The Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIV has been described as “a flying engine”, “a hairy beast to fly” and “a wild, seductive gypsy woman”. On the Tuesday following Yealands Classic Fighters 2017, one of New Zealand’s more experienced warbird pilots became the first woman since WWII to fly a Griffon-powered Spitfire.
Liz Needham talks to Nicholas McIndoe.
The Spitfire in question is FR XIVe NH799—the former Alpine Fighter Collection (AFC) machine badly damaged in a takeoff accident at Wanaka in January 1996 that severely injured owner/pilot Sir Tim Wallis. The basic problem was the Griffon’s left-hand rotation, the opposite to the Merlin, requiring carefully considered application of rudder trim.
Many aficionados of the marque don’t consider the Griffon variants to be “true” Spitfires, not built in the same numbers as their more famous Merlin cousins.
Personally, I couldn’t agree less. The Griffon-powered Spitfires were important members of the family, beautiful machines, and I prefer the look of the Griffon to the Merlin variants, especially those with the cut-down rear fuselage and teardrop canopy. There is just something about that long nose and five-blade propeller—the sleek lines ooze power and beauty, all at once.
Powered by the Rolls-Royce Griffon 65 of 2035hp, the Mk XIV is essentially a Spitfire Mk VIII strengthened to accommodate the heavier and more powerful engine.
Giving it a wartime top speed of 445mph, the Griffon turned the Spitfire into a potent weapon. Don Healy of 17 Squadron once recalled, “Even with full aileron, elevator and rudder, this brute of a fighter took off slightly sideways.”
And Wg Cdr Peter Brothers: “It was truly an impressive machine, being able to climb almost vertically—it gave many Luftwaffe pilots the shock of their lives when, having thought they had bounced you from a superior height, they were astonished to find the Mk XIV climbing up to tackle them head-on, throttle wide open!”
For Liz Needham, the journey to the cockpit of NH799 began 14 years ago in Harvards NZ1057 and NZ1065, with husband Frank Parker giving Liz her type rating. With that in hand, the next step was formation and safety training (FAST), eventually leading to Liz at the head of a four-ship Harvard formation.
In 2004, following the deaths of Chris Timms and Kerry Campbell in a Fouga Magister crash, Frank invited Liz to join NZ Warbirds’ flagship Harvard aerobatic team, The Roaring Forties. “I suppose so—if you train me up!” was her reply, laughs Liz.
And to this day she continues to fly as the Roaring Forties’ “Red 2” in Harvard NZ1057.
The next step was learning to fly the Kittyhawk Partnership’s ex-RAAF P-40N-1 Currawong. “I suddenly went from doing 140kt to 240kt in formation with Stu Goldspink at airshows!”
Liz also progressed on to the Spitfire Tr 9 and, as the main pilot for Warbird Adventure Rides (WAR) over the last five years, describes all the hours she has flown in the fighters, whether it be taking off, landing, carrying a passenger, formation flying or a photo shoot, as “invaluable”.
Meanwhile, NH799 was being rebuilt by Avspecs at Ardmore before making a triumphant return to the air just prior to Easter 2015. Liz was there to see the Griffon installed and was there when Frank’s turn came to test fly the Spitfire, including an incredible photo session, flying the Tr 9 alongside the author in a Harvard with Frank flying wingman in the Mk XIV.
No surprises then as Liz arrived at Omaka two years later with the goal to fly NH799 and with no intention of leaving until she had!
But first—a highlight of this year’s Classic Fighters was the sight of a three-Spitfire formation, featuring Frank leading in NH799 with Liz in the Tr 9 and RNZAF Sqn Ldr Sean Perrett in the Deere Spitfire—the first time a husband-and-wife Spitfire formation has been seen anywhere in the world and dubbed “Mr and Mrs Spitfire” by show organisers.
Fast forward to the following Tuesday, and John Lamont’s test pilot notes on the type came in handy, as did plenty of opportunities to sit in the Mk XIV’s cockpit over the weekend and run through the preflight checks. Liz also watched Frank flying NH799 and paid attention to two things—NH799’s tendency to yaw to the right on takeoff (that anti-clockwise rotation as seen from the cockpit) and, seeing the Spitfire operate off a grass strip after a week of rain, that the Mk XIV is heavier than the Mk IX.
Liz says the Mk XIV’s cockpit is standard. “The layout and power settings are the same for the Mk IX and Mk XIV. However, when I was preparing to fly the Mk XIV, it was in the back of my mind, don’t do a Tim! A large ‘T’ has been placed over the trim in NH799’s cockpit—T for trim [full left for takeoff] or Tim!
“I was pretty current after a weekend of Spitfire formation flying and a photo shoot involving the three Spitfires, plus Warbird Adventure Rides on the Monday.”
Tuesday morning began for Liz with a flight to RNZAF Base Woodbourne in the Tr 9 for propeller maintenance. Back at Omaka, she preflighted the Mk XIV before starting the Spitfire and taxying to the pumps for fuel.
Almost time to go, but not before a few final words of advice from Frank: “Keep the Mk XIV reigned in. There’s plenty of time later to see what she goes like.”
For takeoff (don’t forget full port rudder trim!) +6–8 boost is used and the Mk XIV leaps in to the air at 100kt indicated. Climbing away from Omaka’s runway 12, Liz noticed the aircraft yaw to the left as the undercarriage retracted—“That’s different!” Compared to the Merlin, the Griffon “hunts”, says Liz.
Following an orbit overhead, Liz flew to Woodbourne where she performed a full stop, backtrack and go. “The coolant gauge stayed rock stable the whole time and it was nice to see all the engineers run out to greet me!”
Leaving Woodbourne behind, Liz set course for Omaka where it was into the downwind for runway 12, with the gear coming down below 140 KIAS and flaps below 120 KIAS. “There is no half flap; it’s either up or down.”
By the time Liz turned on to base she had slowed the Mk XIV to 100 KIAS, easing off the trim in case of a go-around with a moment to ponder what her mentor, the late “TT” Bland once told her: “There’s only three rules when flying a fighter, Lizzie—don’t get slow, don’t get slow, and don’t get slow.”
All good things must come to an end and over the fence at 85 KIAS, Liz touched down at Omaka in what Frank called the best landing of the airshow—“High praise indeed!”
Liz really enjoyed flying Spitfire X-ray India Victor and is planning more flights. Her final advice for any aspiring women warbird pilots: “Get in the front seat—be the pilot. And if you’re not the pilot, be the instructor.”
NZ Aviation News would like to congratulate Liz on her achievement and thank her and Frank for their assistance in preparing this article.
- Report by Nicholas McIndoe, photographs by John King & Nicholas McIndoe.