Supermarine Spitfire

Because of the proximity of East Midlands Airport (the circuit is just across the road from one end of the runway) aircraft taking off or landing are a familiar sight during meetings at Donington Park. Most of the meetings I've attended there have also included a short flying display during the lunch break, and the SeeRed meeting in September 2007 was no exception.

This is a Supermarine Spitfire PR Mk XIX which was a photo reconnaissance version of the aircraft, and this one bears the black and white stripes that were painted on allied aircraft to reduce the chances that they would be fired on by friendly forces during and after the Normandy Landings. It is now registered G-RRGN. A note in the programme of the event says: ‘Thanks to Rolls-Royce and Sir Ralph Robins who have organised not only for their WW2 Spitfire, flown by John Allison, to be demonstrated on Saturday, but also for a fly-by from the Red Arrows at Saturday lunchtime.’ I don’t remember the Red Arrows fly-by and I’ve certainly got no photos of it.

Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIIIc

The Silverstone motor racing circuit is on the site of a WW2 RAF bomber station and when it was first used for the British Grand Prix in 1948 the two main runways formed a large part of the circuit. The following season, however, the circuit just ran round the perimeter of the airfield and apart from relatively minor adjustments it stayed that way till 2010 when the left hand bend at Abbey was changed to a right turn so the track meandered across towards the Maggotts curve then turned abruptly back along the line of one of the old runways towards Brooklands corner. This meant that the runways were able to be used by aircraft and part is still in use, mainly as a heliport, for the British Grand Prix and other meetings. When I went to the Historic Festival meetings there in the 1990s there were always a few interesting aircraft in the centre of the circuit, and this is one that I photographed at The Coys International Historic Festival meeting in August 1996.

It's a Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIIIc and was built in 1944, but didn't see any wartime service. Its engine is a Rolls-Royce Merlin built under license in the USA by the Packard Motor Car Company. The aircraft was shipped to Australia in 1944 where it remained till 1979 when it was acquired by former RAF Cranwell graduate Robs Lamplough who brought it to this meeting at Silverstone where he was competing in his BRM P125 and Talbot Lago T26 Monoplace Décallée. The programme of the event has an article which refers to the displays of vintage and classic aircraft at the meeting and says this about the Spitfire:

'Built in 1944 by Vickers Supermarine of Southampton, MV154 is one of only two airworthy Mk VIIIs in the world. Superbly restored between 1980 and 1994 by a team of engineers led by John Hart at Filton, it took to the skies again on 28 May 1994 in Robs' capable hands, almost 50 years after its first delivery flight to the RAF.'

Supermarine Spitfire

Because of the proximity of East Midlands Airport (the circuit is just across the road from one end of the runway) aircraft taking off or landing are a familiar sight during meetings at Donington Park. Most of the meetings I've attended there have also included a short flying display during the lunch break, and the SeeRed meeting in September 2006 was no exception.

I made a note at the time that this was a Supermarine Spitfire PR Mk XIX which was a photo reconnaissance version of the aircraft, and this one bears the black and white stripes that were painted on allied aircraft to reduce the chances that they would be fired on by friendly forces during and after the Normandy Landings. It appears to be the aircraft that is now registered G-RRGN.

Supermarine Spitfire

The Silverstone motor racing circuit is on the site of a WW2 RAF bomber station and, apart from the first few meetings which used stretches of the original runways, in its early years the circuit followed the line of the perimeter track. This meant that the runways were able to be used by aircraft and part is still in use, mainly as a heliport, for the British Grand Prix and other meetings. I've seen a variety of aircraft there when I've attended meetings, and this is one I photographed at the Coys International Historic Festival meeting in July 1998.

It's a Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIIIc and was built in 1944, but didn't see any wartime service. Its engine is a Rolls-Royce Merlin built under license in the USA by the Packard Motor Car Company. The aircraft was shipped to Australia in 1944 where it remained till 1979 when it was acquired by Robs Lamplough who brought it to this meeting at Silverstone where he was competing in his Lotus 33. The programme of the event has an article which refers to the various reminders around the circuit of Silverstone's wartime history and says:

'But this weekend there could be rather more reminders than usual because, once again, there will be an outstanding display of vintage and classic aircraft assembled by Simon Ames and the Air Squadron. This group of aircraft enthusiasts number about 100 and includes former RAF Cranwell graduate, Robs Lamplough. BRDC member Robs, a very successful racing driver in the late 1960s, will be racing his Lotus 33 this weekend but is also expected to arrive in his magnificent Spitfire Mk VIII. This 1944 aircraft is believed to be one of only four airworthy Mk VIIIs and it took a team of engineers at Filton some 14 years to painstakingly restore.'