MITCHELL

MITCHELL:

Father of the Spitfire 

By Paul Beaver.

The majority of readers will have heard the name R.J. Mitchell and certainly his most famous aircraft design, the beloved Spitfire. Yet many, myself included, might not have known that his career began in railway engineering.

This and so much more is revealed by author, Paul Beaver, who shares the full story of this remarkable man who became Supermarine's chief designer at the age of just 24.

Alongside Reginald's career, we also learn how the Supermarine company was founded and then grew during the decades between the two world wars. 

Mitchell's answering of Supermarine's job advertisement  would prove to be the beginning of a remarkable legacy. Importantly, one the author also states came about with the brains and skills of a talented group of people who have been too often overlooked.

This legacy is of course far more than just the Spitfire. Many other types of aircraft especially flying boats were also designed and built.

The race for speed in the world famous Schneider Trophy also plays a huge part in the telling of the story.

*More about all these aircraft can be found in the book's excellent Appendix. 

Tragically Mitchell's life was cut short by cancer. Despite all the unimaginable pain and anguish,  he continued to work to the very end.

Thanks to excellent books like this we can learn even more about the incredible story of both Mitchell and Supermarine.

Further proof of their success is surely the joy their aircraft designs still bring to people today, especially if you should be lucky to catch a sight or even just hear that sound.

This has been a fascinating and highly readable account and I'm positive that this will prove to be another successful and popular book by Paul.

The book will be published in September by Elliott & Thompson. 

I thank them for arranging this early proof copy.