Spitfire down in NZ

Spitfire T9 MH367/ZK-WDQ has crash-landed at New Zealand’s Ardmore Airport near Auckland.


December 3: Spitfire T9 MH367/ZK-WDQ crash-landed at New Zealand’s Ardmore Airport near Auckland, reports NZNewsUK.com. The pilot, Doug Brooker, was unhurt in the incident and the Spitfire suffered extensive damage to the propeller, engine and undercarriage, although the aircraft is readily repairable.

The Spitfire was due to be one of the stars of the ‘Let’s GO Rotorua! Lakefront Air Show’ on December 12, but has now been replaced by a P-51D Mustang. It was the pilot and aircraft’s second crash-landing of the year; on January 15 it suffered a heavy landing on Hood Aerodrome, near Masterton, and had only been returned to the air in November after repairs.

MH367 is one of only two airworthy Spitfire T9s outside of the UK and one of two Spitfires in New Zealand. It first flew after an extensive rebuild in the USA on September 16, 2006 using substantial parts from DM008, ML417 and the front fuselage of the original MH367. It was sold to former champion aerobatic pilot Doug Brooker in 2008 and brought to New Zealand, registered as ZK-WDQ. It has been painted in the colours of famous Second World War NZ pilot Colin Gray.

Good that the Pilot is ok and the Aircraft can be repaired!