For several years I used to renew John Romain’s multi-engine piston rating, sometimes in a Seneca and sometimes in something much more interesting like Beech 18 or even a Pembroke!
One day, he called me and asked me to pop over to Duxford as he was ‘air testing’ a B25 and also going to practise a display routine.
Climbing into the B25 and sitting in the Co Pilot’s seat made me realise what ‘heros’ those young men were in WWII. It was more cramped than I expected and not particularly comfortable.
We taxied out and departed towards Graffham Water and John let me have control for some basic turns and general handling. She was surprisingly ‘light’ on the controls and to me felt very responsive.
We returned to Duxford and commenced the display routine with me attempting to film as much of it as possible.
Everything was done smoothly and without discomfort-even the vertical banked turns(in fact just ‘past’ the vertical!) with positive ‘G’ maintained. It was great!
I believe the aircraft was sold to a client in the US and have not seen another B25 in the UK since.
