An iconic Second World War plane has flown over five north and north-east hospitals this morning to thank NHS staff for their hard work.
The Spitfire was spotted in the skies above Aberdeen, Elgin and Inverness, emblazoned with the words “Thank U NHS” along with the names of thousands of key workers.
Setting off at 10am, the plane flew over hospitals in Edinburgh, Dundee and Perth, before passing by Woodend Hospital and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Dr Gray’s in Elgin.
Just after 11am, it was welcomed by crowds at Raigmore and New Craigs in Inverness, then landed for a two-hour pit stop at the city’s airport.
By the afternoon it flew by facilities in Stirling, Glasgow and Cumbernauld and arrived at Derry Airport after 4pm.
It has been organised by the NHS Spitfire Project with the team at Aircraft Restoration Company carefully planning 98 route waypoints that include 25 in Scotland.
Built in 1944 and used as a photographic aeroplane, the PL983 aircraft is expected to fly over Aberdeen’s Woodend and Royal Infirmary hospitals around 10.50am on Thursday before making the journey west to Elgin’s Dr Gray’s by 11.08am.
The plane had previously flown every Thursday during lockdown from its base at Duxford Airfield near Cambridge in support of NHS Charities Together and the carers campaign.
Since then nearly £80,000 has been raised with donations being made from those having their names handwritten onto the aircraft.
Click here to donate to the NHS Spitfire Project.