Spitfire 90 News & Press Releases

Spitfire 90th Anniversary Flight around UK in April 2026

The first Spitfire flight took place on 5 March 1936, when test pilot Joseph 'Mutt' Summers flew prototype K5054 from what is now Southampton Airport.

2026 marks the 90th anniversary of the first flight of the Spitfire and to commemorate the occasion, Spitfires.com have painted one of their two-seat Spitfire BS410 (G-TCHI) in the colours of K5054, which they will fly on a tour of mainland United Kingdom in a series of 9 flights - one for every decade of the 90 years being commemorated.

The Spitfire 90th anniversary flight around the United Kingdom is a joint initiative by the Royal Air Force (led by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight) and Spitfires.com.

The Royal Air Force will have at least one escort on each of the nine Spitfire flights which will include RAF aircraft such as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight aircraft, Eurofighter Typhoon, F-35B Lightning, Phenom Trainer, Chinook, and Hawk T1s of the Red Arrows.

The planned route will be as follows:
• 1. Southampton Airport to RAF Coningsby (7 Apr).
• 2. RAF Coningsby to RAF Leuchars (8 Apr).
• 3. RAF Leuchars to RAF Lossiemouth (9 Apr).
• 4. RAF Lossiemouth to Prestwick Airport (10 Apr).
• 5. Prestwick Airport to RAF Valley (13 Apr).
• 6. RAF Valley to MOD St Athan (15 Apr).
• 7. MOD St Athan to RAF St Mawgan (16 Apr).
• 8. RAF St Mawgan to Exeter Airport (16 Apr).
• 9. Exeter Airport to Southampton Airport (17 Apr).

RAF Aircraft in formation with Spitfire:
• 1. Depart Southampton Airport (7 Apr, now 1pm for 1hr 35mins) - F-35B, then BBMF Dakota & Spitfire Mk.V.
• 2. Depart RAF Coningsby (8 Apr, 10am for 1hr 35mins) - 2x Red Arrows Hawk T1s & Phenom T1.
• 3. Depart RAF Leuchars (9 Apr, delayed until 2pm for 55mins) - P-8 Poseidon.
• 4. Depart RAF Lossiemouth (10 Apr, 10am for 1hr 5mins) - 2x Typhoons.
• 5. Depart Prestwick Airport (13 Apr, 10am for 1hr 10mins) - 2x Hawk T2s.
• 6. Depart RAF Valley (now 15 Apr, approx 4pm for 1hr) - RAF Texan, then Jupiter HT1 helicopter.
• 7. Depart MOD St Athan (16 Apr, 10.30am for 1hr 5mins) - 2x QinetiQ Pilatus PC21s.
• 8. Depart RAF St Mawgan (16 Apr, 3.50pm for 55mins) - A400M Atlas.
• 9. Depart Exeter Airport (17 Apr, 9.15am for 40mins) - BBMF Dakota.

The first flight will start from Southampton Airport (1.) on the 7th of April at 1pm. All other flights of the trip from the 8 other locations will each depart at 10:00am. These departure times will be dependant on weather conditions on each day of the trip.

Please be aware that the flypasts can be cancelled or dates/times changed at short notice due to poor weather or other requirements.

The Spitfire 90th anniversary flight around the United Kingdom - April 2026:

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Click here for Flight 1 Map & Flight 1 Tracker Map (7 Apr).


Click here for Flight 2 Map & Flight 2 Tracker Map (8 Apr).


Click here for Flight 3 Map & Flight 3 Tracker Map (9 Apr).


Click here for Flight 4 Map & Flight 4 Tracker Map (10 Apr).


Click here for Flight 5 Map & Flight 5 Tracker Map (13 Apr).


Click here for Flight 6 Map & Flight 6 Tracker Map (15 Apr).


Click here for Flight 7 Map & Flight 7 Tracker Map (16 Apr).


Click here for Flight 8 Map & Flight 8 Tracker Map (16 Apr).


Click here for Flight 9 Map & Flight 9 Tracker Map (17 Apr).

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Flight 9 Map - Exeter Airport to Southampton Airport (17 Apr):


You can track the Spitfire on the ADS-B Tracker by clicking here or Flightradar24 by clicking here.

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Spitfires.com. are hosting a charity auction where you can bid to fly in the rear seat of this Spitfire. All of the proceeds will go to the Mark Long Trust and the RAF Benevolent Fund. Details can be found here.

For 15 years, Spitfires.com. has brought aviation history to life with passenger flight experiences in authentic two-seat Spitfire TR9s. They also offer commemorative displays and Spitfire pilot training, giving people many different ways to experience aviation history. More information can be found on their website at Spitfires.com.