Spitfire could make sensational return to production 90 years after first flight

A team of enthusiasts is trying to bring the Supermarine Spitfire back into production, 90 years after its maiden flight.

The planes, defining symbols of Britain during World War Two, played a crucial role in the Battle of Britain alongside the Hawker Hurricane, and helped secure air superiority over the Nazis.

Just 12 original two-seater Spitfires remain in operation around the world - but they could be joined by an all-new fleet, for a fraction of the price.

The Aerolite Spitfire Type 433, a concept model built by engineers and designers, costs roughly £750,000 to make.

The original Spitfires carried price tags of more than £3million.

The project draws on abandoned Government plans from 1940 which proposed replacing aluminium fuselages with a composite material known as Gordon Aerolite.

Aluminium supplies were dwindling during the war, forcing officials to explore alternatives.

But with modern composite materials, the team has revived the '40s designs.

The aircraft's construction eliminates the need for hangar storage, since it can withstand rougher weather conditions.

The design may even become the largest kit-form aircraft in the world.

A full-scale concept model has been revealed in Bodmin in Cornwall, and is now slated to appear at events across Britain through into summer.

These include air shows, military festivals and classic car gatherings.

Great British Supermarine Ltd, the manufacturer behind the project, is seeking investors to fund the ambitious venture.

The company says it has received strong interest from buyers and backers both in the UK and around the globe.

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Jeremy Meeson, its chief executive, said: "The moment is right to reimagine the Supermarine Spitfire because today's materials, propulsion, and digital engineering finally let us evolve an icon without losing what made it exceptional.

"This design stays true to its 1940s lineage: lightweight performance, balance, and pilot connection while introducing advanced composites, modern power systems, and intelligent avionics.

"Just as the original Spitfire pushed the limits of its time, this one does the same.

"A recreational aircraft designed for pilots and enthusiasts who demand authenticity with real capability, it delivers a flying experience rooted in heritage but engineered for now.

"We are considering investors for this ambitious once-in-a-generation project."

David Spencer Evans, a former chairman of the Spitfire Society and the Spitfire Heritage Trust, collaborated with Mr Meeson on the project.

"We are continuing the Spitfire story in composite with this aeroplane," he said.

"We have a vicarious connection with that original Spitfire, and we regard our Spitfire as a continuation of the Spitfire line.

"Every red-blooded Brit has some affection for the Spitfire. It's something beautiful.

"Nobody will let me fly a real Spitfire, so I have to build my own, don't I?

"We hope to do that in two and a half years from a standing start.

"It's purely a fun aeroplane and it's the sort of thing that a group of friends in a flying club might pool together to buy the kit, put together and fly."

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