Beyond the Spitfire: The Unseen Designs of R. J. Mitchell

Reginald Mitchell’s death at just 42, soon followed by the defense of Britain by pilots flying his finest creation, the Spitfire, elevated him to legendary status. He spent his whole career as a designer with Supermarine, whose products came from his pen or those that worked under him. Histories focus on the successful aircraft; those that failed to make the grade tend to be glossed over. But beyond this is a large body of concepts, early designs and projects that have never seen the light of day, the ideas generated by Mitchell and his team that never left the drawing board; stepping-stones on the way to later aircraft, sketched out concepts that withered on the vine, and projects that failed to attract orders. This book attempts to look at the entirety of Mitchell’s portfolio in perspective. It features three-view B&W layout drawings for the many projects and aircraft, and full-color CGI rendering of selected projects