French Spitfire returns home

Earlier this week, on 12 August 2020, Vickers Supermarine Spitfire PR.XIX PS890 (construction number 6S/585110) returned to its homebase Dijon/Darois (France). The fighter, registered as F-AZJS, made its first post restoration flight a few days earlier, on 6 August. It was flown by John Romain.

The repairs/restoration had become necessary after F-AZJS had tipped forward and then overturned during take-off on the aerodrome of Villette/Longuyon (Meurthe-et-Moselle) on Sunday 11 June 2017. It was the first time that pilot Cédric Ruet flew a Spitfire and the power of the machine must have taken him by surprise. He was slightly injured but taken to hospital. F-AZJS was trucked to Duxford for repairs by ARCo/HFL. It arrived there on 4 September 2017.

Spitfire PR.XIX PS890 is owned by well-known French pilot and collector Christophe Jacquard. It is currently the only airworthy Spitfire in the French register. F-AZJS flies in the South East Asia colours of RAF 152 squadron RAF with code UM-E.

sources: Aviation Safety Network, FB Dijon-Darois, Flypast Forum / photos: Republicain Lorrain