I am fascinated by the myth of the Spitfire, an object striving for modernity, the last gasp of a failing
colonial power. It is not unusual to see examples fly over the house during the air show season. Post
war they were sold off to a variety of different countries and became utilitarian rather than iconic.

I think it is like a spade. A spade in the hands of a Russian landworker of the 1930's is a heroic tool,
pass that spade on to a British person and it will stay in his shed.