Ezer Weizman's Black Spitfire is the oldest and most famous aircraft in the Israeli Air Force. The 'Black Spit' originally became part of the Royal Air Force on May 29th 1945. After the Second World War, it was transferred to the Czech Air Force and subsequently sold to Israel in October 1948, arriving in November of the following year, entering service in the 'First Fighter Squadron' and receiving the number 2057. It was then used as a training aircraft in both the 'Scorpion Squadron' and 'Third Spitfire Squadron' (known today as the 'Knights of the Orange Tail Squadron', who fly F16s) In 1954, when most of Israel's Spitfires were sold to Burma, a few remained in Israel at the request of (then) Major-General Ezer Weizman, commander of the Ramat David Airbase. One of those was 2057 (or 57, as it became known) which subsequently became Weizman's private plane, and was painted black to resemble the aircraft of the British Base Commander under whom Weizman served during WW2. Ezer Weizman Z"L passed away at his home in Caesarea on April 25th, 2005 at the age of 80. As a mark of respect at his funeral, 'Black Spit' flew overhead.
