The Spitfire is one of the most charismatic aircraft ever to fly.

Today, although only a handful remain in an airworthy condition, the spitfire never fails to captivate young and old with its elegant line and the sound of its Rolls Royce Merlin or Griffon engine. But for all its grace and power, the Spitfire was designed as a weapon of war.

During the Second World War the Spitfire flew in every theatre of conflict over land and sea, and with every Allied air force. It is a measure of its success that the Spitfire was the only Allied fighter to begin production before the outbreak of war in 1939 and still be produced after hostilities ceased in 1945. Indeed, Spitfires were still being operated well into the 1950s.

In telling the story of this legendary aircraft, the producers have filmed many different Marks in flight and on the ground to television standards. In addition, the programme includes a wealth of archive documenting the Spitfire's earliest flights to the final stages of its development.

The Spitfire is also shown in action during some of its most memorable campaigns including the momentous Battle of Britain to Seafires aboard aircraft carriers in the Pacific.