Shuttleworth Spitfire Mk.V AR501 – First Public Outing

While we are a little late out of the gate on this one, we received a wonderful series of photographs by contributor Mark Rutley of the Shuttleworth Collection’s magnificent and recently restored Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V AR501 on her first public outing at the museum’s home base in Biggleswade, England. As Mark related…

“Instead of going to the Royal Wedding, I went to Shuttleworth Evening Airshow… One of the highlights was the first public flying display by the Shuttleworth Collection’s Spitfire AR501 at the Evening Air Show, May 19^th, 2018 following a total restoration. This Spitfire is very original, unlike most airworthy examples. She saw active service during World War Two,  and wears the livery of RAF 310 (Czech) Squadron, with whom she saw front-line service during 1942-1943. This Spitfire has her original clipped wings, which improved the roll rate over the standard elliptical style that people are perhaps more familiar with. Shuttleworth’s full-time engineering team, coupled with the collection’s skilled volunteers, spent ten years on the restoration, taking the aircraft down to its smallest components, and refurbishing her from the ground up.  While most of the aircraft is wholly original, she now sports a new propeller and spinner. AR501’s Rolls-Royce Merlin engine was also overhauled in-house.”

AR501 has a fascinating wartime history, and it is well documented HERE. It is worth reading up on this historic survivor!

WarbirdsNews wishes to thank Mark Rutley for his beautiful images, and also wish the Shuttleworth Collection many continued years of successful operation with Spitfire AR501.