Historic Spitfire flight over Hampshire set to mark 90th anniversary of first flight
A series of commemorative flights will take place across the UK to mark 90 years since the first flight of the Supermarine Spitfire - with the first taking off in Hampshire.
Working with Spitfires.com, the Royal Air Force is supporting a nationwide tour by a two-seat Spitfire painted to represent the original prototype K5054, with members of the public offered the opportunity to bid for a seat in the aircraft as it travels between airfields across the UK.
The first Spitfire flight took place on 5 March 1936, when test pilot Joseph 'Mutt' Summers flew prototype K5054 from what is now Southampton Airport. The flight lasted around eight minutes and after landing Summers is reported to have said: “Don’t change a thing.” The aircraft would go on to become one of the most recognised fighters of the Second World War and an enduring symbol of British aviation.
The mark the anniversary, the aircraft will undertake nine flights between April 7 and 17 April visiting RAF stations and airports associated with the Spitfire’s history with the first flight leaving from Southampton Airport and heading to RAF Coningsby, the current home of the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial.
The route will head over Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, taking in historic locations such the grave of the designer of the Supermarine Spitfire Reginald J. Mitchell in Southampton and The Needles, before heading along the coast across to Sussex, Kent, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Lincolnshire.
Seats have been offered for each leg of the flight through an online auction, with successful bidders joining the aircraft in the passenger seat for one leg of the journey with funds raised from the flights supporting the Mark Long Trust and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
- 7 April – Southampton Airport to RAF Coningsby
- 8 April – RAF Coningsby to RAF Leuchars
- 9 April – RAF Leuchars to RAF Lossiemouth
- 10 April – RAF Lossiemouth to Glasgow Prestwick Airport
- 13 April – Glasgow Prestwick Airport to RAF Valley
- 14 April – RAF Valley to MOD St Athan
- 15 April – MOD St Athan to RAF St Mawgan
- 16 April – RAF St Mawgan to Exeter Airport
- 17 April – Exeter Airport to Southampton Airport
Further information about the auction is available at Spitfires.com