A Seafire war plane has taken to the skies again, 49 years after being hauled out of a scrapyard in a derelict state.

       The Seafire MKXVII was flown at RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset, on Tuesday after it became the latest addition to the Navy Wings Heritage Centre.

       The aircraft is the Royal Navy version of the Spitfire and this is the only airworthy MkXVII and one of only two flying Seafires in the world.

       The Seafire was discontinued in 1953 and this particular model was scrapped around the same time.

       It was not until 1973, almost 20 years later, that it was re-discovered in a derelict state in a scrapyard in Warrington by Peter Arnold, a Spitfire historian.

       In 2001, the plane was purchased by Tim Manna, a former US Navy pilot, and restored to full flying condition by Kennet Aviation at North Weald.

       In November 2021, Navy Wings, which works to preserve Britain’s naval aviation heritage, bought the aircraft.