Spitfire's amazing Aussie sortie

Owner of Brisbane Skydiving Centre near Willowbank Brian Scoffell with his son Stewart and the replica Spitfire aircraft they are flying around the country.

David Nielsen

WILLOWBANK'S Brian Scoffell and his 14-year-old son Stewart are on their way around Australia in their Spitfire to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation.

The pair left last week in the Supermarine Spitfire MK 26B that they built from scratch.

The trip is taking them to Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Cairns and across to Normanton, then to Darwin and down the coast of Western Australia before heading across the Nullarbor to Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and then back up to Brisbane.

“I've seen first hand the trauma that is caused by leukemia and chemotherapy and if we can raise enough money to help one person it will be worthwhile,” Mr Scoffell said.

“We often hear about fires, floods and cyclones but cancer is here forever.

“The legs are a maximum of two hours apart. I expect it will take us four to six months to complete the journey.”

The Spitfire is the pair's pride and joy.

“Stewie and I built the Spitfire from scratch from a kit. It took us two years,” he said.

“It is a replica of a Mark Five Spitfire and has the same power-to-weight ratio.

“It is a lovely plane to fly. You really feel part of it. But on the ground it is a bit of a dog because you can't see where you are going because the nose is up so high.”

The YouTube video above provides details of how people can support the project.

People can also contribute by contacting Mr Scoffell on thespitfireproject@gmail.com

UP IN THE AIR

The Supermarine Spitfire Mk 26 is a two-seat Australian home-built aircraft currently produced in kit form by Supermarine Aircraft based at Moggill to be completed by amateur aircraft builders. In the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire helped the British prevail against the Luftwaffe.