Flypast

We should have 3 planes this year - a Spitfire, Hurricane and Dakota!

Spitfire Salute

The Spitfire is without doubt the most famous fighter aircraft to have fought in the Second World War. A Spitfire from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, will perform a flypast at the Show.

Photo: Crown Copyright/MOD www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf

The Supermarine Spitfire first flew from Eastleigh near Southampton, Hampshire, on 5 March 1936. Designed by R J Mitchell, it entered service with the Royal Air Force in August 1938. Just two years later this renown fighter reached the height of its fame during the air battles that would later become known as the Battle of Britain.

 
The heroic defence by the RAF's 'few' during the summer of 1940 captured the hearts of the British people and it was not long before public appeals were launched countrywide to 'Buy a Spitfire'. At the time they cost £5,000 apiece or £200,000 in today's money – a local Stamford & District Appeal resulted in a Spitfire christened Stamford being presented by the Town to the RAF and it flew from nearby RAF Wittering. But in 1942 Stamford's Spitfire was destroyed in a tragic midair collision that killed the trainee Australian pilot.

The Spitfire was the only British fighter to be built throughout World War II. Over 20,000 were produced in 22 different variants. When production finally ceased in 1948 the Spitfire's Rolls-Royce engine produced more than twice the power of the 1936 original, increasing its speed from 349 mph to 460 mph.

Today's RAF still flies five Spitfires. These are a Mark II, a Battle of Britain survivor built in 1940, a Mk V from 1941, a Mk IX manufactured in 1944 and two later Mark XIXs. They are maintained and operated by The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight as a living memorial to all RAF personnel that have given their lives during conflict in the service of their country. It is one of these aircraft that will perform the flypast over Stamford on 24 August 2008.*
*The flypast is subject to suitable weather conditions and pilot availability.

Last update: 5 August 2008