
An iconic Second World War fighter aircraft which crash landed as it tried to rescue Allied troops has taken to the skies for the first time in nearly 80 years.

The Mk 1 Hawker Hurricane thundered through the skies after taking off at Elmsett in Suffolk following a £2 million restoration project and some 25,000 hours of highly-skilled labour.

In May 1940, the Hurricane of 245 Squadron took off from Kent with Pilot Officer Kenneth McGlashan at the controls, before being shot down on a Dunkirk beach.

But now the distinctive sound of the P2902 with its Merlin engine is set to thrill aviation and history fans at air shows across the country.

The Mk 1 Hawker Hurricane glistened as it thundered through the skies after taking off at Elmsett in Suffolk following a £2 million restoration project and some 25,000 hours of highly-skilled labour - after being discovered beneath the sea more than 20 years ago

In May 1940, the Hurricane of 245 Squadron took off from Kent with Pilot Officer Kenneth McGlashan at the controls. He was heading for the French coast to provide air cover for the armada of small ships collecting trapped Allied troops from the shore as the Germans swept across Northern France towards the Channel. But the aircraft was hit by fire from a Messerschmit 109 and the badly-injured pilot managed to bring the aircraft down in one piece

Eventually the downed fighter was washed out to sea and covered by the sand but in the late 1980's French fishermen complained their nets were being torn by an underwater obstruction - and discovered the sunken Hurricane. It was dredged up by enthusiasts and bought by Hawker Restoration who began work on the restoration six years ago

In 1940, Officer McGlashan was heading for the French coast to provide air cover for the armada of small ships collecting trapped Allied troops from the shore as the Germans swept across Northern France towards the Channel.

But the aircraft was hit by fire from a Messerschmit 109 and the badly injured pilot managed to bring the aircraft down in one piece.

McGlashan set fire it to prevent it falling into enemy hands before scrambling on board a paddle steam that took him and 2,000 troops back to Britain and safety.

Eventually the downed fighter was washed out to sea and covered by the sand but in the late 1980's French fishermen complained their nets were being torn by an underwater obstruction - and discovered the sunken Hurricane.

It was dredged up by enthusiasts and bought by Hawker Restoration who began work on the restoration six years ago.

At the controls as it took to the skies once more was Stuart Goldspink, one of the country's most experienced 'warbird' pilots, who has flown nine of the world's eleven Hurricanes restored by the Suffolk aero company.

Before a restored aircraft can get approval to fly again it has to undergo a series of rigorous checks and be fully examined by the Civil Aviation Authority. They then issue a permit to test and for the next few weeks the plane goes through a series of increasingly longer flights before we hand it over the new owner

At the controls as it took to the skies once more was Stuart Goldspink, one of the country's most experienced 'warbird' pilots, who has flown nine of the world's eleven Hurricanes restored by the Suffolk aero company. Stuart - whose day job is flying Boeing 757 and 767s around the world for a commercial airline - said: 'It is such a huge privilege to be able to fly a Hurricane'

The Hurricane, which belongs to an Essex-based company, will be based at Duxford near Cambridge which has become a centre for World War Two planes alongside the Imperial War Museum's aircraft collection and is now home to several other restoration and maintenance firms

Mr Goldspink added: 'It is an extraordinary experience to feel and know a little of what it was like for the thousands of brave young men who took part in World War Two. 'These aircraft have none of the flying aids that modern planes have which makes it a pure stick and rudder experience. The Hurricane is so responsive it feels alive and part of you'

HURRICANE: CHAMPION OF BATTLE OF BRITAIN Some 55 per cent of the 2,739 German losses were caused by the Hurricane. Here are some Hawker Hurricane facts: Introduced - 1937 Total number of planes built - 14,533 Wingspan - 40ft Engine - Rolls Royce Merlin 1,185hp at 21,000ft Max speed - 339mph Armament - 4 x 20mm cannons, 2 x 226kg bombs Number of Hurricanes at start of Battle of Britain - 2,309 Planes lost during Battle of Britain - 565 Advertisement

Mr Goldspink, whose day job is flying Boeing 757 and 767s around the world for a commercial airline, said: 'It is such a huge privilege to be able to fly a Hurricane.

'It is an extraordinary experience to feel and know a little of what it was like for the thousands of brave young men who took part in World War Two.

'These aircraft have none of the flying aids that modern planes have which makes it a pure stick and rudder experience. The Hurricane is so responsive it feels alive and part of you.'

Andrew Wenman of Hawker Restorations, formerly based at Milden but now at Elmsett, said: 'The project, as with all old aircraft, was challenging - spares are increasingly hard to source and we often have to manufacture the parts we need.

'Before a restored aircraft can get approval to fly again it has to undergo a series of rigorous checks and be fully examined by the Civil Aviation Authority.

'They then issue a permit to test and for the next few weeks the plane goes through a series of increasingly longer flights before we hand it over the new owner.

'Then we have to finish another Hurricane that belongs to a brain surgeon who wants a complete change in his life and intends to give up medicine to become an air display pilot.'

The Hurricane, which belongs to an Essex-based company, will be based at Duxford near Cambridge which has become a centre for World War Two planes alongside the Imperial War Museum's aircraft collection and is now home to several other restoration and maintenance firms.