Mighty battle of nature's spitfire

MANKIND'S mastery of the skies has been a theme this summer with the pride of the RAF and American Top Guns delighting family days out.

- Stuart Winter

A ceremonial Hurricane and Spitfire flypast over Buckingham Palace to mark VE Day brought patriotic goosebumps to attention.

Two US F-35A Lightnings skimming the runway at Imperial War Museum Duxford shook every bone.

No matter how much those aircraft shock-waves are still reverberating, I must admit to being blown away last week by watching two of nature’s supreme flying machines locked in a dog fight.

Seeing a seven-strong family party flying in close formation was a new experience, with the synchronised wingbeats emphasising the power of these buzzard-size wraiths.