It is one of the most iconic aircraft in the world and is maintained by the efforts of Biggin Hill Heritage, the largest Spitfire restoration facility on the planet. This particular model even appeared in the 1969 film, “Battle of Britain”.
Greg Davis, author of The Two Seat Spitfires, says the sound of Spitfire’s Merlin engine has been described as “the sound of freedom.”
“There is a lump in the throat and a warm feeling that you have brought back something that is so important to our history,” he told the Associated Press. “And the first time these engines start and the Merlin roars again and you see it traveling to the end of the aisle… It’s magical.”
The crew at Biggin Hill has so far fully recovered six of the aircraft. Engineers struggle to combine original parts with handmade new parts. But it’s worth it for pilots like Anna Walker, who says she feels a connection to the story when she has the Spitfire controls in her hands.
“I was a big fan of the auxiliary carrier and the female pilots who used to carry them during the war. I try to do them proudly,” she told the Associated Press.
Spitfire played a key role in the fight against the Nazis during World War II. About 20,000 of the aircraft were built in Britain and used by the Royal Air Force, the RCAF and other Allied air forces.
But today, only about 70 Spitfires can fly and the value of airplanes continues to rise. In January, a Spitfire went up for auction for 4 4.5 million or C $ 7.5 million. This plane also appeared in the movie “Battle of Britain”.
“He has this wonderful story – this great story of war and then all the history of cinema after that,” Richard Grace, director of The Aircraft Sales Company, told the Associated Press in January.
With files from the Associated Press.
