Spitfire takes final flight to commemorate 90th anniversary | UK | News
A Spitfire soared through coastal skies over England for its final flight to mark its 90th anniversary.This anniversary of the first takeoff of the plane that won the war. Royal Air Force commemorative flights undertook an exciting 10-day tour visiting RAF stations and airports linked to the iconic history of the Supermarine Spitfire.
Spitfire pilot and squadron leader Matt Jones, from Gittisham, Devon, took off from RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall on April 7 and landed yesterday at Southampton Airport, the site of the former Eastleigh Airfield where the aircraft made its maiden voyage. The flight of prototype K5054 took place on 5 March 1936, under the control of Captain Joseph ‘Mutt’ Summers. The aircraft was designed by RJ Mitchell in the Woolston area of the city. He went on to play a key role in the RAF’s victory in the Battle of Britain during the Second World War, flying from air bases in the United Kingdom.
The Spitfire90 Tour featured a two-seat Spitfire painted in the original K5054 prototype livery; Seats on the historic flights were auctioned via Spitfires.com to raise funds for the RAF Benevolent Fund and the Mark Long Trust.
The aircraft was photographed earlier in the week en route to RAF Coningsby, home of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight museum, accompanied by a Dakota and Spitfire AB910 of the Royal Air Force’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF).
Proud pilot Jones said the Spitfire was “an icon that represents Britain at its best” and “the most beautiful aircraft to look at and listen to”.
He said: “Then you remember it was 90 years old, preserving our country and all the history that comes with it. It really is a very, very special aircraft.”
The pilot described it as a “huge honour” to be on board for the celebrations and said working with the Royal Air Force on the Spitfire90 commemorative flight was an “amazing experience”.
