Spitfire Gear up @ Scone, 26 March 2026

[onetrack]

A forgetful pilot or a pilot who doesn't follow a strict checklist, is a dangerous pilot. Complacency is behind many "very highly qualified" pilots crashes.

[Aviation Photograph]

On 29/3/2026 at 11:52 AM, Marty_d said:

I'm currently at Scone and just talked to a guy showing his 65 Mustang (car not plane) who lives adjacent the airport.

What he's heard (note this is second hand and unverified) is that there was a strong crosswind, the Spit had to land, and it was a conscious decision to land wheels up rather than run the risk of being blown over and wrecking the aircraft.

As I said this is second hand from a local so may be complete BS. I can't see it myself, but then I don't know the Spits crosswind capabilities.

It's pretty flat land around here so if that was the case, I would have thought it a better option to land into wind in a paddock somewhere, but I don't know the circumstances.

That story is total “smack”. Paul unnecessarily chose to fly in conditions, that were stipulated on the TAF. Such as PROB 30 TEMPO for gusty winds / hail etc. At the time of his flight it was already gusting 33 knots on the AWIS. There was the perfect opportunity to conduct the flight in still conditions the following morning. This is where an EGO overrides a sound risk assessment. Whether he forgot to lower the gear entirely or lowered the gear handle, without checking cockpit indicators and wing mounted popup indicators, both indicate one thing: PILOT ERROR. 
 

And in the process Ross Pay has to deal with a trashed aircraft. And during the test flight of VH-IXF a month earlier, there were no gear issues or anomalies.

 

It was pilot error, and yes, none of us are immune to pilot error. But flying in adverse conditions unnecessarily and poor risk assessment protocols, mixed with ego and arrogance, increases the possibility of the completion of the error chain. 

[facthunter]

 In response to the Beechcraft. That's because of the Location of the gear Lever switch, and People selecting flaps up after Landing. (Human Factors) . I also can't see how a Spitfire with a Narrow undercarriage, dihedral and a small tail can be as capable a X wind plane  as a Mustang is. Nev

Edited 19 hours ago by facthunter

[peterg]

3 hours ago, onetrack said:

A forgetful pilot or a pilot who doesn't follow a strict checklist, is a dangerous pilot. Complacency is behind many "very highly qualified" pilots crashes.

Not just complacency but the "I am right" attitude - getting rid of that attitude was a big driver behind the introduction of CRM and REPCON.

 

Less of a problem now but a significant one in airlines post WW2

 

 

[facthunter]

I flew for 25 years in a Major airline and can't recall any gear up landings in a major airline. . . There was a float plane at Hamilton island that water landed with the gear down. and CASA's equivalent did it a few times when they "Tested" stuff.  You have to miss a lot of things to Land gear up. You do it intentionally when ditching, Nev

[Moneybox]

While we're talking warbirds I sat and watched an 1:49min about Evelyn Whitmore who brought her P47 Thunderbolt down in enemy territory. She survived for a short while but even though she'd radioed her position nobody came looking.

 

 

It's not a movie but I found it a sad but interesting story.

Edited 14 hours ago by Moneybox

[KRviator]

5 hours ago, facthunter said:

I do not accept it could happen to anyone. It's a perfect example of a lack of situational awareness. IF  you make it IMPORTANT you won't miss it. 3 greens before Landing AND a clearance when required. I know OF people who have landed Gear up ( very few) but no pilot I ever knew has Landed gear up and that's 1,000 s. . Nev

I present the time Jonn Deakin nearly landed a perfectly good 747 gear up. With - if you go by the article - probably one of the highest time 747 crews on Earth with him...

If he could do it, I know damn well I could. That being said, I don't (or at least, try to avoid) doing stupid shit, like aero's with an approaching storm front.

[onetrack]

Quote

While we're talking warbirds I sat and watched an 1:49min about Evelyn Whitmore who brought her P47 Thunderbolt down in enemy territory. She survived for a short while but even though she'd radioed her position nobody came looking

Unfortunately, Moneybox, you've been conned with a fake, BS YooToob video - of which there are thousands. Even your YT photo has a caption saying "altered or synthethic content". In other words, fabricated BS.

 

There is no record of any WW2 woman fighter pilot by the name of Evelyn Whitmore, and the Allies did not use women for front-line combat piloting during WW2.

Women pilots were utilised for aircraft delivery during WW2, in which they did an incredible job, with minimal support. Only the USSR used women as combat pilots. The "Night Witches" of Russia were greatly feared.

 

Edited 14 hours ago by onetrack

[danny_galaga]

1 hour ago, Moneybox said:

While we're talking warbirds I sat and watched an 1:49min about Evelyn Whitmore who brought her P47 Thunderbolt down in enemy territory. She survived for a short while but even though she'd radioed her position nobody came looking.

 

 

It's not a movie but I found it a sad but interesting story.

I'm seeing some indications this is a fake story. 

[Blueadventures]

7 hours ago, Aviation Photograph said:

That story is total “smack”. Paul unnecessarily chose to fly in conditions, that were stipulated on the TAF. Such as PROB 30 TEMPO for gusty winds / hail etc. At the time of his flight it was already gusting 33 knots on the AWIS. There was the perfect opportunity to conduct the flight in still conditions the following morning. This is where an EGO overrides a sound risk assessment. Whether he forgot to lower the gear entirely or lowered the gear handle, without checking cockpit indicators and wing mounted popup indicators, both indicate one thing: PILOT ERROR. 
 

And in the process Ross Pay has to deal with a trashed aircraft. And during the test flight of VH-IXF a month earlier, there were no gear issues or anomalies.

 

It was pilot error, and yes, none of us are immune to pilot error. But flying in adverse conditions unnecessarily and poor risk assessment protocols, mixed with ego and arrogance, increases the possibility of the completion of the error chain. 

How damaged is the Kittyhawk wing from its Sunday excursion?  Not too bad I hear.

[rgmwa]

2 hours ago, onetrack said:

Unfortunately, Moneybox, you've been conned with a fake, BS YooToob video - of which there are thousands. Even your YT photo has a caption saying "altered or synthethic content". In other words, fabricated BS.

 

There is no record of any WW2 woman fighter pilot by the name of Evelyn Whitmore, and the Allies did not use women for front-line combat piloting during WW2.

Women pilots were utilised for aircraft delivery during WW2, in which they did an incredible job, with minimal support. Only the USSR used women as combat pilots. The "Night Witches" of Russia were greatly feared.

 

I agree, and the plane on the blurb is another giveaway. It's nothing like a P47. More like a collection of spare parts. As far as I know, only the Russians had female fighter pilots.

[Student Pilot]

I saw a Paul Bennet interview a while ago, he was on about adrenaline and what a buzz it was doing aeros so close to the ground. Didn't impress.
 

On another subject why all the bullshido with massive explosions and flames at airshows?

[onetrack]

Quote

On another subject why all the bullshido with massive explosions and flames at airshows?

Didn't you know, you can't have any decent entertainment with blowing something up? It's the American way! Coulda had a shoot-em-up match, to add to the excitement, too! 😄