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Taken during the eagerly anticipated Spitfire90 tour, the cool photos in this post show Spitfire “K5054” flights with Royal Air Force (RAF) air assets.
As the glorious images in this post show, these flights truly show the advancement of technology in the RAF, with historic vs modern day aircraft in action together in the sky.
On Apr. 7, 2026, departing from Southampton Airport at 12:00pm, during the flight K5054 met up alongside for two separate formations with a RAF F-35, then the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) C-47 Dakota and Spitfire Mk V.
Then K5054 joined up with two F-35 Lightning IIs from RAF Marham, before being joined again by BBMF Dakota and Spitfire AB910 for an iconic flypast and arrival into RAF Coningsby.
On Apr. 8, ‘K5054’ departed from RAF Coningsby and during transit to Leuchars was met by a Phenom T1 from RAF Cranwell, followed by the RAF Red Arrows from RAF Waddington.
Departing from RAF Leuchars on Apr. 9, during the flight K5054 met up alongside with the RAF P-8 Poseidon.
More flights will see ‘K5054’ joining two RAF Typhoons on Apr. 10, a Hawk T2 on Apr. 13, a Texan and HT-1 Jupiter helicopter on Apr. 14, 2 QinetiQ Pilatus PC21 Trainers on Apr. 15, an A400M on Apr. 16 and again BBMF C-47 Dakota on Apr. 17.
As already reported, this year marks 90 years since the first flight of the Supermarine Spitfire. To celebrate this milestone, the RAF and the BBMF are collaborating with industry partner SPITFIRES.COM to honour the anniversary of this iconic aircraft.
A two-seat Spitfire, painted to replicate the original K5054 prototype, embarked on a historic tour of the UK, with SPITFIRES.COM offering the public the unique opportunity to fly as a passenger. The event raises funds for two important charities: the Mark Long Trust, which supports disabled individuals in aviation, and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, which provides vital assistance to serving and former RAF personnel and their families.
The first Spitfire flight took place on Mar. 5, 1936, when test pilot Joseph ‘Mutt’ Summers flew prototype K5054 from what is now Southampton Airport.
The flight lasted around eight minutes. After landing, Summers is reported to have said: “Don’t change a thing.”
The aircraft would go on to become one of the most recognised fighters of the Second World War and an enduring symbol of British aviation.
Ninety years later, this historic moment is being commemorated with nine special flights across the UK.
The Spitfire is the most famous British fighter aircraft in history. It became a symbol of freedom during the summer months of 1940 by helping to defeat the German air attacks during the Battle of Britain. It was the highest performing Allied aircraft in 1940.
The crowds at the 1936 RAF Display at Hendon had a first glimpse of the prototype Spitfire in the New Types Park but it was not until August 1938 that production Spitfires began to enter service. By the outbreak of war, a year later, nine squadrons were equipped. In spite of vigorous demands from the France the Commander in Chief of Fighter Command refused to send any Spitfires to France during the German Blitzkrieg of 1940. The wisdom of that decision was clearly shown. By July 1940 RAF Fighter Command had nineteen Spitfire MkI squadrons available.
Once the RAF modified their tactics to properly counter the Luftwaffe, the Spitfire MkI proved to be the only British fighter capable of meeting the Messerschmitt Bf 109E on equal terms. Often the outcome of a combat depended more on the quality of the pilot than his aircraft.
Further improvements in performance were made by fitting new type propellers, known as constant speed units, and modifying the Merlin engine to run on 100 octane fuel.
Photo credit: Crown Copyright
