Poor man’s spitfire: the Documentary
A 1953 De Havilland Chipmunk’s return to the skies.
Returning Chipmunk 65 to the sky involved more than just bolting the wings back on and filling the tanks with fuel. Its 2 year journey was filled with challenges and setbacks as we worked to make this classic aircraft not just airworthy, but truly representative of this classic 1950s RAF trainer.
Renowned New Zealand director Damian Christie and cinematographer Dan Wharton followed the project from almost the beginning, interviewing Vaughn as well as veteran engineer Stan Smith as the aircraft made its slow journey back to airworthiness. Stan is an iconic figure in the New Zealand and international warbird community and reflects on the process of restoring our Chipmunk, before giving a hint at what might be next out of his workshop…
We also meet a retired RAF Air Commodore who flew WZ865 when it was with Glasgow University Air Squadron in the 1960s – before its current owner was even born.
Finally, we see WZ865 back where it belongs: upside down in front of an air show crowd (featuring pilot’s eye view onboard footage).
Poor Man’s Spitfire will have its public premiere at Wānaka’s Cinema Paradiso during Warbirds Over Wānaka, Easter 2026.
Please get in touch via the contact page if your organisation would like to hold its own screening.
