Schneider Trophy to Spitfire

The design career of R.J. Mitchell

RRP: £25.00
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 978 1 84425 530 6

Legendary aircraft designer Reginald J. Mitchell is renowned as the creator of the iconic Supermarine Spitfire, but Mitchell was also the designer of over 20 other legendary aircraft. He was responsible for the sleek record-breaking seaplane aircraft that won the Schneider Trophy in 1931, establishing absolute world speed records in the process.

This is the first book to give a comprehensive account of the entire design career of Britains greatest aircraft designer. John Shelton describes how Mitchell, a specialist in relatively slow flying boats, came to design perhaps the most famous fighter aircraft of the Second World War, and arguably one of the greatest aircraft designs of all time. Yet, he had received no formal training in aircraft design.

Mitchell's career spanned the years 1919 to 1937 and this fascinating book reveals just how far he came during this critical formative period of British aviation. He recounts how each of Mitchells twenty-five aircraft designs emerged in response to contemporary requirements and to prevailing design philosophies. Once he had learned his trade, Mitchell transcended these influences to create such beautiful shapes as the Southampton flying boat, S4 Schneider racer and, of course, the Spitfire. The book shines a spotlight on each of Mitchells aircraft designs and focuses on his life and achievements at work. The result is an account that is worthy of the status of Britains greatest aircraft designer.

John Shelton MA, PHD, was head of Humanities at Staffordshire Polytechnic (now Staffordshire University) where he took a special interest in industrial archaeology and in particular aviation history. He produced display material on R.J. Mitchell for the Spitfire Room at Stoke-on-Trent Museum. Now retired, John lives in Staffordshire.