Rare Spitfire to fly at Warbirds Over Wanaka 2026

A rare UK-based Mk. XI Spitfire will be one of the International visitors to join the exciting line up for next year’s Easter Airshow.

The aircraft is one of only two Mk. XI Spitfires still flying in the world today.  The rare aircraft will be displayed at Wanaka by its owner, and the world’s most experienced Spitfire pilot John Romain.  It will join New Zealand’s only airworthy Spitfire, the Mk. IX owned by Brendon Deere based at Ohakea.

The Mk. XI Spitfire that will fly at Wanaka next year | Photo: Aircraft Restoration Co.

John expressed his excitement to return to Wanaka saying “the last time I flew at the Wanaka airshow was in 2018 when I brought over my Buchon ME-109 and I had such a good time I have always wanted to return.”

The 2026 airshow will mark 90 years since the first flight of the iconic Spitfire. “Marking the 90th anniversary of the first flight of the Spitfire at such a well-known airshow will be a great honour,” says John.

Warbirds Over Wanaka GM Ed Taylor says it's always a huge undertaking shipping 90-year-old aircraft around the world but it's made a lot less stressful with the help of shipping partners like NZ’s Mainfreight who have supported the event for many years.

This Spitfire, PL983 first flew in 1944 for the RAF and is now operated from Duxford, United Kingdom.

The Mk. XI was specially designed to perform high altitude, long distance photographic operations.  One of the type’s most famous exploits was taking the first images of the damage caused following the famous “Dambuster” raids.

Many years later G-PRXI PL983 was acquired by The Aircraft Restoration Company at Duxford and a full restoration was commissioned including locating and refurbishing it’s factory original Rolls-Royce Merlin 70 engine.  The aircraft finally flew again in 2018 adorned in the authentic ‘PR blue’ livery which was so effective at camouflaging the aircraft at height.