Richard Grace Spitfire Death, Obituary: In Loving Memory Of Richard Grace Spitfire

Richard Grace, the manager and principal engineer of Air Leasing Ltd. at Sywell Aerodrome, died unexpectedly, and the warbird community is mourning. Richard, 40, died on Tuesday, October 15th, after a protracted illness.

Growing up near antique airplanes, Richard Grace saw the first restoration flight of the family Spitfire ML407 in 1985, before he was even a year old. Richard has the opportunity to pursue his lifelong passions for engineering and aviation at Air Leasing Ltd.

He was the son of celebrity couple Nick and Carolyn Grace. Nick began the Spitfire ML407 restoration, but he unfortunately died in a car accident in 1988. ‘The Grace Spitfire’ was the family plane, and his wife Carolyn decided to fly it. She was the first qualified female pilot to compete in show flying and the first female pilot authorized to fly the type since World War II. Carolyn was tragically killed in an auto accident in Australia on December 2, 2022.

At the age of 20, he constructed and flew his first plane, and he hasn’t stopped since. Richard has flown several WWII aircraft types, including the Hawker Hurricane, Hawker Sea Fury, Yak-3, P-51 Mustang, and numerous Spitfire versions. Richard was also a member of the Trig Aerobatic Team, who competed in two Pitts Specials across Europe.

He has overseen the sale, acquisition, import, repair, and certification of multiple airplanes and has been the primary driving force behind the company’s growth.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his sisters Olivia and Nicola, his wife Daisy, and their two children, Allegra and Stirling.