A Spitfire which crashed on a test flight from Biggin Hill will fly again after its hero pilot performed 'a textbook landing'.

Pilot Dan Griffiths lost all power seconds after he took off from the runway and managed to glide the aircraft down without causing a catastrophic amount of damage.

The former RAF pilot suffered a shoulder injury and was taken to hospital, but he is also expected to make a full recovery.

A Spitfire has crashed at London Biggin Hill Airport after losing power while taking off. The pilot, Dan Griffiths, was taken to hospital with a shoulder injury but it is not thought to be serious

Dan Griffith, pictured here in a Gloster Meteor, performed a 'textbook landing' after losing all engine power

London Biggin Hill Airport said the pilot had reported a rough-running engine as it took off at lunchtime yesterday.

A statement from Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar Ltd, supporters club, said: 'Spitfire MK912 this afternoon suffered a loss of power after take-off and forced landed back on the airfield. The aircraft is badly damaged but pilot Dan Griffith carried out a textbook forced landing and is OK.'

He brought the single engine plane down safely in an emergency landing on a grass area within the airport grounds.

Will Curtis, managing director of the airport company, said: 'Spitfires are very much a part of our heritage here at Biggin Hill and we must commend the pilot on his swift and decisive action in the circumstances. We look forward to seeing the aircraft flying again before too long.'

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'We treated one patient - a man in his 50s for shoulder and arm injuries. He was taken to King's College Hospital."

His condition is not thought to be life threatening or changing.

Scotland Yard said that no-one else was on board when the single seater plane crash landed.

The Spitfire, which took part in D-Day, will be repaired and eventually returned to service.

The airport is home base for the Heritage Hangar where a number of Hurricanes and Spitfires are restored and maintained.

Mr Griffiths is the current Chief Test Pilot at Light Aircraft Association. He is also is a former RAF Harrier jump jet pilot and former chief test pilot with the Civil Aviation Authority.

Emergency services were called to the scene after the crash, with the London Fire Brigade sending seven fire engines to the site.

The Air Accident Investigations Branch has been made aware of the crash.

MK912 (pictured before the crash) is one of just 31 functioning Supermarine Spitfires left in the UK, nine of which belong to the Heritage Hangar in Biggin Hill

The aircraft (pictured) has been badly damaged in the accident and is now due to miss a display on September 18 commemorating the Battle of Britain

Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar which owns the aircraft said 'Spitfire MK912 this afternoon suffered a loss of power after take-off and forced landed back on the airfield.

'The aircraft is badly damaged but Pilot Dan Griffith carried out a text book forced landing and is OK.'

Spitfire MK912 was ordered in May 1942 from Vickers. It was built at the Castle Bromwich "Shadow" factory in Birmingham early in 1944.

It was issued to No. 84 Group Support Unit at RAF Aston Down.

Shortly after D-Day MK912 was issued to RAF 312 (Czech) Squadron, which at that time was based at Appledram and Tangmere in Sussex.

After the end of the war it was sold to the Royal Netherlands Air Force in 1946.

There are only 31 airworthy Supermarine Spitfires left in the UK, of which MK912 was one.

Built in 1944, it Spitfire flew for the RAF both during and after the Second World War for a number of different air forces, until being damaged in 1953.

Passing through various collections, it was restored between 1992 and 2000, flying again for the first time on 8 September 2000.