Many outfits operate and restore all types of warbird, however HFL is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of Supermarine Spitfires. Many of the Spitfires seen on today's air show circuit will probably been restored or overhauled by HFL. 

The HFL story started in 1988, when Tim Routsis quite simply wanted to fly a Spitfire, doesn't everyone! He entered talks with the Ministry of Defence, and by providing the MoD with twelve fiberglass replicas of Spitfires and Hurricanes for gate guard duties, he inadvertently paved the way for the MoD to remove all historic airframes and place them in storage at Shawbury and St Athan. These airframes were to be used as trading material by the RAF Museum at Hendon. The bonus was that many of these airframes fell into private hands and have been restored back to flying condition. 

Enter two other people, Clive Denney, and Ian Warren, who teamed up with Tim and formed Historic Flying Ltd at Audley End in Essex, to rescue and restore former RAF gate guardians to flying condition. Clive owns a company called Vintage Fabrics with his wife, replacing fabric coverings on vintage aircraft, as well as re-spray work, and Ian is a sheet metal and systems engineer.

The first of the many projects was Spitfire XVIe RW382, which had been removed from the gate at RAF Uxbridge and was in storage at the Vintage Fabrics workshops. This aircraft was to become the template for many other rebuilds and provided the engineers with the experience needed to complete many other rebuilds. HFL re-located from Audley End to Duxford in 2001, and shares facilities with the Aircraft Restoration Company, the two companies forming a close working relationship, but still keeping their independence.

Two Spitfires operated by The Fighter Collection were restored by HFL, the XIV SM832 which in recent years has been operated in France, and LF Vb EP120, which featured in the film "Dark Blue World" flown by Nigel Lamb. EP120 was a gate guardian at RAF Wattisham, but during its wartime service claimed seven victories, making it one of the highest scoring warbirds in existence.

The 24th April 2002 saw another HFL Spitfire Mk XIV RN201 (G-BSKP) take to the skies over Duxford in the hands of ARCo's John Romain. This aircraft had spent years displayed on top of a pole in Belgium. This the first "high tech" warbird as this aircraft is fitted with a "Data Analogue Analysing System". This system was developed by the manufacturer Pi Research, along with ARCo and HFL and allows engine and flight data to be monitored by computer. This may seen a little un-authentic but the system gives the engineering team the edge over potentially serious problems sooner rather than later. A carbon monoxide sensing system has also been installed in the cockpit to warn both pilot and engineers if the gas goes beyond safe limits. 

Future projects are the rebuild of a Mk V (JG891) which was acquired in New Zealand and has been in storage. The wing section of the Mk V is already undergoing restoration.

HFL operates the two seat Spitfire Tr.IX PV202 (G-TRIX). Originally built in 1944 as a Spitfire Mk IXc, PV202 served with 412 Sqn RCAF with the 2nd Tactical Air Force in Holland and Germany scoring three kills in the process (2x Fw-190's and 1x Bf-109). After retirement from the RCAF, she was sold to Vickers for conversion to a two seat Type 509 configuration, before continuing her career with the Irish Air Corps in June 1951 as IAC-161. 

A rare Rolls Royce Merlin 66 engine was located found and underwent overhaul in the USA before being delivered to HFL. This machine was operated for over a decade before a tragic accident on April 8th 2000 left her badly damaged, with the two pilots, Norman Lees, and Greg McCurragh both being killed in the incident. The aircraft has recently been re-sprayed into the marking of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, and as well as displaywork, is used for training purposes at Duxford. 

ARCo and HFL are committed to providing a warbird pilot training programme, with pilots progressing from the Tiger Moth, to Chipmunk, to Harvard, and onto a two seat Spitfire, before flying single seat warbirds. 

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