A 2026 flyover tour honors the Spitfire’s 90th anniversary with a replica flying across the UK to support aviation charities.

In April 2026, a commemorative flyover tour honoring the 90th anniversary of the Spitfire’s first flight will take place across the UK, beginning and ending in Southampton. A two-seat replica of the original K5054 prototype, painted to resemble the historic aircraft, will fly to multiple RAF bases with support from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and modern RAF assets. The tour, featuring auctioned seats, aims to raise funds for aviation charities. Meanwhile, Southampton is advancing plans for a two-phase Spitfire monument in Mayflower Park, funded by private donations and government support, to mark the aircraft’s legacy. The Spitfire, first flown on March 5, 1936, remains a symbol of British innovation and wartime resilience.