A very enjoyable two days at Goodwood was had by several Zarses. We saw a bit of Steve Brown and the wonderful AS Aston DBR2 replica. He and Andy Two-Cobras seemed very busy indeed and their voices were on the point of exhaustion by closing on sunday.
The highlight of our saturday was to be invited through the security barrier and given a tour of the WWII display aircraft. Of course, they don't let just anyone in there, they strictly keep the "ordinary people" and hoy-poloy well away from such valuable machines. Not so Team Zarse.
Needless to say, I was asked if i would like to sit in a Spitfire. Wood eye! What a privilege! The Spirit of Kent (or
MY Spitfire as I now prefer to call her
) was still hot and ticking from her last display. She smelt of hot oil, fuel and a sort of indescribable old aeroplane aroma. I got to move the elevators, ailerons and rubber pedals, and to push the fire button located on the joystick and go "DAGA-DAGA-DAGA". God it felt smooth, totally unlike the slightly artificial feel of a Piper or Cessna. No wonder it's been described as a Gentleman's sports aeroplane. When I closed the canopy things became amazingly claustrophobic. How the hell those guys could see anything not at 30 degrees to centre is beyond me. The rear veiw mirror on the Commer is more effective in terms of seeing what's coming up behind you. Anyway, such was my reluctance to exit, they nearly had to get the crash axe out to prize me from the seat I can tell you!
All in all I consider myself to be a jammy jammy bastard.
