90 Years of Perfection

This year our theme is MH434, probably the most famous and revered example of, simply, the greatest aircraft of all time.

On the 5th March 1936 a test pilot, Joseph 'Mutt' Summers took to the sky for a mere 8 minutes aboard a new aircraft, a fighter designed by RJ Mitchell. The RAF thought (wisely) that Mitchell's experience with Schneider trophy winning seaplanes would be quite helpful in creating a fearsome, quick and maneuverable machine to answer the growing menace from Germany. The RAF was right. The name given to the aircraft was equally right and so this year our big set piece is a celebration of ninety years of the Supermarine Spitfire.

You already know that the BBMF will send one of their Spitfires on Airshow Saturday. Both days MH434 will display as we dedicate the Airshow to her and her incomparable former owner, the late great Ray Hanna.

What we can now reveal, finalising our announcements for 2026, is that we've been working on a few firsts.

So, on Saturday the Suffolk Spitfire, RR232 will be flown by George Haye wearing her American markings. She'll be joined by MK912, flown in a change of plan by Jim Schofield and for the first time at an airshow they'll be joined by Mark V Spitfire EE602 from Ultimate Warbirds at Sywell.

Sunday will see another first. RR232 and MK912 (this time with James Hepnar aboard) will be joined by Jim in the 'Spirit of Kent' Mark 9 Spitfire, TA805 marking our first ever visit by a Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar aircraft, for which we're extremely grateful to the Monk family.

So we've managed to pull off a new record for us, and somehow in the best possible year to do it - six Spitfires in one weekend.