Building the Supermarine Spitfire ― Speed in the Skies

Building The Supermarine Spitfire presents an illuminating history of the design and development of one of World War II’s most remarkable fighter aircraft. The unique sleek design of the Spitfire was truly a thing of aerodynamic beauty, forged with one matter in mind—speed. From unprecedented achievements in winning and setting new world speed records in the great Schneider Trophy Races of the late 1920s and early 1930s to being rolled out for eventual aerial combat in one of the world’s most tumultuous and destructive conflicts, the Supermarine Spitfire served as a game changer in the struggle to master the skies. Mark Chambers uses many unpublished illustrations to explore the history of this iconic aircraft.

Mark A. Chambers works as a contractor for the NASA Langley Research Center and has won numerous awards for his NASA work. He has previously writtenFrom Research to Relevance: Achievements in Aeronautics Research at the NASA Langley Research Center, 1917–2002, Engineering Test Pilot: The Exceptional Career of John P. “Jack” Reeder, andFlight Research at NASA Langley Research Center, as well as articles for Aviation Magazine. He lives in Newport News, Virginia.