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| Spitfire flight over Southampton marks 80th anniversary | Spitfire flight over Southampton marks 80th anniversary |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A flypast to mark the 80th anniversary of the Spitfire's first flight has taken place over the Hampshire coast. | A flypast to mark the 80th anniversary of the Spitfire's first flight has taken place over the Hampshire coast. |
| The first prototype, K5054, designed by RJ Mitchell, took off from Eastleigh Aerodrome on 5 March 1936. | The first prototype, K5054, designed by RJ Mitchell, took off from Eastleigh Aerodrome on 5 March 1936. |
| A Spitfire flew over Southampton Water and the site of the Supermarine factory in Woolston, where thousands of the World War Two fighters were made. | A Spitfire flew over Southampton Water and the site of the Supermarine factory in Woolston, where thousands of the World War Two fighters were made. |
| Southampton Airport managing director Dave Lees said the plane "continues to enthral people today". | Southampton Airport managing director Dave Lees said the plane "continues to enthral people today". |
| The plane took off from the airport shortly before 12:00 GMT having been delayed by cloudy weather conditions. | The plane took off from the airport shortly before 12:00 GMT having been delayed by cloudy weather conditions. |
| It retraced the route taken by the prototype 80 years earlier, heading along the Hampshire coast to Portsmouth before returning to Southampton Airport. | It retraced the route taken by the prototype 80 years earlier, heading along the Hampshire coast to Portsmouth before returning to Southampton Airport. |
| The plane overflew Mitchell's grave at South Stoneham Cemetery, the site of the Woolston factory and onwards to Portsmouth Harbour. | The plane overflew Mitchell's grave at South Stoneham Cemetery, the site of the Woolston factory and onwards to Portsmouth Harbour. |
| During World War Two, with the Spitfire proving critical, the Supermarine factory was targeted by the Luftwaffe to destroy production facilities. | During World War Two, with the Spitfire proving critical, the Supermarine factory was targeted by the Luftwaffe to destroy production facilities. |
| Members of the local Air Cadet Squadron performed a guard of honour for the Spitfire as it was wheeled out of the hangar at Southampton Airport, on the same site as the old Eastleigh Aerodrome. | Members of the local Air Cadet Squadron performed a guard of honour for the Spitfire as it was wheeled out of the hangar at Southampton Airport, on the same site as the old Eastleigh Aerodrome. |
| Among the guests was one of the engineers during the aircraft's heyday, Gordon Monger, from Cirencester, Gloucestershire, and his wife, Judy, the daughter of one of the designers Ernest Mansbridge. | Among the guests was one of the engineers during the aircraft's heyday, Gordon Monger, from Cirencester, Gloucestershire, and his wife, Judy, the daughter of one of the designers Ernest Mansbridge. |
| Mr Monger, 90, said: "It doesn't seem real to me after all these years. It still looks as marvellous to me as it did all those years ago." | Mr Monger, 90, said: "It doesn't seem real to me after all these years. It still looks as marvellous to me as it did all those years ago." |
| A second Spitfire flypast over Mayflower Park in Southampton, organised by Solent Sky Museum, took place later on Saturday afternoon. | |
| The Supermarine Spitfire | The Supermarine Spitfire |