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A "spitfire" is a fiery-tempered, passionate person and - not just coincidentally - the most famous military aircraft ever made.
The Spitfire's designer, RJ Mitchell, was heard to mutter that it was "just the sort of bloody silly name they would choose", but the name sums up the passionate fighting spirit of the Battle of Britain that was the Spitfire's biggest challenge.
The combination of a practical yet beautiful design with the immense skill and courage of the pilots make the Spitfire a powerful icon of wartime England. Learn about the remarkable man who - against all odds - created its revolutionary design. Read about the Merlin engine. And discover the ways we've come to remember the Spitfire today, such as airshows, war movies and Airfix models!
Biography
Take to the air with us, as we travel from humankind's earliest attempts to fly to the heroic work of Spitfire designer RJ Mitchell.
Features
We explore the Spitfire's starring role in great war movies, remember the Battle of Britain, interview one of the plane's early test pilots, and listen to that Merlin engine roar.
