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When test pilot Captain "Mutt" Summers flew a sleek new monoplane fighter into the air for the first time on 5 March 1936 neither he, nor its designer R J Mitchell, had any idea as to the legend they had begun.
As the little fighter lifted off Eastleigh airfield into the early spring sunshine, Summers knew immediately that Supermarine had created a thoroughbred. Powered by a 900 hp Rolls Royce Merlin engine, the prototype at once displayed superb handling qualities and performance, achieving almost 350 mph in level flight. Thus was born the Spitfire, the most famous British aircraft of all time.
The Spitfire was to become the most important single type Allied aircraft of World War Two, was built in greater numbers than any other Allied fighter, and remained in production throughout the war. Its superb design allowed the airframe to be continually developed and by the end of the war, now with twice the engine power, Mitchell's little fighter had won its place in history. Adored by its pilots, in experienced hands the Spitfire was invincible in close air-to-air combat.
Gerald Coulson's majestic study of Spitfire prototype K5054, resplendent in its new all-blue paint scheme, is seen banking high above the clouds during an early test flight in March 1936. Issued as a very exclusive limited edition of just 70 prints to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Spitfire, each copy of Rhapsody in Blue is accompanied by a superb matching numbered companion print Mitchell’s Masterpiece.
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