The story of the plane that saved the world

The Spitfire documentary was made last year (2018) but only reached cinemas recently. It tells the story of the fighter aircraft often credited with deciding the Battle of Britain.

I learned some very interesting things. The idea of the elliptical wing didn't originate with the Spitfire's designer — it was conceived by German scientist Ludwig Prandtl, and then brought into practice by the Spitfire's engineers. The aircraft were ferried from the factory to their squadrons by women, and notably their organisation fell outside the military's jurisdiction — which, among other things, meant they didn't have to have short hair.

The whole documentary was accompanied by stunning footage, both historical and contemporary. Combined with the sound of the Merlin engine, it created a fantastic atmosphere. The storyline wasn't entirely clear, but that doesn't detract from the quality of the production.