Overview
- The nine-leg route runs 7–17 April, starting and finishing in Southampton, with planned stops including RAF Coningsby, RAF Leuchars, RAF Lossiemouth, Prestwick, RAF Valley, MOD St Athan, RAF St Mawgan and Exeter.
- A genuine two-seat Spitfire repainted to resemble prototype K5054 will fly the tour, operated by Spitfires.com, with public bidding for rear-seat places.
- The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will escort the opening leg to RAF Coningsby, and modern RAF aircraft are scheduled to join subsequent legs.
- Southampton Airport unveiled dual plaques marking the Spitfire’s maiden flight site and received the first-ever World Origin Site designation for its role in aviation history.
- The National Spitfire Monument in Southampton advanced with over £1.5m in private funds and £3m in confirmed government support, as phase-one construction of a waterfront lookout is set to begin once council approval is granted.