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Scrambled Spitfire gets closer to take-off
Last Updated: 2:44am GMT 02/01/2008

A businessman has spent almost seven years restoring a Spitfire from thousands of parts.

But Martin Phillips, 47, admits that he is still a long way from realising his dream of seeing the aircraft from the Second World War take to the skies again.

"I had a five-year plan, but that is shot - we are looking at another one or two years before it is finished," he said.


Martin Phillips admits that he is still some way away from realising his dream of seeing the vintage fighter, which he is restoring in a shed, take to the skies again

Mr Phillips said that he has every part he needs for the fighter, which he is rebuilding in a shed outside his home at Langford, near Exeter, Devon.

"We are making steady progress, but there are lots of engineering problems to overcome," he added.

He was inspired to undertake the restoration when someone gave him a tiny aluminium aircraft rivet - which has been used in the fuselage near the cockpit.

The project, which has cost nearly £1 million so far, began in earnest when Mr Phillips found the fuselage of a 1944 Mark IX Spitfire, RR232, in Worthing, West Sussex.

The genuine Spitfire parts have been gathered from across the globe - including four of the Merlin engines which gave the Spitfires their unmistakable sound.

The fuselage is now surrounded by Spitfire parts, including a four-bladed propeller, original seats, wing cannons and flying instruments.

The aircraft - which will eventually be named the City of Exeter - did not see any action, but was involved in test flying at Boscombe Down, Wilts.

The fighter saw service with the South African Air Force before it was scrapped.

One of its wings will be from a Spitfire that crashed near Exeter Airport and lay for decades in a hedge near a pub until it was salvaged.

The final assembly and first flight of the restored aircraft will take place at the airport, which was a Second World War air base.