You climb into a plane large enough to carry two aircrafts, yet is considered one of the smallest and most powerful seaplanes of its day. Get strapped in while we go back in time to 1931 and what seemed like a more simple life.

It is September, 1931 and you are just leaving a double feature of Frankenstein with Boris Karloff (1887-1969) and Dracula with Be’la Lugosi (1882-1956). As you walk down the street, thinking of the test flight you have the next morning, a shadow catches your side vision and you find yourself jumping in the darkness. Your mind flashes to the two movies you just saw and realized you were afraid of a cat. As you continue to rehash the situation, you agree with yourself that those movies were scary.

As the test pilot for a newly developed plane by none other than Reginald Mitchell (1895-1937), Chief Designer for Vickers Armstrong, you can barely contain the excitement as you strap yourself into the cockpit. You are invincible, not even Frankenstein or Dracula can get you now. As time passes and you go through many test flights consisting of several designs you realize it is now 1934 and a new plane has just been adapted from the submarine seaplane. At the Air Ministry’s request for a newer fighter plane, Mr. Mitchell has been working on a slick and sophisticated version and you have been the test pilot for four years. It is 1938 and it rolls out of production tomorrow.

You are now sitting in the cockpit of the Mk1, the smallest and cleanest fighter aircraft that exists. With its graceful silhouette and ability to fly at 350mph (563km/h), ascend at approximately 2500 feet (762m) per minute and the powerful Rolls Royce Merlin engine you are ready to take on the world. Little did you know in just two years you will be doing just that? Keep buckled in for the next ride back in time.