The Spitfire was such a well-designed plane that it continued in front line service throughout the war. Whenever the plane seemed in danger of becoming outdated, the British simply dropped a newer engine in it, and it was back on top again. The Spit IX is a good example of this, being simply a Spitfire Mk.V that was hastily re-engined in response to the luftwaffe's introduction of the Fw190.

Cool stuff for Spitfire lovers:

The Big Show is a superbly written narrative of the wartime experiences of Spitfire pilot Pierre Clostermann.

The Battle of Britain is one of the few movies where you can see dogfighting Spitfires, Heinkels and Messerschmitts in non-computer-enhanced, living color.

Check out the Spitfire T-shirt in the gift shop!