Great Britain

The story of the most famous fighter plane ever built is told in fascinating detail by Brian Johnson, producer of numerous television programmes on military and aviation history. Using historic footage - much of it never seen by the public before - we see the Spitfire in test flight, in mass production, being armed and serviced and, above all, fighting. Gun camera footage from both sides and explanatory animated diagrams show how the beautiful Spitfire became a deadly weapon in the hands of skilled and brave men. The drama of the Battle of Britain, curiosities like the Spitfire on floats, the evocative roar of Merlin engines and heart-stopping carrier landings make this more than a technical history for enthusiasts. The programme ends with the excitement of low-level aerobatics in a Mk.IX, specially filmed in colour from the cockpit - the nearest you'll ever get to flying the plane that won the Battle of Britain!