This is the story of the pursuit of a dream. Spitfire PK350 is the only late-mark Spitfire, an F Mk 22, to have ever been restored to full flying status. She had no restrictions on her airframe and with four fully serviceable 20mm cannons, she was as good as the day she came off the production line in July 1945 near Birmingham, England. She first flew as a restored aircraft on 29 March 1980 at the hands of one John McVicar “Jack” Malloch. By then a legend in his adopted country, Rhodesia, Malloch had in 1977 been entrusted by the hierarchy of the Rhodesian Air Force to restore SR64, as she was then known. In two and half years, Jack Malloch and his trusted engineers, with critical help from the Rhodesian and South African air forces, completely restored SR64 to flying condition. The fact that she was fitted with a propeller made by a German company added a sweet irony to a project that had to contend with sanctions imposed by Britain, the original country of manufacture, and highlighted the enterprising spirit of the team. This was possible because Malloch, with the backing of the Rhodesian government, had built up a successful charter airfreight company that assumed different guises, depending on where it was operating, to bypass sanctions. Malloch's network thus facilitated his quest to restore and once again fly a Spitfire such as he had flown in the RAF during the Second World War. Some fascinating insights are revealed in this account. From the test pilot who first flew her as PK350 on 25 July 1945, the reader is taken on a journey through the aircraft's complete life, with the project's lead engineer and most of the surviving pilots who flew her gracing the story with their memories. For two years PK350 delighted those fortunate enough to see her fly, mostly around Salisbury (Harare) airport. Then, on what was planned to be its last flight, Malloch's Spitfire never returned to base. Table of Contents Acknowledgements Foreword by Air Marshal Mick McLaren OLM (Retired) Preface by The Malloch Family Author’s Note Glossary of Terms Abbreviations List of Illustrations Introduction Chapter 1 29 March 1980 Chapter 2 The Ultimate Spitfire Chapter 3 Royal Air Force (RAF) Service Life, 1945–1951 Chapter 4 Southern Rhodesian Air Force (SRAF) Service Life, 1951–1977 Chapter 5 The Decision to Restore SR64 Chapter 6 Captain Jack Chapter 7 JMM’s Engineers Chapter 8 Nuts and Bolts Chapter 9 The Griffon Growls Again Chapter 10 The Other Men in Her Life Chapter 11 The Pursuit of a Dream Epilogue Jack’s Legacy: A Celebration of Perfection Postscript A Final Visit Notes Bibliography Appendix A Vickers Supermarine Spitfire F Mk 21 Cutaway Drawing Appendix B Vickers Supermarine Spitfire F Mk 22 Specifications Appendix C SRAF/RRAF Spitfire Pilots Appendix D SRAF Spitfires Appendix E ATA and Affretair Engineers, 1977–1980 Appendix F Notable Flights of Spitfire PK350, 1945–1982 Appendix G Flying Hours for Spitfire Mk 22 PK350/ SR64 as a Restored Aircraft Index " the story of the pursuit of a dream" History Magazine ...about much more than just one Spitfire and makes absolutely fascinating reading" Air Classics "…an inspirational story even if the ending is unpalatable, a fascinating read about a small group of people who had a magnificent obsession for a magnificent aeroplane. They pursued the dream and turned it into reality and we are fortunate to be able to experience some of what this was like with every turn of a page. Classic Wings