First Flight of Spitfire TB252
In the week before Christmas 2020 Avspecs of Ardmore, New Zealand celebrated the first flight of another of their projects: Vickers Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk.XVI TB252 (construction number CBAF.IX3807). The fighter, registered as ZK-NLJ since 12 April 2020, was taken up to the sky by pilot John Lamont.

This Spitfire has historic value for our Belgians friends. In the final stages of WW II TB252 was flown by No.350 (Belgian) squadron RAF as MN-J “Mimie” and in 1946 by the Belgische Luchtmacht/Force Aérienne Belge (Belgian Air Force). From 1950 it served as gate guard at many RAF bases before it was acquired by Historic Flying Limited in 1988.

It was registered as G-XVIE and passed several hands before being sold to Tony Banta/ Banta Aviation Corp, Livermore (CA), USA in 2002. After registering his Spit as N752TB, he decided to have it restored in New Zealand, and there it has resided until now. According to Platinum Fighter Sales, they sold the Spitfire to a new owner in 2019.

Photos: Ásbjörn Rozas (kindly provided by Jetphotos.com) and Avspecs