HomeUncategorizedChocks away! Battle of Britain Hurricane fighter plane soars back into the...

Chocks away! Battle of Britain Hurricane fighter plane soars back into the skies after spending 50 years in bog where it sank when shot down by Nazi pilot in 1940

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A neurosurgeon has restored a Battle of Britain fighter plane which was in a bog for fifty years – and now it can fly.

The World War Two Mk1 Hawker Hurricane was shot down over Canterbury by a Luftwaffe fighter pilot ace in 1940.

It plummeted into a bog where it lay undiscovered until the 1990s when it was found and excavated by a group of metal detectorists.

The decaying frame was bought two years ago by consultant Peter Kirkpatrick, 57, who spent two years on the £2m restoration.

Peter Kirkpatrick, 57, bought the decaying frame of a World War Two Mk1 Hawker Hurricane after it was found and excavated by a group of metal detectorists. He has spent spent two years on the £2m restoration (pictured, restoration work underway)

Peter Kirkpatrick, 57, bought the decaying frame of a World War Two Mk1 Hawker Hurricane after it was found and excavated by a group of metal detectorists. He has spent spent two years on the £2m restoration (pictured, restoration work underway)

The restored fighter plane - RAF no V7497 - contains 35 per cent of the original, and is one of just 14 Hurricanes still flying. The painstaking task of rebuilding the 78-year-old warplane was undertaken by Hawker Restorations of Milden near Sudbury, world leaders in putting Hurricanes back in the air (pictured, Mr Kirkpatrick in the vehicle)

The restored fighter plane – RAF no V7497 – contains 35 per cent of the original, and is one of just 14 Hurricanes still flying. The painstaking task of rebuilding the 78-year-old warplane was undertaken by Hawker Restorations of Milden near Sudbury, world leaders in putting Hurricanes back in the air (pictured, Mr Kirkpatrick in the vehicle) 

The Hurricane was found in the early 90s by an excavation team who sold it to Peter, who asked Hawker Restorations to repair it. They kept the stainless steel joints, but had to replace some unsalvagable parts of the plane (pictured, the plane in the bog)

The Hurricane was found in the early 90s by an excavation team who sold it to Peter, who asked Hawker Restorations to repair it. They kept the stainless steel joints, but had to replace some unsalvagable parts of the plane (pictured, the plane in the bog)

Late last year, Mr Kirkpatrick took the controls for his maiden flight in the 78-year-old warplane (pictured in the air). He is now seriously considering leaving his job at Addenbrooke's Hospital so he can fly the 350mph plane at air shows around the world as a full-time display pilot

Late last year, Mr Kirkpatrick took the controls for his maiden flight in the 78-year-old warplane (pictured in the air). He is now seriously considering leaving his job at Addenbrooke’s Hospital so he can fly the 350mph plane at air shows around the world as a full-time display pilot

Mr Kirkpatrick spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on the restoration - and is one of three stakeholders who stumped up the £2m total, including Hawker Restorations which still retains a 25 per cent share of the plane. He raised his contribution through remortgaging the home he shares with wife Leisha, who supports his hobby

Mr Kirkpatrick spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on the restoration – and is one of three stakeholders who stumped up the £2m total, including Hawker Restorations which still retains a 25 per cent share of the plane. He raised his contribution through remortgaging the home he shares with wife Leisha, who supports his hobby

The restored fighter plane – RAF no V7497 – contains 35 per cent of the original, and is one of just 14 Hurricanes still flying.

Late last year, Mr Kirkpatrick took the controls for his maiden flight in the 78-year-old warplane.

He is now seriously considering leaving his job at Addenbrooke’s Hospital so he can fly the 350mph plane at air shows around the world as a full-time display pilot.

Mr Kirkpatrick, a married father-of-one, said: ‘In some respects flying is like surgery – there is very little room for error.

‘Both involve the hand and eye co-ordination and in the end it comes down to having to make very rapid life-or-death decisions.

‘I believe passionately in the history of these aircraft and the role they played in the last world war.

‘Thanks to the courage and bravery of the young men who flew them we enjoy much of what we enjoy today and to be able to fly a Hurricane is a huge privilege.

‘There are only about a dozen in the world still in an airworthy condition and although the Spitfire may have garnered more attention it was the Hurricane that was the real workhorse of the war – and the Battle of Britain statistics prove it was the plane that predominantly saved the day.

‘My first solo flight was fantastic and a tribute to those who sacrificed their lives all those years ago. Without them we would have lost the war.’

Mr Kirkpatrick (pictured in the plane), who learned to fly while he was a medical student in the 1980s, made the maiden flight in September 2019 at Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridgeshire. He already regularly flies his Pitts Special plane at displays and when he has built up more hours flying the Hurricane, he'll fly it at organised, public displays

Mr Kirkpatrick (pictured in the plane), who learned to fly while he was a medical student in the 1980s, made the maiden flight in September 2019 at Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridgeshire. He already regularly flies his Pitts Special plane at displays and when he has built up more hours flying the Hurricane, he’ll fly it at organised, public displays

Work takes place to remove the Hurricane from the Kent bog where it lay undiscovered until the 1990s. The Hurricane was found by an excavation team who sold it to Mr Kirkpatrick, who asked Hawker Restorations to repair it

Work takes place to remove the Hurricane from the Kent bog where it lay undiscovered until the 1990s. The Hurricane was found by an excavation team who sold it to Mr Kirkpatrick, who asked Hawker Restorations to repair it

The plane was buried deep in the bog, and it was only when metal detectorists stumbled upon it that it was revealed. The Hurricanes were built in south west London and Surrey and trialled on Martlesham Heath in early 1936

The plane was buried deep in the bog, and it was only when metal detectorists stumbled upon it that it was revealed. The Hurricanes were built in south west London and Surrey and trialled on Martlesham Heath in early 1936

In the Battle of Britain, Hurricanes scored the highest number of RAF victories, accounting for 1,593 out of the 2,739-total claimed. The Hawker Hurricane failed to receive government funding when the prototype was being built, but Hawker were convinced about its future and carried on despite the lack of financial backing (pictured, Mr Kirkpatrick's plane under going renovations at Hawker Restorations)

In the Battle of Britain, Hurricanes scored the highest number of RAF victories, accounting for 1,593 out of the 2,739-total claimed. The Hawker Hurricane failed to receive government funding when the prototype was being built, but Hawker were convinced about its future and carried on despite the lack of financial backing (pictured, Mr Kirkpatrick’s plane under going renovations at Hawker Restorations)

The Hurricane was found in the early 90s by an excavation team who sold it to Mr Kirkpatrick, who asked Hawker Restorations to repair it. They kept the stainless steel joints, but had to replace some unsalvagable parts of the plane (pictured, the rusted control column of the Mk1 Hawker Hurricane)

The Hurricane was found in the early 90s by an excavation team who sold it to Mr Kirkpatrick, who asked Hawker Restorations to repair it. They kept the stainless steel joints, but had to replace some unsalvagable parts of the plane (pictured, the rusted control column of the Mk1 Hawker Hurricane)

The painstaking task of rebuilding the 78-year-old warplane was undertaken by Hawker Restorations of Milden near Sudbury, world leaders in putting Hurricanes back in the air.

They have worked on or rebuilt all of the 14 Hurricanes still flying.

The Hurricane was found in the early 90s by an excavation team who sold it to Mr Kirkpatrick, who asked Hawker Restorations to repair it.

They kept the stainless steel joints, but had to replace some unsalvagable parts of the plane.

Mr Kirkpatrick spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on the restoration – and is one of three stakeholders who stumped up the £2m total, including Hawker Restorations which still retains a 25 per cent share of the plane.

He raised his contribution through remortgaging the home he shares with wife Leisha, who supports his hobby.

Their son Elliott, 13, is already learning to fly, and hopes to join the Air Cadets next year.

Mr Kirkpatrick, who learned to fly while he was a medical student in the 1980s, made the maiden flight in September 2019 at Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambs. He already regularly flies his Pitts Special plane at displays and when he has built up more hours flying the Hurricane, he'll fly it at organised, public displays (pictured, the newly restored plane in flight)

Mr Kirkpatrick, who learned to fly while he was a medical student in the 1980s, made the maiden flight in September 2019 at Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambs. He already regularly flies his Pitts Special plane at displays and when he has built up more hours flying the Hurricane, he’ll fly it at organised, public displays (pictured, the newly restored plane in flight)

Mr Kirkpatrick received flying lessons from Hawker Restoration chief test pilot Stuart Goldspink, before his recent first flight in the restored aircraft. He said: 'In some respects flying is like surgery - there is very little room for error. 'Both involve the hand and eye co-ordination and in the end it comes down to having to make very rapid life-or-death decisions'

Mr Kirkpatrick received flying lessons from Hawker Restoration chief test pilot Stuart Goldspink, before his recent first flight in the restored aircraft. He said: ‘In some respects flying is like surgery – there is very little room for error. ‘Both involve the hand and eye co-ordination and in the end it comes down to having to make very rapid life-or-death decisions’

The restored fighter plane - RAF no V7497 - contains 35 per cent of the original, and is one of just 14 Hurricanes still flying. Late last year, Mr Kirkpatrick took the controls for his maiden flight in the 78-year-old warplane (pictured, the plane taking off). He is now seriously considering leaving his job at Addenbrooke's Hospital so he can fly the 350mph plane at air shows around the world as a full-time display pilot

The restored fighter plane – RAF no V7497 – contains 35 per cent of the original, and is one of just 14 Hurricanes still flying. Late last year, Mr Kirkpatrick took the controls for his maiden flight in the 78-year-old warplane (pictured, the plane taking off). He is now seriously considering leaving his job at Addenbrooke’s Hospital so he can fly the 350mph plane at air shows around the world as a full-time display pilot

Mr Kirkpatrick revealed he's now hoping to spend a little bit more time flying. He said: 'I've dedicated my life to the NHS - but it's changed over the years. There is so much work it's become more like a factory. Don't get me wrong, I love the NHS but I increasingly feel it is time my other passion - flying - has a chance'

Mr Kirkpatrick revealed he’s now hoping to spend a little bit more time flying. He said: ‘I’ve dedicated my life to the NHS – but it’s changed over the years. There is so much work it’s become more like a factory. Don’t get me wrong, I love the NHS but I increasingly feel it is time my other passion – flying – has a chance’

Mr Kirkpatrick is now seriously considering leaving his job at Addenbrooke's Hospital so he can fly the 350mph plane at air shows around the world as a full-time display pilot (pictured, Mr Kirkpatrick in his scrubs)

Mr Kirkpatrick is now seriously considering leaving his job at Addenbrooke’s Hospital so he can fly the 350mph plane at air shows around the world as a full-time display pilot (pictured, Mr Kirkpatrick in his scrubs)

Mr Kirkpatrick, who learned to fly while he was a medical student in the 1980s, made the maiden flight in September 2019 at Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridgeshire.

He already regularly flies his Pitts Special plane at displays and when he has built up more hours flying the Hurricane, he’ll fly it at organised, public displays.

He said last night: ‘I’ve dedicated my life to the NHS – but it’s changed over the years. There is so much work it’s become more like a factory.

‘Don’t get me wrong, I love the NHS but I increasingly feel it is time my other passion – flying – has a chance.

‘I’ve learned to fly a stunt plane, but my real passion is the plane that was behind the WW2 Battle of Britain, the Hurricane.

‘Restoring this plane from its sad end in the Kent marshes and being able to actually flight it, is a dream come true for me.

‘I feel I’ve done my bit for our health service and now might be the right time to move on.’

He received flying lessons from Hawker Restoration chief test pilot Stuart Goldspink, before his recent first flight in the restored aircraft.