It is one of the most famous fighter aircraft in the world and soon lucky owners of RAF Spitfires will be able to buy a Haynes Manual showing how to strip them down and rebuild them in the same way as a Ford Escort.
The RAF has announced that it is to team up with Haynes Publishing to provide workshop manuals for some of its famous historic aeroplanes – beginning with the Supermarine Spitfire in this, the 70th anniversary of its build.
An agreement between Haynes and the MOD was signed on March 7 2006 at the International Book Fair in London by Haynes' Managing Director, John Haynes, and Air Vice-Marshal Chris Moran, the RAF's Assistant Chief of the Air Staff.
“When seeking out like-minded partners, we saw that Haynes clearly share the vision we have for representing the RAF’s position as making a winning contribution to joint operations in support of the United Kingdom’s Defence Mission,” said AVM Moran. “We are delighted to have this opportunity to work together."
Possibly the most famous fighter plane of all time and forever a symbol of British defiance during the Battle of Britain in 1940, the Spitfire was designed and first built in 1936 when crowds at the 1936 RAF Display at Hendon had a first glimpse of the prototype Spitfire in the New Types Park.
The Royal Air Force Museum, now based at Hendon, is actively involved with the project as an equal partner with the RAF, Jervis Entertainment media and sub agents 4Kids. Haynes publishing are an official licensee of the RAF brand and the Museum will provide all the archive material and will act as the facilitator for the agreement.
Haynes are the latest licensee of the new RAF marketing initiative and licensing programme of which the Museum is a permanent partner. Currently there are 23 licensees signed to the agreement.
Keith Ifould, Group Business Development Director, Royal Air Force Museum said: "This is a great opportunity for the Royal Air Force Museum to showcase its huge array of archived material, much of which has never been seen by the public before."
Air Vice Marshal Chris Moran, left, with John Haynes of Haynes Publishing, at the London Book Fair. Picture SAC Ryan Onody, RAF
For Haynes, Managing Director John Haynes said: "This is an exciting opportunity that will enable us to combine our experience of publishing world-famous transport-related titles with our extensive range of historical, military and aviation books.”
“I am delighted to be working with the RAF again and that Haynes is to become the official book publishing partner of the RAF."
Spitfires entered RAF service at Duxford in 1938 and can still be seen as part of the Imperial War Museum now based there. During 2006, they will be flying again as part of the museum’s Spitfire 70th Anniversary year celebrations.
A spokesperson from Imperial War Museum Duxford also welcomed the news: "From the Imperial War Museum's point of view one of our key remits is education, so anything that informs the public about this iconic aircraft will be invaluable.”
“From a design point of view the Spitfire was a trail-blazer with its elliptical wing, all metal monocoque structure and, for the time, a blistering top speed of 355 mph. Anything that sheds light on this fascinating and important invention, and the development of aviation, is to be welcomed.”
In all, over 20,000 Spitfires and Seafires were built, but today only a few score fly on in the hands of private owners and with the Royal Air Force's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Following the Spitfire Haynes manual there are plans to also publish instruction manuals for the Hurricane and Typhoon.
The best places to see Battle of Britain aircraft, including the Spitfire, is in the Battle of Britain Hall at the RAF Museum in Hendon, visit their website for more details
For more information about IWM Duxford and Spitfire 70th anniversary celebrations including Spitfire Day and the Spitfire Anniversary Air show visit the IWM Duxford Website
To learn more about the Spitfire and other historic aircraft of the RAF visit the RAF Histories website.
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