A 48-YEAR-OLD classic aeroplane, which was flown from Aberdeen to Brackley for a coat of paint, is now in prizewinning condition.

The Piper Apache has been restored to the colours and markings it wore when factory-new in 1959.

The reconditioning was carried out by ex-Royal Air Force painter Mick Allen, who moved his paint respray business to Turweston Aerodrome in 1998.

Over the last nine years, with his two sons Shay and Ty, Mr Allen has built up a reputation for quality work - and when John Thorogood, the Scottish-based owner of the Piper, wanted his plane repainted, he flew over 400 miles to South Northamptonshire, even though there were a number of alternative paint shops much nearer his Aberdeen base.

Mr Allen suggested that the machine should be restored in the original Piper colour scheme and also that it should revert back to the period registration, G-APFV, that it carried when it was imported into the UK in 1959.

Pipers were made in Pennsylvania, America, and in the 1950s were state-of-the-art executive transport aircraft, but now only five Pipers are currently airworthy in the UK.

Mr Allen said he used the internet to find out what the plane looked like when it was new.

He said: "I posted an appeal on an aircraft enthusiast website, and several spotters who photographed it back in the early 1960s responded and sent me copies of their photographs.

"Fortunately the early photos were of good quality and by a local graphics guru, David Hedges of Middleton Cheney, was able to recreate the original Piper art deco type decals for the nose and cowlings, and these further improved the period appearance of the painted aircraft."

Mr Thorogood could only keep abreast of progress by email and therefore had not seen the finished result until he arrived to pick up his aeroplane last week.

He said: "I was stunned when I saw the result, and I hope to win prizes at vintage and classic aircraft gatherings in the coming year."