The last of the few

These four aircraft are the last remaining examples of the original variant, the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Ia that currently survive in flying condition today, and are seen here flying together at Imperial War Museum Duxford during the Flying Legends Airshow 2014. The aircraft to the rear of the formation "P9374" has since moved on to a new home in the US, so this occasion could well have been the first and only time since wartime that such a formation of original Spitfires could have flown together.

This formation is particularly special for the fact that this variant of the Spitfire was the first to enter service with the Royal Air Force, and therefore the formation represents the "true" Spitfire, in that these particular Spitfires retain the basic airframe and wing shape that was originally conceived by R.J Mitchell. Where as the majority of Spitfires flying today are later variants, many of which vary from the so called "pure" Spitfire shape.

It should be noted however, that the examples we see here represent the ultimate configuration of the original variant, as there were a number of revisions that were introduced to the Mk.Ia after they entered service. One such revision was the use of a three blade de Havilland switch pitch propeller in place of the Aero-Products "Watts" fixed pitch two blader. The canopy was also revised with the introduction of an armoured windshield and the use of the more familar blown canopy as opposed to the original flat hood.