Flown by former RNLAF F-16 solo display pilot Ralph 'Sheikh' Aarts, the Spitfire visited Twente over the weekend for pilot proficiency training. The aircraft arrived at its new home base Eindhoven from the UK on 25 August 2021 and entered the Dutch register in February 2022. As the Dutch MoD allows no more than 15 annual movements for this bird at Eindhoven, it often operates from other fields. Backtracking runway 05 here for the return flight to Midden-Zeeland. Ahead of the pilot is the symbol of the Free French Forces and the civil registration can just be made out below the stabilo.

To add to her history already documented here, this Spitfire entered the Dutch civil register on 15 February 2022, initially with the RNLAF Historic Flight followed by the Spitfires Flying Vintage Everyday society. During her 80 (!) years, she has been dismantled and shipped many times and survived four damaging landing incidents. Converted into a two-seater for the second time, during repairs at Biggin Hill from 2016 to 2021. Coming in for a stop and go here, speed brakes fully deflected.

Spitfire Tr.9 MJ772 (D-FMKN) has its rear canopy covered, so looking quite original. Marked NL-R as a 341 (French) Squadron machine. MJ772 did actually serve with this unit between 20-12-1943 and 20-1-1944