#raf test establishment

[usafphantom8]

On June 11, 1937, Reginald Joseph Mitchell – designer of the Supermarine company – died. His design lineage, from the Schneider Trophy racing seaplanes, led all the way to the Spitfire, one of the most famous fighter aircraft of all time.

#aviation #Spitfire #Supermarine #OnThisDay #avgeek

@JanMace via X

[usafphantom8]

3 April 1939. First flight of the Gloster F.9/37 (or Gloster G.39) L7999, British twin-engine design with 1,060 hp Bristol Taurus T-S(a) radial engines. Design from the Gloster Aircraft Company for a cannon-armed fighter.

@ron_eisele via X

[usafphantom8]

The Miles M.35 Libellula first flew on May 1, 1942, exploring a tandem-wing design aimed at improving pilot visibility and carrier compatibility. Though the concept showed promise, it never progressed beyond the experimental stage. Read about this first and more historical aviation moments in our Today In Aviation History series on VintageAviationNew.com

@WarbirdsNews via X

[usafphantom8]

Born 1 February 1913. Jeffrey Quill OBE, AFC, FRAeS (d. 20 February 1996). British WWII RAF and RNVR officer. Test pilot who flew every Spitfire mark.

@ron_eisele via X

[usafphantom8]

15 May 1941, Gloster-Whittle E.28/39 became first Allied jet aircraft to fly when Chief Test Pilot Gerry Sayer took off from RAF Cranwell.Powered by Frank Whittle’s revolutionary turbojet engine, aircraft made a successful 17-minute flight that demonstrated jet propulsion

@CcibChris🇬🇧via X

[usafphantom8]

The Supermarine Spitfire prototype (K5054) in flight, March 1936.

@ron_eisele via X

[usafphantom8]

Birth of a Legend - Prototype Spitfire K5054 over Eastleigh 1936 by Michael Turner

@ron_eisele via X

[usafphantom8]

27 July 1941. First flight of the Westland P.12 Lysander Delanne. British prototype fighter with twin tailed Delanne tandem wing and 4-gun Nash & Thomson power-operated tail gun turret replacing the empennage.

@EiseleRon10374 via X