WWII Spitfire to blitz Rotorua in Air Show

NEWS RELEASE
Tuesday 24 November 2009

WWII Spitfire to blitz Rotorua in Lakefront Air Show

A WWII Spitfire will feature in the Let's Go Rotorua Lakefront Air Show on 12 December

ROTORUA: 24.11.09: The star of the of the Battle of Britain during World War II, the much lauded Spitfire, is to blitz Rotorua next month as part of the city’s Let’s Go Rotorua Lakefront Air Show.

The free admission air show and on-ground carnival are part of Rotorua District Council led celebrations to welcome the inaugural direct trans-Tasman flight from Sydney to Rotorua on 12 December.

Regarded as the finest fighter aircraft the world has seen, Spitfires first flew in 1938 and were so successful over 20,000 were built to support the Allied war effort.

Powered by the famous Rolls Royce Supercharged V12 engine the fighter plane could fly at speeds of up to 278 mph and climb at 2665 feet per minute to a ceiling of 35,000 feet.

Events and Venues Rotorua general manager Peter McLeod said the Spitfire performing manoeuvres over Rotorua on 12 December is a Mark 9 built in 1943 at the Castle Bromwich factory in Great Britain, and will be piloted by the aircraft's owner Doug Brooker

“During the war it was used as both a fighter aircraft and as an escort for Lancaster bomber raids into Europe.

“In July 1948 it suffered damage in a landing accident and ended up in a scrap yard in Chippenham where it stayed for 40 odd years.

“Subsequently an Englishman living in Florida, Peter Godfrey, and a British spitfire rebuilder began restoration work and the rebuilt aircraft returned to the air in November 2006. It flew in New Zealand for the first time just last year."

Mr McLeod said when Rotorua people see Spitfire MH367 performing in the skies over Rotorua, it will be painted in the North Africa campaign colours and markings of Squadron Leader Colin Gray, New Zealand’s highest scoring ace.

ENDS

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