The First Of The Few.

Today marks the 76th anniversary of the first flight of the Supermarine Spitfire prototype K5054 at Eastleigh Aerodrome, near Southampton.

Vickers' veteran test pilot Captain 'Mutt' Summers took the aircraft for an eight minute circuit of the airfield, beginning an operational career that would last 18 years with 20,351 produced across over 24 marques - becoming one of the most iconic aircraft of the Second World War, and a celebrated example of British engineering thanks to RJ Mitchell's classic design.