Jeffrey Quill, renowned Supermarine test pilot, had always felt that R. J. Mitchell’s contribution to military aviation had never been properly acknowledged. Since the Spitfire prototype K5054 was lost in a landing accident in 1939, Quill, along with Dr. Gordon Mitchell (RJ’s son) and members of the original design team, approached the Spitfire Society in 1983 with the idea of creating a full-size replica of the cockpit. 

Construction began soon afterwards, but it was not until 1990 that the build started in earnest under the leadership of Bill Williams of the Spitfire Society and Aerofab Restorations. The cockpit was completed and, although the original’s cockpit changed many times during trials, it is an exact replica of how Jeffrey Quill remembered it when he flew it. Many of the instruments were donated to the project by Quill himself. It was during this period the decision was made to recreate the entire aircraft rather than just the cockpit section. 

The aircraft was unveiled at the RAF Museum in May 1993 when Quill was able to report that the replica is “99% the original prototype”. During the formal ceremony, he signed the door of the aircraft, along with fellow test pilot Sammy Wrothe, who was also present at the unveiling.