Top RAF boss backs £6m Southampton Spitfire monument
The aircraft was designed and built in the city and the government's pledged three million pounds for the statue in Mayflower Park
The campaign to build a Spitfire monument in Southampton has taken a big step forward.
The aircraft was designed and built in the city and the government's pledged £3M for the statue in Mayflower Park.
Now, the project has received backing from the RAF's Air Chief Marshall, Sir Richard Knighton.
Sir Richard Knighton, Chief of the Air Staff, led a special reception at the Ministry of Defence in London celebrating the National Spitfire Project (NSP), a campaign to create a monument of the iconic aircraft in its home city.
The event highlighted the NSP’s mission to honour everyone involved in the Spitfire’s history—from designers and engineers to pilots and support crews.
By celebrating British innovation, it is hoped the project will inspire new generations through STEM and history education.
Speaking at the event, NSP Chairman, John Hannides said: “This event at the Ministry of Defence serves as a reminder of the Spitfire’s enduring legacy and the unyielding support for this monumental project.
“The National Spitfire Project is set to inspire countless visitors and future generations, celebrating not only a storied aircraft but the spirit of innovation, dedication, and courage it represents.”
The monument, a stainless-steel Spitfire crafted at one-and-a-half times the scale of the original, will rise 40 metres above the Solent, complete with a curved “vapour trail” support, seating areas, and roundels representing the 30 nations that operated the Spitfire.
It will be situated in Southampton, the birthplace of the Spitfire, offering both a site for reflection and inspiration along the waterfront.
The initiative has received backing from Southampton City Council, which kick-started the delivery with a grant for the initial design work, and continue to support the project as a strategic partner.
Once complete, the monument will be the largest steel sculpture globally, surpassing the Yuan-Dao Guanyin Temple in Taipei at 30.3 metres.
John Hannides, Chairman of the NSP, commented: “This monument will honour the Spitfire’s legacy, the spirit of innovation, and the dedication of all who contributed to its story. We’re thrilled to see such robust support for this endeavour.”