A FIGHTER plane built at a factory near Swindon has taken to the skies again more than 55 years since it was first built.

Supermarine Seafire Mark 47, VP441 was built at the Vickers-Armstrong factory in South Marston in 1947 as part of a Royal Navy order for 64 aircraft.

Now the aircraft has flown again having undergone an extensive re-build in the USA.

It is the only example of a Seafire flying anywhere in the world, and may also be the only airworthy example of an aircraft built in South Marston. It was re-built by the American firm Ezell Aviation of Breckenridge in Texas.

That firm regularly re-builds historic fighter planes for private collectors and since 1986 it has refurbished post-war Hawker Sea Furies and World War 2 Mustangs.

Ashley Ezell, whose father runs the firm, said: "We have been rebuilding the Seafire since September 1997. It has been a tough restoration and many parts we have had to fabricate from scratch."

Daryl Jones, economic development officer at Swindon Council, said: "It goes to show that Swindon's industrial heritage is long lasting."

Ashley's father, Nelson took the aircraft up for its first post-restoration flight on April 14.

Mr Ezell said: "The aircraft was amazing, my father was very impressed, he said that it had the flying qualities of a typical British fighter, it flew very well."

The plane is now owned by Jim Smith, an aircraft collector from Montana.

Mr Ezell said: "We are working with the owner to see if we can get the Seafire to airshows in the States and I know there will be much interest in the aircraft from Europe too but there are no plans at the amount."

"It has been some time since this aircraft last flew, but it is a tribute to those who built the plane in South Marston that it has taken to the skies again."

Jarrod Cotter, deputy editor of historic aircraft magazine Flypast said: "This unique aircraft is a really welcome addition to the worldwide warbird community and is a fitting tribute to the Naval aviators, mechanics and aircraft carrier deck crews who carried out their duties in some of the most hazardous environments imaginable."

The Seafire is a direct descendant of the world-famous Spitfire fighter from the Second World War.

It was designed to operate from aircraft carriers and was fitted with a Rolls Royce Griffon engine, which turned a pair of propellers and folding wings to conserve space on an aircraft carrier deck.

VP441 did not have a particularly illustrious career.

It was first flown by Vickers-Armstrong test pilot, W J G Morgan in 1947.

But within a year the aircraft was involved in an accident while landing on the aircraft carrier, HMS Ocean.

At the time it was deemed uneconomical to repair and the plane was stored.

It moved several times across the UK before being moved to the USA in 1975 arriving at Breckenridge in October 1995.