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!...