It's the Grand Old Lady's Birthday.

Airframes · Mar 5, 2016

80th Anniversary of the First Flight of the Spitfire.

Eighty years ago today, with Mutt Summers at the controls, K5054, the first Spitfire, took to the air on it's first flight.
Eighty years later, the Spitfire, in numerous Marques, still flies at airshows around the world. delighting the crowds with its sight .. and sound.
Here's a couple of relatively recent pics of that marvelous lady - feel free to post some more.

fubar57 · Mar 5, 2016

Outstanding Terry. I've said it before and I know it's not done, but there still should be a fight to get Mitchell knighted posthumously.

Geo

Airframes · Mar 5, 2016

I agree Geo, and I don't think any serious attempt has been made. Perhaps a petition is needed .............

fubar57 · Mar 5, 2016

Just read this old article and if a billionaire can't use his clout for him, I don't think we have a chance.
Why have we never honoured man who invented the Spitfire?

Geo

tomo pauk · Mar 5, 2016

Thanks, Terry

Timppa · Mar 5, 2016

fubar57 said:
Outstanding Terry. I've said it before and I know it's not done, but there still should be a fight to get Mitchell knighted posthumously.

Geo

Then Joe Smith deserves it also. After all, he was the chief designer to make the prototype to a viable production airplane.
And also oversaw all the further development from the Mk1 to the Seafire 47

Airframes · Mar 5, 2016

Agreed.

mikewint · Mar 5, 2016

Very cool Terry. It is good to see that a sense of history has taken hold and it wasn't just scrapped

Airframes · Mar 5, 2016

It sure is Mike. There are more Spitfires flying today, than there were 20 years ago, and the numbers keep growing.

airminded88 · Mar 7, 2016

Terrific lady indeed.

bobbysocks · Mar 8, 2016

Airframes said:
It sure is Mike. There are more Spitfires flying today, than there were 20 years ago, and the numbers keep growing.

and just wait until they find all those ones buried in Burma!!! lol

mikewint · Mar 8, 2016

The thing that impressed me is that this is not just any old Spit but this is #1 and it was preserved and restored to flying condition.

Gnomey · Mar 8, 2016

Great to see! She even still looks as pretty as she did 80 years ago and you can't say that about many old girls

bobbysocks · Mar 8, 2016

mikewint said:
The thing that impressed me is that this is not just any old Spit but this is #1 and it was preserved and restored to flying condition.

indeed. a lot of the "first off off the line" ac usually ended up a fatality during tests...

Aozora · Mar 8, 2016

This is such a great photo of Brendan Deer's 'AL'...what more can be said?

mikewint · Mar 9, 2016

Terry will have to weigh in on this one Bobby. I'd call those initial ACs prototypes. I'd assumed that Terry meant that his Spit was the initial "Production" model not a prototype

Airframes · Mar 9, 2016

The Spitfire referred to, serial number K5054, was the very first prototype, and survived long enough to be brought up to Mk1a standard.

That really is a great shot Aozora. Relative of Al Deere ?

mikewint · Mar 9, 2016

Thanks Terry, now THAT is impressive. Initial prototypes generally? don't survive. Excellent engineering

nuuumannn · Mar 18, 2016

Airframes said:
That really is a great shot Aozora. Relative of Al Deere ?

Yep, Terry, PV270 was restored here in NZ by Brendon and Joe Deere (Joe did his airframe structures course with Air New Zealand at the same time as I did). PV270 is an ex Israeli and Burmese aircraft; it's in the personal markings of Al's Spit IX. Al was Brendon's uncle.

Issue 3 - Supermarine Spitfire: Kiwi tribute - Aviation Classics Magazine

I also don't know if Aozora can actually take credit for that splendid shot, unless he is who I think he is, but I suspect he's not.

Airframes · Mar 19, 2016

Thanks Grant, I thought there must be a family connection.

It's the Grand Old Lady's Birthday.

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