The first Mark 9 Spitfire to be completely rebuilt in New Zealand has successfully taken to the skies around Palmerston North.
The plane was put back together as a tribute to one of the country's most decorated World War II pilots.
After 53 years of being grounded, over five-and-a-half years of painstaking graft went into the complete rebuilding.
Owner Brendon Deere began the project to pay a special tribute to his uncle, Al Deere, a former wing commander of Biggin Hill's 485 Squadron.
But the plane quickly came to represent far more.
"As much as it is about my uncle who survived the war and was pretty well-known, but there were lots of them who made similar contributions in this aircraft and we wanted to everyone to remember that for many years ahead," says Mr Deere.
Al Deere shot down nine enemy planes during World War II. But he was also lucky to survive after being shot down twice himself.
His planes were not so lucky. None survived, so this one was sought from an American collector.
From there, every little piece of this 65-year-old plane has been pulled apart, bead-blasted, microscopically examined and carefully put back together.
With son and wife part of Mr Deere's team of six, it has been something of a family affair. The team could be resurrected once again when Brendon decides on his next project.
"I'll come back to that thought in a couple of months," says Mr Deere. "I think I'll just take a rest and enjoy what we have done."
The fruit of his efforts will have its first display flight at the Omaka Classic Fighter show before it takes part in ANZAC Day commemorations.
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