ROLLS-ROYCE OF THE SKIES

摘要

Supermarine Spitfire (ⅩⅨ) PS853 is one of the most distinctive and longest-serving 'warbirds' flying in Britain today. It was acquired by Rolls-Royce plc in 1996 after being operated for decades by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF), having even been part of its predecessor, the RAF's Historic Aircraft Flight. So familiar and well-loved has it become in its current role that it is often simply referred to as 'the Rolls-Royce Spitfire'. The name Rolls-Royce has an affinity with the Spitfire that can be traced to the prototype's first flight on March 5, 1936. The Merlin was the last of Sir Henry Royce's engine concepts before his death. Successive types of Merlins and Griffons powered every Spitfire in service. PS853 is equipped with the more powerful Griffon; the aircraft being one of 79 Mk.(ⅩⅨ)s built by Supermarine at Southampton.