There’s an article on the ‘Vintage Aviation Echo’ website that details the history of PL983 – it’s a good read.

I remember seeing PL983 around when it was based at Goudhurst – there’s a road that runs right past the private strip it operated from, if you were lucky you’d see the Spitfire parked in front of the small hangar.  Living near(ish) to Headcorn aerodrome we’d sometimes see it over the house too (along with Martin Sargeants Harvard – where’s that now? and Chris Bellhouse’s Harvard – now with Aerolegends). 

When ‘Piece Of Cake’ was being filmed we’d get lifts over to Headcorn aerodrome after school to have a look at the aircraft there – one of which would have been PL983.  As a result of the ‘local connection’ I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for PL983 and was pleased to see it back at Headcorn last summer.