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Spit incident

Posted by D Fisher on Tue Jul 09, 2002 03:41:33 PM

July 9, 2002 - Spitfire Pilot's Upside Down Manoeuvre Saves Crash Landing

ISLE OF MANN, U.K. - A Spitfire pilot has saved a crash landing after being
advised to turn his plane upside down when the landing gear wouldn't come
down.

The RAF man was trying to land the plane during a Battle of Britain display
at Ronaldsway Airport on the Isle of Man.

He circled the airport for about 10 minutes and was preparing to crash-land
until an RAF mechanic radioed the suggestion.

The Isle of Man online website reports the manoeuvre somehow freed the
landing gear and he was able to safely.

The plane was taking part in the display as part of the Manx Festival of
Aviation at Jurby.

Airport director Phil Pain said: "There was a full emergency turnout at
Ronaldsway, with all emergency vehicles on standby, because, when the pilot
was unable to get the undercarriage down, he was faced with a crash
landing.

"The RAF mechanic suggested turning the aircraft upside down as a last
resort and it appeared to release the undercarriage mechanism."

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