Poor Man's Spitfire

Poor Man's Spitfire is a 32-minute documentary chronicling the two-year restoration of WZ865, a 1953 De Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk — a tandem two-seat, single-engine, tailwheel military trainer nicknamed 'the Poor Man's Spitfire' for its superb handling characteristics. Previously operated by the RAF and the Glasgow University Air Squadron, the aircraft is restored to airworthiness in New Zealand by owner Vaughn Davis and veteran warbird engineer Stan Smith. Director Damian Christie and cinematographer Dan Wharton follow the project from near the beginning, documenting the technical challenges, problem-solving, and persistence required to bring Chipmunk 65 back to the sky. The film also features a retired RAF Air Commodore who flew WZ865 in the 1960s, providing a living historical connection to the aircraft's service life. The story culminates with the restored Chipmunk performing aerobatic displays at air shows, including inverted flight captured through pilot's-eye onboard footage.

Sources: TMDb, Pro Flight NZ (official site)