Spitfire trailing a little white smoke this evening, 3rd June-Berkshire

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20 years 6 months

Posts: 504

I saw an early Mk Spitfire this evening heading SW across Berkshire, roughly Reading to Southampton, all sounded OK, but I could see a little white smoke coming from the starboard side only, not a long trail, just about an extra fuselage length. A cause for concern ?

Original post

Member for

9 years 5 months

Posts: 64

I'm no expert in such matters, but as the radiator is beneath the starboard wing, possibly a glycol leak? May well be a cause for concern, but hopefully the pilot was aware of a problem & keeping an eye on T's & P's. I hope that all was well at the end of the flight.
Regards, Rich

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 8,464

One side only will be the coolant pressure valve blowing off. Common fault. Nothing to worry about.

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18 years 10 months

Posts: 963

Interesting, I saw a Spitfire low over my house near RAF Henlow heading W at about 19:00, suspect one and the same aircraft. Nothing trailing at that point.

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20 years 9 months

Posts: 232

Not BBMF Spit as it didn't take off until 19:30ish last night and landed just before 21:00. Was over Shrivenham and High Wycombe. Also was clipped wing Mk XV1 TE311.

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20 years

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The Spitfire over Henlow would have been MH434 on the way to display at Cowes at 1940 flown by Stu Golds pink.

Member for

18 years 10 months

Posts: 963

The Spitfire over Henlow would have been MH434 on the way to display at Cowes at 1940 flown by Stu Golds pink.

Thanks ozplane, it looked like MH434 (although I was directly underneath so couldn't fully confirm) and was on the usual (from) Duxford heading and height that we see.