In case you didn't know.

More than 20,000 Spitfires were built in 24 different 'Marks'.

The plane first flew in the RAF in 1938 and was retired by 1957

One of the proposed names for the fighter was 'The Shrew'

Its designer RJ Mitchell only lived long enough to see the prototype fly in 1937

The Mark 1 fought during the Battle of Britain. The Mark IX was used over Normandy

Making a propeller to fit a restored plane today costs £55,000

Fuel costs £500 an hour and the insurance is £50,000 a year