Corgi Spitfire (repl CS90618)

Regarded by many people as the most famous aeroplane the world has ever seen, the Supermarine Spitfire was one of the first all-metal monoplane fighters, at a time when many of the world’s air forces were still equipped with biplane designs. Establishing its reputation during the aerial dogfights of the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire would go on to see service throughout the Second World War and earn the distinction of being the only Allied fighter to be in continuous production during the conflict. With the beautiful elliptical wing making the Spitfire instantly recognisable, the stunning good looks of the aircraft masked the fact that this was a deadly fighting aeroplane and one which was continually improved to ensure it was a match for anything in the skies.

In the years which followed the end of the Second World War, the iconic Spitfire came into the hands of many private collectors all over the world and it became a popular aircraft on the Airshow scene. With many aircraft undergoing restoration to flying condition in the post war years, there are probably more Spitfires flying today than at any point since the end of WWII and they are sure to play a starring role in this year’s Battle of Britain 80th Anniversary commemorations.