Supermarine Spitfire had a combustible engine.
 As a result, the Spitfire's performance and capabilities improved over the course of its service life
 Mitchell developed the Spitfire's distinctive elliptical wing with innovative sunken rivets (designed by Beverley Shenstone) to have the thinnest possible cross-section, achieving a potential top speed greater than that of several contemporary fighter aircraft, including the Hawker Hurricane

