Australia’s chance to fly in a genuine two-seat Spitfire

Early-Bird tickets for Warbirds Over Scone 2026 (28–29 March) are on sale now, and to celebrate we’re giving one lucky ticket holder the chance to fly in a two-seat Supermarine Spitfire – a bucket-list experience never before available in Australia.

This is not a replica. The aircraft at the heart of our giveaway is Spitfire IX BS548, a combat veteran with an extraordinary story. Originally built as a Mk V and converted to a Mk IX before delivery, BS548 joins No. 340 (Free French) Squadron at Biggin Hill in November 1942, wearing the Cross of Lorraine beneath the cockpit. On 1 December 1942, Sous Lieutenant André Moynet flies BS548 over the Pas de Calais, destroying an Fw 190 and damaging another – his final victory in Western Europe before later becoming an ace on Yaks on the Eastern Front. BS548 then serves with No. 341 Squadron before being shot down near Le Havre in April 1943.

Decades later, BS548 is undergoing a meticulous restoration by Ross Pay and Pays Aviation, emerging as a rare two-seat trainer variant – the only one of its kind in Australia. The aircraft is set to make its public debut at Warbirds Over Scone 2026, the largest gathering of historic aircraft in the Southern Hemisphere.

“Two-seat Spitfires are extremely popular in the UK for passenger flights,” says airshow performer and Warbirds Over Scone director Paul Bennet. “This is a special opportunity to make that experience available here in Australia at a fraction of the cost of travelling overseas. It’s a unique way to connect the public with aviation history – and it’s especially meaningful given how many RAAF pilots transitioned from Tigermoths and Wirraways into Spitfires during the war.”

How to enter (it’s automatic)

• Buy any Early-Bird ticket during the promotion window and you’re automatically entered.

• Every ticket = one entry.

• The winner is selected by random electronic draw in line with our Terms & Conditions.

• Open now and scheduled to close Sunday 8 September 2025 (AEST) (or while Early-Bird allocation lasts).

Get your Early-Bird Tickets here

“It’s not just about the flight itself,” adds Bennet. “It’s about sitting in that cockpit, hearing the V12 Merlin roar to life, and feeling the same sensations as the pilots who flew them in combat. That’s something you never forget.”

What the prize includes

• A passenger flight experience in a two-seat Supermarine Spitfire.

• Safety briefing and pre-flight walk-around.

• Flight duration as specified by the operator (typically ~20 minutes)

• Scheduling subject to aircraft availability, weather and operational requirements.

• Prize fulfilment is handled directly with the approved operator. Age/weight/height limits and medical fitness may apply. See T&Cs for full details.

Why BS548 matters

For aviation enthusiasts and history lovers alike, BS548’s return to the skies is both a living memorial and a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. From the Biggin Hill Wing to the Upper Hunter, the aircraft’s journey connects past and present – letting one lucky member of the public be one of the first in Australia to strap into history.