20 years ago, I went over to London, to meet a guy named Steve Bennet, then working at Cars & Car Conversions (remember that mag?) down at Goodwood race track. While there, at least one, if not two Spitfires went up for a flight... One was a 2 seater owned and flown by a woman I don't remember the name of (she was written about, as she took on her decesed husbands project, the Spitfire, and finished it, and for June 6, 1994, managed to locate the very ferry pilot that delivered HER Spit to the combat Sqn, AND the very pilot that flew it over the beaches during that day. I think both got a ride with her, the ferry pilot, a woman, to whatever the base was, and the combat pilot for a ride over the beaches...)
We had a few photo-recce Spits here in Sweden too, but that was later marks...
To me, a RR Merlin on full throttle in a low pass is one of the best sounds I know... And this from a guy raised during the 60's, with SAAB 35 Draken starting just around the bend from home!
Kjelle