have 2 weeks off work now for Summer yay.
SittingFox
18 Aug 2007Cool! What a surprise! I get the odd float plane here but nothing out of the ordinary!
sprogger
19 Aug 2007How cool.
gdare
19 Aug 2007Nice shot of that Spitfire. When I was young I was interested in planes too, making models (I still have few left) and that was the reason I finished school for airplane mechanic. Unfortunately, I don`t work as airplane mechanic but love toward planes remained 🙂
Words
19 Aug 2007We do get some good sightings here, but you can never tell when they're going to happen. A few years back we were buzzed by Red Arrows heading to a display. Noisy blighters! So I live in vague hope. Yesterday was the first time in a while anything this interesting has flown over. Not sure that I'll be able to make it to the actual show when it happens, but this preview was 'ace' 🙂
Words
21 Aug 2007Just a bit of a footnote. The Spitfire in these shots is the oldest surviving Spitfire and the only remaining one that actually fought in the Battle of Britain. The Hurricane also saw wartime action, but not in BoB.
Mickeyjoe-Irl
21 Aug 2007Lucky you.
anonymous
21 Oct 2007KurtGnu writes:
The last two planes are EXTRA 300's.. some of the very best show and aerobatics planes on the market today.. 🙂 Great blog.. 🙂
Words
21 Oct 2007Thanks Kurt! Nice to know what I'm looking at :up: