Controls in Spitfire inspected (5)
I believe the answer is:
reins
'controls' is the definition.
(take the reins)
'in spitfire inspected' is the wordplay.
'in' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'REINS' can be found hidden inside 'spitfire inspected'.
(Other definitions for reins that I've seen before include "water regulators?" , "Straps for controlling a horse" , "Checks" , "Straps to control" , "Control for horses" .)