Wings and Pixels

The prototype Spitfire first flew in March 1936 and became the most famous British fighter of WW2.

AR501 is a genuine wartime veteran and joined 310 Sqn RAF in 1942 at Duxford from where it escorted US Army Air Force bombers, including the famous ‘Memphis Belle’ of the 91st Bombardment Group.

After a time being used as ground instructional airframe post-WW2, AR501 was used in the films 'Battle of Britain' and 'Pearl Harbor'.

In 2005, it was completely stripped down and rebuilt to original specification, which took over 10 years to complete. On 20th March 2018, AR501 made its first post-restoration flight at old Warden.

G-AWII wears the markings of AR501/DU-E of 310 (Czech) Sqn, RAF. It was acquired by the Shuttleworth Collection in 1961 and is regularly flown at Shuttleworth airshows.