Nearly nine years after its last flight on August 1, 2015 ended in a forced landing and extensive damage, the historic Spitfire Mk.IX MK912 / G-BRRA took its maiden post-restoration flight from the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar on July 31, 2024.
Test pilot Dan Griffith was at the controls while a team of engineers, ground crew, and pilots, along with the aircraft’s owner, witnessed the historic moment.
MK912 proudly bears the markings of 312 (Czech) Squadron RAF, which it wore on D-Day when it was flown by P/O Miroslav ‘Tony’ Liskutin DFC, believed to be the first Allied fighter pilot to land in France on June 6, 1944. The aircraft later served with the Royal Netherlands Air Force and the Belgian Air Force, and after retirement served as a gate guardian with the latter service’s Technical School at Saffraenberg. Transferred to the Musee Royal de’Armee et d’Histoire Militaire in Brussels in the late 1980s, the aircraft then returned to the UK for a protracted restoration to airworthiness and flew again in 2000.
MK912 is the 16th Spitfire fully restored by the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar’s Spitfire Factory. The team has also completed major overhauls on six other Spitfires and Hurricanes in recent years. With several other projects currently underway, the team is already busy working on their next restoration.
Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar Spitfire Restorations Completed to Date- Spitfire Mk.Ia X4650
- Spitfire Mk.IX TD314 St George
- Spitfire Mk.V EP122
- Spitfire Mk.IX BR601
- Spitfire Mk.XVI RW382
- Spitfire Mk.IX PT879 ‘Russian Spitfire’
- Spitfire Mk.XVI TB885
- Spitfire Mk.Vc EE602
- Spitfire Mk.IX LZ842
- Spitfire T.9 MJ627
- Spitfire T.9 MJ772
- Spitfire Mk.IX MJ755 ‘Greek Spitfire’
- Spitfire T.9 ML295
- Spitfire T.9 BS410
- Spitfire Mk.IX TE517
- Spitfire Mk.IX MK912
- Spitfire Mk.IX TA805 Spirit of Kent
- Spitfire Mk.IX MK356 (RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight)
- Spitfire Mk.IIa P7350 (RAF/BBMF)
- Hurricane Mk.IIc PZ865 The Last of the Many (RAF/BBMF)
- Hurricane Mk.II LF363 (RAF/BBMF)
- Spitfire Mk.XVI TE311 (RAF/BBMF) currently underway as of July 2024
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Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
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