As is always the case the second the last Airshow was over we booked the most famous Spitfire of them all, MH434. Later on we confirmed that the Suffolk Spitfire, owned and flown by George Haye, would close the Airshow. It's the only flying Spitfire in (correct) WWII USAF markings.
So what's better than two Spitfires? Three, for example? Obviously and so we're delighted to confirm that MH434 won't be on her own in the sky; she'll be joined by one of the very first examples of Reginald Mitchell's masterpiece; IWM Duxford's Mark One Spitfire.
Specifically a Mark 1a (there's a clue, it really is one of the first) this first iteration classifies as 'early production' and it's fitted with another masterpiece; the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. Often the first run of anything isn't as good as later, more developed versions but the 1a's Merlin produced a 'mere' 1,030 hp, propelling it to 367mph. The Mark II had 105 more horsepower, but was 13mph slower.
Equally, by Mark VI the Merlin was belting out more than 1,400 hp but the Ia was still faster. So as the first version of the aircraft which would go on to be regarded as the greatest icon of them all, it really was an out-of-the-box triumph. The IWM only own one flying Spitfire, so that tells you something and we can therefore reveal that once again we're able to offer one of aviation's truly great sights - a Spitfire Formation.
