Happy 90th Birthday Spitfire...

 

On 5th March 1936 the prototype Spitfire K5054 first took to the skies from Eastleigh, near Southampton.

That historic flight was piloted by Captain Joseph “Mutt” Summers, Chief Test Pilot for Vickers.

 

To mark the occasion Spitfire T9 BS410/G-TCHI has been painted in the lovely sky blue livery worn by K5054 at the time. It is intended to tour the UK to commemorate the anniversary and to fly alongside current RAF aircraft at the various stages of the tour.

More info:-

 

https://www.spitfires.com/spitfire90

20 Years on...

Hard to believe it is 20 years this week since I started my volunteer role at IWM Duxford in the Film & Video Archive (now Visual Resources Dept.) working on accessioning RAF Gun Camera film from WW2. 
Back in May 2014 I thought I'd watched my last film but in a case of 'foreshadowing' I posted "After almost eight years of watching gun camera film, I have watched my last reel (until they find some more!)."
Well, turned out they did find some more!... 

"Old Friend" visiting...

It was 10 years ago that I flew in MJ627 from Duxford and fittingly she was back here for a visit today...

PV202 was also in the sunshine and N3200 took off for a 'sortie'...

 

 

Spitfire T9 MH367 UK bound (and updated T9 list)...

Ultimate Warbird Flights have announced that they will be operating Spitfire T9 MH367 from Sywell alongside Spitfire T9 ML407. With the ceasing of operations by Warbird Adventure Rides in New Zealand, their fleet of aircraft have been sold, with MH367 returning to the UK.

All but one of the surviving Irish Air Corps T9 Spitfires are resident and operating in the UK.
MJ772/159 is resident in the Netherlands and is being operated by the "Spitfires Flying Vintage Everyday" foundation.

Airworthy

1. MT818 No Codes normally but wearing YO-D - operated by Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar 

2. MH367* FL⦿A- to Ultimate Warbird Flights at Sywell

3. MJ627 9G⦿Q 🇮🇪 158 - operated by Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar

4. MJ772 GW⦿A 🇮🇪159 - operated by SFVE foundation (NL)

5. ML407 OU⦿V 🇮🇪 162 - operated by Ultimate Warbird Flights

6. NH341 DB⦿E - operated by Aero Legends 

7. PT462 SW⦿A - operated by Aerial Collective

8. PV202  JW⦿ 🇮🇪 161 - operated by Aerial Collective

9. SM520 LO⦿G - operated by Spitfires.com

10. TE308 ZP⦿W 🇮🇪 163 - operated by Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar

11. ML295 DB⦿M - Airworthy at Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar

12. BS410 PK⦿A - Owned by Martin Philips/operated by Spitfires.com

13. EN570 FY⦿J - (G/M) Operated by Norwegian Flying Aces

14. MJ444 KH⦿D - Operated by Aero Legends 

15. BS548 GW⦿B - (G/M) First flight 28/1/26 - due to be shipped to Australia to Ross Pay

(🇮🇪 Former Irish Air Corps aircraft)

(*rear cockpit section from T9 ML417/HS543🇮🇳 used in rebuild.)

Under Restoration

16. TE566 - Being restored by Airframe Assemblies Ltd for Enstone.

17. RK858 - Being restored for Aerial Collective at ARCo. 

(G/M) = Grace/Melton type canopy

New Spitfire - BS548 - first flight post restoration....

Lucky to see the first flight of the Spitfire T9 BS548 after her restoration and to catch her before she departs for her new life in Australia...
Pay's Aviation have featured my photos on their Facebook page.

First 'on-site' photos of 2026

 Little too late to catch PT462 flying today - with PV202 resting in the chilly noon sun...

 

First sighting of 2026

 An overflight of the hoose by T9 PT462/GCTIX - back in her old scheme of SW•A...