Rare Spitfire to be star of RAF Cosford Air Show

The Supermarine Spitfire Photo Reconnaissance PR XIX PM651 will be the centre of a display at Cosford Air Show's Vintage Village, which transports visitors back to the 1940s.

The Spitfire is an iconic aircraft – a symbol of British engineering success, and the heroic defence of the country during the Battle of Britain – but the Supermarine is not your standard version.

The plane was used for reconnaissance, and as opposed to the more familiar Mk1, it is fitted with a Griffon engine, which made it notably faster than its predecessor.

The air show, on June 9, will see it go on public display at the museum for the first time, and following the event it will feature at the museum throughout the summer, alongside the Mk1 version of the plane.

Visitors to the air show will be able to climb steps to get a view inside the cockpit of the plane.

RAF Museum curator Tom Hopkins said: “The Spitfire has only once made a brief appearance at Cosford, back in 2011, but regularly travels overseas to Kuwait, UAE and Bahrain for display at the British Embassy amongst other prestigious locations.

“Following its appearance at the air show the PR XIX Spitfire will be displayed alongside the world’s oldest Spitfire, a Mk1 in the museum’s War in the Air hangar as part of the Summer of Spitfire programme of events and activities.

“The two aircraft side by side will illustrate the diverse roles in which the Spitfire served, ranging from a fighter interceptor to high altitude photographic reconnaissance.”

Tickets for the air show are on advanced sale only and cost £29 per person with free entry for accompanying under 16s.

They are available from cosfordairshow.co.uk or the museum.