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Dear Editor,

Re: Spitfire and helicopter flights are welcomed by majority of villagers in Capel-le-Ferne
I have to agree with Jenny that the sight and sound of a Spitfire over the Battle of Britain memorial at Capel is a wonderful experience.

 It is a truly wonderful and peaceful place for reflection.

I also have some sympathy with nearby residents, who are at odds with the ‘Fly with a Spitfire’ experience.

Ironically, it the noise from the accompanying helicopters which drowns out the very sound of the Spitfire which the passengers hope to experience, for those on the ground as well as onboard the helicopter.

As someone involved in organising the 2013 Air Show in Folkestone I expect we will get some people who will resent the noise and disturbance.

I have to say we plan to fly over the Capel memorial as a mark of respect to the airmen who gave their lives in the skies above and whose names are etched into the memorial itself.

This will be just one day in the year however.

The ‘Fly with a Spitfire’ experience is a commercial enterprise and helicopters are very noisy. I don’t see why they cannot use a light aircraft based at either Lydd or Headcorn to fly alongside the Spitfire, which might be more fitting in the context of the times.

With a bit of common sense and consideration, I am sure a solution can be found by carefully re-arranging the flight path for minimum noise.

It is the memory of the Battle of Britain which should be uppermost in our minds, especially in this week of Remembrance … and if the Spitfire experience can rekindle that memory then it should be supported.

Yours

CJ

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