The Spitfire is the most famous British aircraft of all time. Although less numerous than the Hawker Hurricane, it is remembered as the sleek, thoroughbred fighting machine that turned the tide during the Battle of Britain. The Spitfire was among the fastest and most maneuverable prop-driven fighters of World War II, serving in virtually every combat theater.

Supermarine designer Reginald Mitchell created this small, graceful, elliptical-wing fighter with eight guns in the wings that were able to fire without being hindered by the propeller. The immortal Spitfire thus became not merely one of the best-performing fighters of all time, but also one of the best-looking. Although never employed as a long-range escort, the Spitfire was a champion in an air-to-air duel. Spitfires routinely dived at the speed of sound, faster than any of the German jets.

A carrier-based version, called the Seafire, was a winner in its own right, serving valiantly on convoy routes during World War II. The Seafire 47 was even used in the early stages of the Korean War, before it was replaced by more modern jet aircraft.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a RAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XIX PR fighter that commemorates the Battle of Britain. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 6-inches
Length: 4-1/2-inches

Release Date: August 2009

Historical Account: "Alone Above All" - Built in November 1945 as a high altitude photo reconnaissance aircraft with a Griffon 66 engine and pressurized cockpit, PM631 was too late to see operation service in the Second World War. She was delivered to the RAF in 1946 and issued to 203 Advanced Flying School in May 1949.

Modified for meteorological work, she was flown with the Temperature and Humidity Monitoring (THUM) Flight based at Hooton Park and Woodvale.

On July 11th, 1957, in formation with Spitfires PS853 and PS915, the aircraft was flown to Biggin Hill to form the Historic Aircraft Flight which later developed into the BBMF. PM631 has remained in flying condition with the Flight and is the BBMF's longest serving aircraft, with 2008 having been her 51st year of continuous service. PM631 is painted as an early PRXIX of 541 Squadron which performed high altitude reconnaissance missions over the European theatre from 1944 to the end of the War. Appropriately, the 541 Squadron's motto was 'Alone Above All'.

Spitfire PRXIXs were unarmed but could fly at 370mph at 40,000 feet (with pressurized cockpits) and had a range of 1,500 miles, demonstrating the incredible development potential of the original Spitfire design.