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Duke of Edinburgh volunteers restore plane flown by Prince Philip over 60 years ago

Prince Philip had flown the Druine Turbulent solo in 1959 - SWNS
Prince Philip had flown the Druine Turbulent solo in 1959 - SWNS

A plane flown by Prince Philip over 60 years ago will take to the skies again after being restored by Duke of Edinburgh Award volunteers.

The Duke, who passed away aged 99, became the only senior royal to pilot a single-seat aircraft when he flew solo in the Druine Turbulent in 1959.

He took off from White Waltham Airfield in Berkshire and spent 45 minutes in the air unassisted.

The following year the Duke's equerry, retired air vice marshal Sir John Severne, piloted the plane to victory at the King's Cup Air Race.

But the plane was sold and languished in a storage shed for 25 years before volunteers at Derby Aero Club found it and embarked on a eight-year restoration project.

Martin Jones, chairman of the club, expects the plane to be airborne later this year.

Prince Philip disembarks from an aircraft after a flight on May 4, 1953, at RAF White Waltham, Berkshire, where he was training for his wings.  - Keystone USA
Prince Philip disembarks from an aircraft after a flight on May 4, 1953, at RAF White Waltham, Berkshire, where he was training for his wings. - Keystone USA

The 73-year-old who is leading the restoration project, said: "It says a lot about the nature of the man that he wanted to have a go and jolly well did it.

"These light aircraft are quite daunting to fly. When they are on the ground they look all cozy and cuddly but after take-off it's a different story.

"He is the first and only senior royal anywhere in the world to fly a single-seater.

"It would never happen today with health and safety and security.”

The plane, which had been found in a “disreputable and dismantled state” has now been restored to its former glory with all metal fittings removed and replaced along with an overhaul of the engine and a new propeller.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s personal emblem will be attached to the port side of the fuselage, Mr Jones said.

It marks the latest in a wave of tributes that have poured in for Prince Philip since his death on April 9.

Pupils from Gordon’s School, one of Britain’s highest performing state boarding schools with historic links to Queen Victoria, live streamed themselves sounding the Last Post and lowering the Union Jack flag on its grounds on Saturday evening.

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth had visited Gordon’s in 1985 with the latter still serving as the school’s patron.

Meanwhile in Warwickshire, a woman who took up painting in lockdown to cope with chronic pain unveiled on her driveway a four ft high painted canvas of the Duke of Edinburgh.

Lorraine Douglas’ painting of Prince Philip, named "Bowing Out", shows him raising his bowler hat.

Ms Douglas said the Duke kept her amused over the years and she hoped her tribute had done him justice.

"It is my little homage to Prince Philip for everything that he has done for us, by being by the Queen's side and just to say to him, 'I hope you rest in peace.'"