A rare UK-based aircraft will be one of the International stars of next Easter’s Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow as the event marks the 90^th anniversary of the first ever flight of the iconic Spitfire.

The aircraft is one of only two Mk XI Spitfires still flying in the world and played a unique role in the UK’s Covid response.  It will be displayed at Wanaka by its owner, and the world’s most experienced Spitfire pilot John Romain.  It will join New Zealand’s only airworthy Spitfire, the Mark IX owned by Brendon Deere based at Ohakea.

John can’t wait to return to Wanaka.  “The last time I flew at the Wanaka airshow was in 2018 when I brought over my Buchon ME-109 and I had such a good time I have always wanted to return.”

“Marking the 90^th anniversary of the first flight of the Spitfire at such a well-known airshow will be a great honour,” says John.  Warbirds Over Wanaka GM Ed Taylor says it's always a huge undertaking shipping 90-year-old aircraft around the world but it's made a lot less stressful with the help of shipping partners like NZ’s Mainfreight who have supported the event for many years.

The Mark XI variant was specially designed to perform high altitude, long distance photographic operations.  One of the type’s most famous exploits was taking the first images of the damage caused following the famous “Dambuster” raids.

Armaments were removed to make way for extra fuel tanks to allow for a significantly increased range meaning the only real defences the ‘Eleven’ had were height and speed.

Following the war this aircraft had a varied career including featuring in civilian air races in the UK piloted by famous Air Transport Auxiliary pilot Lettice Curtis and later starred in the TV series ‘Piece of Cake’ before being put into storage.

Many years later G-PRXI PL983 was acquired by The Aircraft Restoration Company at Duxford and a full restoration was commissioned including locating and refurbishing it’s factory original Rolls-Royce Merlin 70 engine.  The aircraft finally flew again in 2018 adorned in the authentic ‘PR blue’ livery which was so effective at camouflaging the aircraft at height.

In 2020 the aircraft had undergone some maintenance work and required a test flight.  It was during the COVID pandemic and owner John Romain decided to fly over local villages in an effort to raise morale.  Following positive feedback and with the words ‘THANK U NHS’ painted on the underside of the wings John then flew the aircraft over more than 250 UK hospitals raising £130,000 for ‘NHS Charities Together’.

Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow is being held April 3, 4 and 5, 2026.  Tickets are on sale now at Ticketek.