Spitfires start up (Photo by John Goodman)

Spitfires in hangar (Photo by John Goodman)

Spitfire Study Day at Biggin Hill

1 departure

21 March 2023

Book your trip

1 day

From $345

Activity Level:

Summary

Come and see a legend at close quarters

There is no airplane more iconic than the Spitfire. Called by many the savior of the Free World, especially during the Battle of Britain, this sleek design is frequently seen at air shows around the world. This is your chance to get up close and personal with the fighter at one of the world’s leading Spitfire operators - and at the famous Battle of Britain fighter station, Biggin Hill.

We will study:

Design and development, discussing new research into the origins
The role of the Spitfire in the Battle of Britain
The fighting power of the Spitfire
The engineering of the wing design
The stories of the brave men who flew from RAF Biggin Hill

Where we’ll be:

There can be nowhere better to study the Spitfire than the former RAF Biggin Hill in the 80th year of the Battle of Britain. The facilities of the Heritage Hangar are world-class and afford a privileged access to Spitfires under maintenance, re-build and flying. The hangar would be conducted by one of the engineers who spends every day with these magnificent machines and he’ll be able to answer the most in-depth engineering questions.

Lectures:

Paul Beaver will lead the discussion on the Spitfire throughout the day, focusing on the study areas. The advantage of the Heritage Hangar is that much of the lectures can be illustrated with real examples from the engineering shop floor.

Tour Guide:

Paul Beaver is a well-known historian and broadcaster who continues to research the Spitfire. He spent six years flying Spitfires in six European countries. He regularly lectures on his experiences to lay and expert audiences, including at the Battle of Battle Bunker in Uxbridge. Paul has recently been appointed Honorary Group Captain of No 601 (County of London) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, which flew Spitfires during and the immediately after the war.

Please Note:

The day is held in a working hangar, which can be noisy both inside and outside. Our lecture will also be given here and while the setting is unique, it can also be fairly loud at times and you may regularly hear or see aircraft taking off and landing.