".....and Jeffrey Quill at one stage thought it must have taken place on the 6th March, since this was the day that he flew Mutt Summers, the Vickers chief test pilot, to Eastleigh. But then a set of faded Supermarine reports was found at Hursley House,.......Among these papers, now lodged in the Southampton Hall of Aviation, was the Spitfire's test-flight record, which showed categorically that the prototype first flew on the 5 March 1936." - extract Portrait of a legend Spitfire by Leo McKinstry.
Just found a copy of the Test flight record no. R/300/1 for F.37/34 Fighter - K5054 dated 18 March 1936.
It says flight no. 1 was carried out on 5.3.36, (approx time) 16.35, time in air 8 min., Pilot J. Summers.
I won't post it because i'm not sure of any ownership/copyright issues but i did get it from the web.
Last edited by spook; 7th Mar 2011 at 12:31.
Reason: Found copy of the test flight record