The first Spitfire he ever flew belonged to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, during his tenure as Station Commander of RAF Coningsby.

Spink joined the Royal Air Force in the spring of 1963 with the 104th entry of the Aircraft Apprentice Scheme at No.

74 Squadron before being posted to the South Atlantic in 1989 as the Officer Commanding RAF Mount Pleasant on the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands.

This is a former "gate guardian" from RAF Sealand which was rebuilt by Historic Flying Limited about 15 years ago.

[2] Since retiring from the RAF he has formed his own Company, "Spitfire Limited", dealing in a range of aviation interests.