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Spitfire's 90th anniversary marked with Duxford air show tribute

The 90th anniversary of the Spitfire's maiden flight has been marked with a special air show at IWM Duxford, Cambridgeshire. More than 18 Spitfires were on display and in the air.

  • The Battle of Britain Air Show at IWM Duxford marked 90 years since the Spitfire's first flight.
  • Julian Mitchell, great-nephew of designer RJ Mitchell, attended the event.
  • More than 18 Spitfires and Hurricanes were on static display and in the air.

The 90th anniversary of the Spitfire's maiden flight was marked at the Battle of Britain Air Show at IWM Duxford, Cambridgeshire. The event, which took place on Saturday and Sunday, paid tribute to the aircraft's designer, Reginald (RJ) Mitchell.

Julian Mitchell, RJ Mitchell's great-nephew, attended the special event and described his great-uncle as a "genius who designed the most beautiful aircraft ever built." He added that being related to such a famous man was "incredible."

More than 18 Spitfires, including earlier Mk 1 variants and later models, and Hurricanes were on static display and in the air during the two-day event. The Red Arrows also performed a display on Saturday.

The Spitfire's first prototype, the K5054, made its maiden flight on 5 March 1936. RJ Mitchell continued to refine the design until his death in 1937 at the age of 42.

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