70 years on and still the most beautiful and most instantly recognisable fighter ever devised.
I dont know if it made news in other countries,but we in the UK were treated to the sight of 5 Spits flying in formation over Southampton,from where the prototype first flew.(Eastleigh).
Must be the first time in years Ive dived for the remote control to turn the tv up full blast during the news!
Its also a time to take a moment and reflect on the men(boys) who took to the war torn skies without question and did not return.
Im sure most people will be familiar with High Flight but for those of you who arent, here it is,

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings
Sunward I've climbed,and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds-and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of-wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence.Hov'ring there,
Ive chased the shouting wing along,and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up,up the long delirious,burning blue,
Ive topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark nor even eagle flew-
And,while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Plt Off J G Magee
Spitfire pilot
Killed in a flying accident
11/12/1941

The most beautiful man-made object ever, and 70 years old. If only women lasted so well ( ducks as SWMBO swipes at my ear !) :-)

Hi there

I was in the area and looked out for the Spits... but didn't see them!

Ohh well...

Rowan

Well....you can't see enough Spitfire pics, and in a thread like this one must be posted haha



Beautiful!

Martin

Hi there

I still prefer this one... just to wind up Mal! :-)



All the best

Rwoan

Nice one Nige, there are plenty of superb aircraft out there, past and present, but there is something about the Spitfire that seems to stir the blood, even more so when you see one and hear that perfect engine note......................................I'm grinning from ear to ear now
Happy birthday and many more of them, the Spitfire
Mal
P.S. Rowan, I'm not biting

The Spit certainly has got something that no other plane before or since has.
The only "odd" thing about it I find is that what is essentially a killing machine can be so beautiful and evocotive.

Happy birthday Spitfire from the Daimler-Benz Spitfire company :-) .

Sorry Mal i couldn't help myself .
Andy (++)

From the Mk1 to the Mk47, all stunningly beautiful!

Frank

Happy Birtday Spitfire.
To celebrate here are some images of the most beatifull aircraft ever made. Huuurrrraaaaa

"Victory over Dunkirk" is one of my desk top wall papers, it's a stunning picture ..................as are any picyures of Spitfires
Mal