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Dawson Jack, who lives in Westhampnett, completed 36 miles on the bicycle he received for his 11th birthday last month – one mile for every known combat mission the Hawker Typhoon flew.

During lockdown the North Mundham Primary School pupil contacted the Hawker Typhoon Preservation Group (HTPG) to find out how he could help raise some of the £5million required for its project to rebuild Hawker Typhoon RB396/G-TIFY and get it flying again.

Dawson initially set a fundraising target of £350, but smashed that target almost straight away, and has now raised £2,060 for the project.

Dawson Jack completed his 36 miles at one of Goodwood Motor Circuit’s cycling days

Now, the HTPG has set Dawson another target – raise £4,000 for the project and become and honorary platinum club member of the group.

The exclusive membership carries a number of special benefits, including the member’s name inscribed on the finished Hawker Typhoon, as well as being guaranteed an invite to the first flight event.

Sam Worthington-Leese, HTPG trustee, said: “Dawson has done incredibly well on this fundraiser, all of his own initiative, and all at the Hawker Typhoon Preservation Group are incredibly grateful for his efforts.”

Dawson is surrounded by aviation history in his family – one of his grandfathers worked as an apprentice at Handley Page, the British aerospace manufacturer, and held a private pilot’s licence for years, while his other grandfather was based at RAF Tangmere.

Pilots of No 198 Squadron RAF Second Tactical Air Force (123 Wing) study maps in front of their Hawker Typhoon IA fighter-bomber on June 16, 1944, at RAF Thorney Island (Photo by PNA Rota/Getty Images)

His great-grandfather also served in the RAF flying Lancasters, and his mother works at Goodwood Flying School.

Dawson said: “Anyone who loves history or aviation or both, if they’d like to sponsor me I would be so grateful and so would HTPG! G-TIFY deserves to fly again – how cool it will be to see her in the skies?”

To sponsor Dawson, visit his JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/dawson-jackcyclingforflyinghistory

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11-year-old’s raises over £2,000 for project to rebuild Hawker Typhoon with cycle challenge