Spitfire Tribute at Gynn Roundabout

Spitfire Island was one of the exciting new features of the Blackpool Illuminations 2023, which started on 1 September and ran every night until 1 January 2024. The installation was the result of a collaboration between the Blackpool Illuminations team and the renowned designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. This year, the focus was on a tribute to the iconic Spitfire aircraft, with three full-scale replica Spitfires taking centre stage in a revamped display at Gynn Roundabout in the northern part of Blackpool. The collaboration also included Airfix, the famous model kit company, who sponsored the feature. It was a landmark moment as the Spitfires were created using 3D printing technology, a first for the Blackpool Illuminations. Two of the planes were previewed before the full installation was unveiled on 1 September. The planes were part of a larger effort to celebrate the area’s rich aviation history, particularly the connection to the Spitfire aircraft, which had been stationed at Blackpool Airport during World War II.

In a nod to Blackpool’s historical ties to aviation, the feature highlighted the iconic aircraft that had once flown above the town, and the installation itself was designed to provide an evocative, illuminated tribute to the era. The Spitfire display attracted numerous visitors and became a major highlight of the 2023 Blackpool Illuminations season. This installation not only showcased the town’s historical connection to aviation but also emphasised the fusion of past and future technologies. With the use of cutting-edge 3D printing, the Spitfire Island display captured the imagination of thousands, offering a glimpse of both Blackpool’s rich history and its innovative future.

More Spitfire related content can be found at Hangar 42 Spitfire Visitor Centre, Fairhaven Lake Spitfire Memorial and Lytham 40s Weekend.