Few classic designs are as beloved as the British Spitfire, and this month, a new documentary film about the airplane will debut to celebrate the centenary year of the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force. “Spitfire” is the story of a fighter that was “forged in competition, shaped as the war clouds gathered, and refined in the white heat of combat,” according to the filmmakers’ website. Veterans of World War II who flew the airplanes tell their personal stories in the film. Flying scenes were shot by Seattle-based aviation photographer John Dibbs, who describes the Spitfire as “a sculpture that takes flight – it is a machine as art!” The film debuts July 17 in the United Kingdom, with plans to be distributed worldwide later this year.
The Spitfire, designed by Reginald Mitchell, of Supermarine Ltd., first flew in 1935, and deliveries to the RAF began in 1938. The design was influenced by a series of record-setting racing airplanes that Mitchell had worked on in the 1920s, including the S.6, which set a world speed record of 357 MPH in 1929. The Spitfire’s elliptical wing and powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin engine provided exceptional performance. “Spitfire” tells the airplane’s story through interviews with pilots who flew it in combat, and also explores how the airplane still serves its mission today, as an international icon and a reminder of the determination and sacrifice that won World War II. Rare archival film from the 1940s has been digitally remastered for the project, and an original score was contributed by composer Chris Roe.
Watch the trailer here.
