The Spitfire's first flight was on 5 March 1936 at Eastleigh. This has now been confirmed by the discovery of an original file, thought to have been destroyed, which reveals that the first flight lasted just 8 minutes starting at 4.35pm. Once again the pilot for the new aircraft's first flight was "Mutt" Summers and in his usual apparent manner he stepped from the aircraft and tersely conveyed to the assembled crew that he had found no problems - then he added "I don't want anything touched" - and so the first official Spitfire was born. Over the next three days a further three flights took place, all piloted by "Mutt" lasting 23 minutes, 31 minutes and 50 minutes during which time he flight tested the aircraft with a variety of stalls and steep turns to fully explore the flight characteristics of this unique aircraft. Over the next few months further trials were carried out with no major problems and K5054 was delivered to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at Martlesham Heath for official trials on 26 May 1936. The Air Ministry were so impressed with this new fighter aircraft that prior to the full test programme being completed they issued a contract for 310 Spitfires on 3 June 1936. Bazze ... Spitfire