A BIG SCREAM OVER SHOREHAM!

PLEASED TO SUPPORT

17th August 2007

On the occasion of the Press Day for the 2007 RAFA Shoreham Airshow, I was privileged to be asked to record a special flight that was being undertaken by John Romain in the Supermarine Spitfire Tr9.

Mandy Pantall was formerly a wingwalker with Aerosuperbatics at the time that they were sponsored by Crunchie. These days they are Team Guinot and in 2008 are expanding to a 5-ship formation for some displays.

In a horse riding accident, Mandy broke her back and is in constant pain but this plucky young lady is nothing if not determined. Having achieved her pilot's licence via two scholarships with Flying For The Disabled, Mandy is now the Fundraising Director for fly2help, a charitable organisation which, to quote their website, through which they aim to lift the horizons of people of all ages and from all backgrounds through the medium of flight. We support those with life-limiting and chronic illnesses; families who have suffered some form of tragedy and those who are working to recover a sense of self-worth and need a life-boost."

Having previously had the chance of a flight in Peter Teichman's gorgeous P-51 Mustang 'Jumpin' Jacques', little did she know upon arrival at Shoreham that that afternoon a lifelong amibition would be achieved.

Getting into a Spitfire at the best of times can't be described as easy, so one can imagine how hard it was for Mandy to get into the back seat!

During the flight, John took in much of the coastline to the east of Shoreham and also a trip over the South Downs - and knowing John, it wasn't sedate flying! After the flight, John then took Mandy on a drive to revisit some of the places that they'd flown over.

The photographs of this very special flight speak for themselves, but there is one very touching finale.

Both of Mandy's grandfathers were involved with Spitfires. One built them and the other was on a Spitfire squadron. It was only once she'd landed, whilst telling her mum on the phone what had just happend, that her mum said "do you realise that Grandad would have been 101 today!"

As if there hadn't been plenty of tears during and after the flight, that brought them on in abundance!

This is my tribute to someone very special. Thanks to John Romain for making a dream come true and from me for putting in a couple of incredible topside passes to create the photo that give the title to this story - "A BIG SCREAM OVER SHOREHAM!"

Mandy, long may you have the wind beneath your wings!

01 The smile says it all!	02 John Romain gives the pre-flight briefing	03 "That bit goes in there!"	04 "Well I'm strapped in, let's go!"
05 John Romain	06 Deep in thought	07 Pre-start checks	08 "Yes the radio works! Hope I don't deafen him!"
09 "Here we go!"	10 I think she's happy!	11 Start up	12 Taxying out
13	14	15 A final wave	16 Power comes up
17 Rolling	18 Tail wheel is up	19 We have lift off	20 The run & break
21	22	23	24
25 "A BIG SCREAM OVER SHOREHAM!"	26	28 Classic Spitfire curved approach	29
30	31	32	33
34	35 "Did that really just happen!"	36 A Merlin never sounded better!	37 Classic lines
38 Yes those are tears of pure unadulterated joy!	39 Wiping away the tears	40	41 Good friends - Al Pinner & 'Parky' of the BBMF
42 Special hugs	43 I don;t think the smiles could get any wider!