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MH603 looking resplendent in the skies over Scone, NSW following the conclusion of an extensive restoration program at Vintage Fighter Restorations. The aircraft made her first flight in more than six decades on December 11th, 2021. (photo by Darren Mottram via Aviation Spotters Online)
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As noted in late November, Supermarine Spitfire F Mk.IX MH603 was fast approaching the conclusion of its down-to-the-last-rivet rebuild at Vintage Fighter Restorations (VFR) in Scone, New South Wales, Australia. We can now report, via our colleagues at WarbirdsOnline and Aviation Spotters Online that the fighter made her first post-restoration flights on Saturday, December 11th. Veteran warbird pilot, Stephen Death was at the controls for the initial 20 minute hop, joined in the air by Paul Bennet who flew chase duties in Ross Pay’s CAC-built Mustang Mk.21 A68-107.
Awaiting her first flight, MH603 is seen here sitting on the hard stand outside the restoration hangar at VFR in Scone, NSW. (photo by Darren Mottram via Aviation Spotters Online)
Stephen Death warming up MH603’s Merlin engine just prior to the aircraft’s first post-restoration flight in Scone, NSW. (photo by Darren Mottram via Aviation Spotters Online)
Death taxies the Spitfire out to the runway for her first flight. (photo by Darren Mottram via Aviation Spotters Online)
Airborne! MH603 in the air again for the first time since the mid-1950s. (photo by Darren Mottram via Aviation Spotters Online)
Resplendent in her authentic wartime No.331 Squadron (Norwegian) livery, MH603 sees air under her wings once more. (photo by Darren Mottram via Aviation Spotters Online)
Undercarriage retracting, MH603 makes a successful takeoff at Scone, NSW. (photo by Darren Mottram via Aviation Spotters Online)
MH603 peals off on her first test flight with Stephen Death at the controls. (photo by Darren Mottram via Aviation Spotters Online)
MH603 in close formation with Ross Pay’s Mustang Mk.21 A68-107 during the Spitfire’s first test flight on December 11th. (photo by Darren Mottram via Aviation Spotters Online)
After his successful first test flight in MH603, Stephen Death taxies the fighter back to VFR’s hangar for a thorough inspection of the airframe and its systems
. (photo by Darren Mottram via Aviation Spotters Online)
Sitting in the MH603’s cockpit following his successful first post-restoration flight in the fighter, Stephen Death is greeted by the restoration team, anxious to learn how the Spitfire performed. (photo by Darren Mottram via Aviation Spotters Online)
Following the first flight, VFR personnel wheeled the Spitfire back into their hangar to remove the engine cowlings and check for any potential issues. According to John Parker at WarbirdsOnline, MH603 needed very little adjustment, other than minor tweaks to control surface trim. Stephen Death then continued with the test program, taking the Spitfire up for a further series of flights. With the successful culmination of these trials, Steven Death signed off on the aircraft’s airworthiness certificate, reportedly declaring MH603 as being one of the finest Spitfires flying anywhere. The entire team at Vintage Fighter Restorations should be congratulated for their efforts to return this magnificent aircraft to the skies. For those with both the desire and financial fortitude to acquire her, MH603 is available for sale via our sponsors, Platinum Fighter Sales.
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MH603 looking resplendent in the skies over Scone, NSW following the conclusion of an extensive restoration program at Vintage Fighter Restorations. The aircraft made her first flight in more than six decades on December 11th, 2021. (photo by Darren Mottram via Aviation Spotters Online)
Pealing off from the camera ship, Stephen Death returns the Spitfire home to the airfield in Scone, NSW. (photo by Darren Mottram via Aviation Spotters Online)
A closeup of Stephen Death at the controls of combat-veteran Spitfire F Mk.IX MH603 during the fighter’s post-restoration flight test program. (photo by Darren Mottram via Aviation Spotters Online)
With the lush green farmland below, MH603 could easily appear to be flying over her native England rather than the land of her rebirth, Australia. (photo by Darren Mottram via Aviation Spotters Online)
Many thanks indeed to Aviation Spotters Online and Warbirds Online for the details on this event, and to Darren Mottram for the beautiful photographs accompanying this article (all reproduced with permission).
Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends.
After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups.
Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.
