Watch: Spitfire flies over Portsmouth

THEY say good things come to those who wait and the commemorative Spitfire flight certainly kept the crowds waiting.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Mar 2016, 07:50 BST
Updated 7th Mar 2016, 07:54 BST
A spitfire takes off from Southampton Airport to mark the 80th anniversary of the first Spitfire flightA spitfire takes off from Southampton Airport to mark the 80th anniversary of the first Spitfire flight
A spitfire takes off from Southampton Airport to mark the 80th anniversary of the first Spitfire flight

But for those who stuck out the biting cold, the Spitfire finally roared over the shores of Hill Head, Gosport and Portsmouth about 50 minutes behind schedule on Saturday morning.

Despite cloudy skies, crowds lined shores across the area to catch a glimpse of the 80-year old fighter aircraft, which left from Southampton Airport on a flypast following the route taken by its prototype in 1936.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Among the crowd at Stokes Bay in Gosport were Joshua Lyons-Clark, 12, and his sister, Erin, eight, from Fareham.

A spitfire takes off from Southampton Airport to mark the 80th anniversary of the first Spitfire flightA spitfire takes off from Southampton Airport to mark the 80th anniversary of the first Spitfire flight
A spitfire takes off from Southampton Airport to mark the 80th anniversary of the first Spitfire flight

They were accompanied by granddad James Warburton, 67, from Gosport. Mr Warburton said: ‘It’s nostalgic. They are such fantastic things, you know you haven’t missed it because of the loud roar of the engine.’

Also watching was Nigel Duffin, 60, from Whiteley.

Mr Duffin said: ‘It is wonderful that it has lasted this long.’

Related topics:SpitfirePortsmouthGosportSouthampton AirportStokes Bay