AS Britain remembers those who gave their lives in war, one of the greatest symbols of our nation’s military heritage is again taking to the skies over Andover.

Over the past four years a rare Supermarine Spitfire has been carefully restored by Thruxton firm Classic Aero Engineering, and the iconic warplane has now begun flight testing to become one of just 45 airworthy examples world-wide.

The plane was first built in 1944 and sold to the South African Air Force in 1948.

Its rusting shell was discovered in 1970 in a scrap yard in Cape Town.

Since then it has changed hands several times until Classic Aero Engineering were contracted to carry out a proper restoration by the owner Paul Portelli, who recently died.

The Spitfire was converted to a Mark TR9 two-seater as Mr Portelli wanted more people to enjoy it – but because he still wanted a truly original Spitfire, it is decked out in Royal Netherlands Air Force colours because the RAF never had a TR9.

It has even been given the squadron code H99 – after one of the original RNAF planes.

Bruce Ellis, the leader of the restoration team, spent weeks at the RAF Hendon museum researching every known drawing of the Mark TR9 to ensure every part of the plane matched the original design.

He said: “It’s the first Spitfire we’ve done and it’s been tough.

“In many ways an aeroplane is an aeroplane, it’s just the resources and the shape that changes, providing you have the drawings.

“But finding parts is never easy and it’s getting harder, and there are just no two-seater parts around.

“We manufactured lots of the parts using original materials, as some of the parts we had built to the designs wouldn’t quite fit this particular plane.”

The company has applied to the UK Civil Aviation Authority for a ‘permit to fly’ certificate, which should be issued in March next year. The plane may take off for a short test flight on Saturday morning.

Once it is airborne, it will be sold for around £1.8 to £2 million – which could make it the most expensive Spitfire ever.

Mr Ellis added: “When you’re building a Spitfire, so much of your own personality goes into it. Every bit has to be shaped and fettled to actually fit that one plane.

“So it’s been more frustrating and drawn more blood from us than any other plane we’ve ever built, but it was incredibly satisfying to hear it taking off for the first time.”