The Hawker Hurricane fighter jet soared through the skies above Brooklands on November 6 – 75 years to the day after its maiden flight.

The Hurricane first flew over Brooklands in 1935 and it went on to be credited with winning the Battle of Britain.

At the centre of anniversary celebrations at the museum was the official unveiling of Hawker Hurricane Z2389, which has been painstakingly restored over the past decade.

Used by the Soviet air force, the plane was shot down over the Kola Peninsula in May 1942 and its remains were only discovered in 1990.

Despite damage and 54 years’ exposure at the crash site, the steel framework of the aircraft was surprisingly well-preserved and the museum bought the wreckage with Heritage Lottery Funding.

Former Hawker test pilot Duncan Simpson, 82, said: “It was a wonderful occasion. I don’t think the Hurricane is just special to those who worked on it, but to everyone in this country because without it and the spitfire, we would not be talking today.

“Without those planes we could not have survived, and that is why it is so important to keep it flying.”

Mr Simpson was with the Hawker company for more than 24 years and worked on the Hunter model, but got to fly the last Hurricane ever made – dubbed The Last of Many.

He said: “I was lucky enough to deliver it to the Battle of Britain memorial site, and it is still flying now in air displays.

“The Hurricane saw service all over the world. There is so much history behind it and the workers were a great family.”

Mr Simpson saw the wreckage of the Hurricane at Brooklands when it arrived from Russia.

He said: “When I heard they were restoring it, I thought ‘They’ll never do it’ but to see it flying again was wonderful.”

Allan Winn, director of Brooklands Museum, said: “To have that aeroplane unveiled, and another one displaying overhead 75 years to the day from the first Hurricane flight, and in the presence of so many people linked to its history, was humbling and exciting.”

To see the plane, visit Brooklands Museum in Weybridge.

Visit brooklandsmuseum.com for more information.