Spitfire to grace Exeter skies for 90th anniversary tour

Exeter Airport is set to play a pivotal role in the 90th-anniversary celebrations of the Supermarine Spitfire, serving as a key stop for a historic nationwide tour that honours both the past and the evolution of the Royal Air Force.

A two-seat Spitfire, painted in the iconic livery of the original 1936 prototype, K5054, will arrive in the city on 16 April 2026 as part of a ten-day commemorative circuit of the UK.

This spectacular tour, a collaboration between the Royal Air Force, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF), and Spitfires.com, celebrates nine decades since test pilot Captain Joseph ‘Mutt’ Summers took the prototype into the skies over Southampton and famously remarked: "Don’t change a thing."

Starting on 7 April, the aircraft will embark on a journey totaling approximately 15 flying hours.

Throughout the tour, the Spitfire will be joined by modern Royal Air Force assets, which will escort the vintage fighter into each landing location, offering a poignant visual display of the evolution of British air power.

The tour holds deep significance for Exeter, a city with a distinguished aviation history.

During the Second World War, RAF Exeter served as a vital Fighter Command airfield.

Post-war, it was home to the French No. 329 (GC I/2 'Cicognes') Spitfire squadron, and the airfield also played a crucial strategic role for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) as a D-Day troop transport base (Station AAF-463).

The tour schedule

The Spitfire’s progress will follow this historic path:

• 7 April – Southampton Airport to RAF Coningsby

• 8 April – RAF Coningsby to RAF Leuchars

• 9 April – RAF Leuchars to RAF Lossiemouth

• 10 April – RAF Lossiemouth to Glasgow Prestwick Airport

• 13 April – Glasgow Prestwick Airport to RAF Valley

• 14 April – RAF Valley to MOD St Athan

• 15 April – MOD St Athan to RAF St Mawgan

• 16 April – RAF St Mawgan to Exeter Airport

• 17 April – Exeter Airport to Southampton Airport

Members of the public have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience the thrill of the rear cockpit. Spitfires.com is auctioning seats for these exclusive flights, with all proceeds supporting two vital charities:

• The Mark Long Trust: Established in memory of Squadron Leader Mark Long, who tragically lost his life in a 2024 Spitfire accident, the Trust provides aviation opportunities for disabled individuals.

• The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund: Providing lifelong financial, emotional, and practical support to serving and former RAF personnel and their families.

The auction is open until 22 March 2026 and can be accessed at www.spitfires.com/spitfire90 .