David Gazet reports on Aero Legends’ Battle of Britain Memorial Spitfire Tour flying from Headcorn Aerodrome.

With a roaring jet of flame the Spitfire’s engine came to life and within minutes we were airborne, soaring over the white cliffs of Dover.

Even at the grand old age of 72 the model TD314 affectionately known as ‘St George’ is still in perfect nick. Seeing it first-hand just metres away was as once in a lifetime experience.

To mark the 80 years since the first Supermarine Spitfire flight at Eastleigh Aerodrome in 1936, Aero Legends are offering aircraft enthusiasts the chance to fly in a light aircraft alongside this graceful behemoth.

And up close it is clear this legendary Second World War Fighter plane has no place in a museum.

From tail to propeller St George has been lovingly restored at Biggin Hill. This was no easy task and even now the plane requires constant maintenance, including having the entire engine reassembled after every 500 hours of flight time.

But the results are worth the effort. During the memorial flight we circled over the port of Dover and the Battle of Britain Memorial accompanied just metres away by the fighter plane.

Flight Lieutenant Antony 'Parky' Parkinson MBE was piloting and was keen to show how agile the craft remains today, looping over the coastlane while our more modern aircraft chugged along behind.

Just before we embarked he told me:“It is hair tingling moment to fly this aircraft over the cliffs of Dover. It is a killing machine but it is also one of the most beautiful aircraft ever built.

“It very much symbolises everything about the fight in those dark days between 1940 to 1945.

The tour also includes the chance to sit in the cockpit and operate the controls.

St George was built at Castle Bromwich in late 1944 and served in the 183 Squadron at Chilbolton and 234 Squadron at Brentwaters.

After the end of the war it was sold to the South African Air Force and finished up in a Cape Town scrap yard until she was recovered in 1969.

The TD314 then passed through the hands of several owners before returning home to Britain in 2009.

She was bought by Aero Legends in 2011 and flew for the first time in December 2013.

Aero Legends are running Battle of Britain Memorial Spitfire Tours from Headcorn Aerodrome starting at £579. For more information visit www.aerolegends.co.uk or call 01622 812 830.