World's only flying Seafire XVII returns home

A rare Naval Spitfire - the only flying Seafire XVII in the world - has returned home close to where it was built in Somerset.

Described as the "big brother of the Spitfire", the single-seater fighter plane was modified by the Royal Navy to operate from aircraft carriers during World War Two.

Built by Westlands in Yeovil in 1946, the Seafire has now joined the Navy Wings charity collection at nearby RNAS Yeovilton after undergoing three years of repairs.

Alistair McLaren, director of flight ops at Navy Wings, said: "It's very, very demanding [to fly]."

"There's no autopilot, no automation and very little to help you - the biggest brain in the cockpit to help me is on my knee and it's an iPad," he added.

Described as "exceptionally rare", the Seafire XVII SX336 is one of only a "very few" of the 2,600 built to have survived.

The historic aircraft entered service with the Royal Navy in 1946 but by 1955 it had been scrapped.

Its derelict fuselage was only discovered in the early 1970s, and it took the next 30 years to rebuild and restore it to a "full flying condition".

Now following a three year absence, the "nationally important" plane has been returned to the Navy Wings heritage hangar with a newly installed Rolls-Royce engine.

Commander James Dible, chief executive of Navy Wings, said the "big powerful warplane" was a "very special addition" to the collection.

"It was obviously built down the road but it flew from here for a while, which is why it's got VL marked on the tail, which is the code for Yeovilton," he said.

"It has great importance for everyone around here.

"So we've got a local aeroplane, staying local and looked after here in Somerset, very special."

The Somerset airbase, is also where young fighter pilots trained on Seafires at a critical time in World War Two.

McLaren said the new recruits were "very brave" to fly these aircraft after just a few hours.

"It only has one seat so it's all down to you," he said.

"They would typically start flying a Seafire with only 200 hours under their belt.

"I have 20,000 hours and I find it challenging but they would have found it hugely difficult going into war with so few hours."

The Navy Wing charity, which has collected iconic aircraft from the early 1900s to the present day to put on display, said the Seafire was an example of "one of the most evocative British fighters of all time".

Estimated to be worth up to £3m, the plane has already made its first public appearance with a debut at the Guernsey Air Display.

McLaren, said it was a "privilege" to fly the "only airworthy Seafire 17 in the world".

"To be able to fly a national treasure, which this is, at air displays around the country is a great privilege and enormous fun," he said.

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