Former Army Air Corps officer and British astronaut Tim Peake looks on from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Dakota (Picture: MOD)

RAF

Astronaut joins round-Britain Spitfire tour on its final leg as icon celebrates 90 years

17th April 2026 at 1:11pm

The historic Spitfire that's been flying a round trip of Britain has made its ninth and final flight – returning to Southampton from where its journey began 10 days ago.

The nationwide Spitfire90 tour marks 90 years since the prototype of the iconic aircraft first took to the air, while also raising funds for two important RAF charities.

The Spitfire was accompanied by various aircraft on each leg of its journey, with the final flight from Exeter to Southampton seeing the warbird fly in formation with a C-47 Dakota operated by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

On board the Dakota was Major (Ret'd) Tim Peake – who served in the Army Air Corps and was the first British astronaut to join the European Space Agency and the seventh UK-born person in space.

The previous day saw the Spitfire team up with another well-known visitor as it touched down in Cornwall.

Warwick Davis, who played Professor Flitwick in the Harry Potter films and Wicket the Ewok in the Star Wars series, was at RAF St Mawgan to see the two-seat Spitfire TR9 come into land at the end of its flight from MOD St Athan.

British weather strikes again

Despite the best-laid plans of the Spitfire90 team and the RAF, unpredictable weather required adjustments to the flying programme, resulting in the Cornwall visit taking yesterday (Thursday 16 April) rather than the originally advertised date of 15 April.

The changes highlighted the complexities of operating historic aircraft and the importance of flight safety.

The presence of BAFTA award-winning actor Mr Davis made the occasion a particularly personal and memorable experience.

He said: "For me it was the sound of the engine that really evoked emotion, it really is iconic."

The nine flights commemorate nine decades since the very first Spitfire took off from Eastleigh Aerodrome (Picture: MOD)

Meeting friends old and new

The Spitfire, which is wearing the colours and serial number of the prototype, K5054, has been flying in formation with several RAF aircraft on its journey

The "new" two-seat K5054 also took off from Southampton when it began its aerial adventure, this time flying to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

The second seat in the Spit on each of the legs has been filled by the successful bidder of each of the nine flights which were sold at auction, raising money for the Mark Long Trust and the RAF Benevolent Fund.

The first flight saw the Spit fly alongside another Spitfire operated by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, a C-47 Dakota also flown by the BBMF and two F-35B Lightnings flown by 617 Squadron.

On the second leg from RAF Coningsby to Leuchars Station, the Spitfire TR9 flew in formation with two Red Arrows Hawk T1s and a Phenom T1, while on the third, from Leuchars to RAF Lossiemouth, it was joined by a P-8A Poseidon.

After landing at Lossie it parked up alongside the air base's resident interceptors – Typhoon FGR4s – and when it took off on its fourth flight to Glasgow Prestwick Airport it was accompanied by two of the jets.

The aircraft in question were from IX Bomber Squadron, which is stationed at the base in Moray. The squadron's role includes providing specialist adversary, or aggressor, training to frontline units.

From Prestwick, the Spitfire then headed to RAF Valley, flying in formation with a Hawk T2.

Despite their age gap, the aircraft share a number of similarities, both being fully aerobatic, of low wing configuration and capable of being used for pilot training.

But unlike the Spit, the Hawk T2 is equipped with advanced avionics and synthetic radar to simulate frontline combat aircraft like the Typhoon.

Used primarily by the RAF for advanced jet training, it prepares pilots for complex tactical environments.

The next flight from RAF Valley to MOD St Athan saw it fly with two RAF Texan T1s.

This was followed by the trip to RAF St Mawgan, which involved two Pilatus PC-21s operated by defence technology company QinetiQ – the only civilian aircraft to take part in the round-Britain tour.

The Spitfire TR9 parked up alongside its modern counterparts at RAF Lossiemouth on the third leg of its Spitfire90 anniversary tour (Picture: MOD)

Thousands raised to help others

The new K5054 has raised £120,721 following the nine auctions.

The Mark Long Trust is named for BBMF pilot Squadron Leader Mark Long, who was killed when the Spitfire Mk IXe MK356 he was flying crashed in a field near RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire in May 2024.

The Mark Long Trust gives disabled individuals the opportunity to fly – building confidence through aviation experiences.

The RAF Benevolent Fund is a charity that is dedicated to supporting serving and former RAF personnel and their families.