THE Basingstoke skies will be visited by a friend from the past this weekend as a special Spitfire flies over the city's hospital to pay tribute to the NHS.

The 'Thank U NHS' Spitfire is due to pass over Basingstoke hospital at 3.42pm on Saturday.

And residents have the opportunity to nominate the name of a loved one to be hand written onto the family-owned Aircraft Restoration Company’s blue photo-reconnaissance plane in aid of NHS Charities Together.

The names will be nominated by the public as a way of recognising small acts of kindness throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

The full flight plan

Exact timings of the NHS Spitfire on August 1

11am: Duxford Airfield - takeoff

11.15am: Southend University Hospital

11.25am: Kent and Canterbury Hospital

11.30am: Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital - Margate

11.37am: Buckland Hospital - Dover

11.42am: Royal Victoria Hospital - Folkstone

11.46am: William Harvey Hospital - Ashford

11.55am: Conquest Hospital - Hastings

12pm: Bexhill Hospital

12.05pm: Eastbourne District General Hospital

12.10pm: Brighton General & Royal Sussex County Hospital

12.18pm: Worthing Hospital

12.25pm: Goodwood Aerodrome - land

3pm: Goodwood Aereodrome - takeoff

3.05pm: Queen Alexandra Hospital - Portsmouth

3.10pm: St Mary's Hospital - Newport, Isle of Wight

3.20pm: Poole Hospital

3.25pm: Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals

3.32pm: University Hospital Southampton

3.42pm: Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital

3.47pm: Frimley Park Hospital

3.51pm: Royal Berkshire Hospital - Reading

4pm: Amersham Hospital

4.08pm: Oxford University Hospitals

4.15pm: Watford General Hospital

4.30pm: Duxford Airfield - land

The Route timings are estimates and are subject to slight changes during flight.

For more details and to donate, visit justgiving.com/nhsspitfire.

Where did the idea come from for the Spitfire?

The special aircraft has been decorated with names of heroes nominated by loved ones.

In fact, the blue aircraft has been covered in hand written names for NHS Charities Together.

Members of the public have been able to nominate one person who they feel has supported their community during the COVID-19 pandemic, whether they're a helpful neighbour or a committed frontline worker.

People who wish to make a nomination can do so by making a donation of at least £10 on the Aircraft Restoration Company's JustGiving page.

There is room for 80,000 names on the aircraft with the window for donations closing on September 20.

The aim is to lift the spirits of those across the UK, while also thanking the hospitals, communities and individuals who have been at the forefront of getting the country through the health crisis.