The Spitfire, Mitchell's finest. What made it great?

This is the 70th RJ Mitchell Lecture, held to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the legendary Supermarine Spitfire's first flight at Eastleigh Airfield. The event will explore the design of this iconic aircraft from two complementary perspectives: the insights that modern test and evaluation tools provide into the Spitfire's design, performance, and handling characteristics; and the historical context of the period, encompassing the people, places, and politics surrounding the Spitfire's development, with specific focus on R.J. Mitchell, the man behind what many consider the most illustrious fighter aircraft of all time.

The lecture will be delivered by Dr Sergio Araujo-Estrada, Assistant Professor in Control and Robotics at the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, University of Southampton, and Paul Beaver, an award-winning aviation historian, broadcaster, and pilot of historic aeroplanes including the Spitfire, Harvard, and Mustang.

The event runs from 18:00 to 20:30 BST, with drinks available from 18:00 to 19:00, followed by the lecture from 19:00 to approximately 20:30. All are welcome to attend, and admission is free. Tickets are bookable online via the event organiser's website. The venue, Turner Sims at the University of Southampton, is fully accessible with comprehensive accessibility information and guidance available.