A SIGNIFICANT historic aircraft will leave RAF Valley on Anglesey today as it continues its 90th anniversary commemoration of the first flight of the Supermarine Spitfire.
The aircraft, which has been touring the country as part of a 90th anniversary commemoration of the first flight of the Supermarine Spitfire, was due to fly along the Welsh coast between RAF Valley on Anglesey and MOD St Athan in Barry on Tuesday, April 14 but forecasted bad weather grounded the flight.
It is hoped the Spitfire can take off from RAF Valley at about 2pm this afternoon (Wednesday, April 15).
The aircraft is set to climb 160mph up above RAF Valley before flying South along the Welsh Coast to St Athan, another historic RAF airfield.
Spitfires.com said: "Route April 15 - estimated take off time 2pm."
Readers can follow the route of the Spitfire once it takes off at this link.
Due to the weather forecast, the training facility and flight provider for two-seat Spitfire passenger experiences, warns departure could be delayed to later in the day.
Working with Spitfires.com, the Royal Air Force is supporting the nationwide tour by a two-seat Spitfire painted to represent the original prototype K5054.
Members of the public have the opportunity to bid for a seat in the aircraft as it travels between airfields across the UK.
The Mid Wales flight is one in a series of nine flights - one for each decade of the 90 years being commemorated. The civilian owned aircraft will undertake the series of flights between April 7 and 17, visiting RAF stations and airports associated with the Spitfire’s history.
On Monday (April 13), the plane departed Glasgow at 10am. It flew over Blackpool and along the North Wales coast on a 70-minute trip to Anglesey.
The first Spitfire flight took place on March, 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.”
Share