Supermarine Spitfire ZAP16.COM Air Show photography, Civilian and Military aircraft fact sheets

s_IMG2118 flight of spitfires — flight of spitfires

The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, using several wing configurations, and it was produced in greater numbers than any other British aircraft.

Role	Fighter / Interceptor aircraft
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Supermarine
Designer	R. J. Mitchell
First flight	5 March 1936
Introduction	4 August 1938
Retired	1961 Irish Air Corps
Primary users	Royal Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force Free French Air Force United States Army Air Forces
Produced	1938–1948
Number built	20,351
Variants	Supermarine Seafire

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.1A K9942/SD-D RAF. The oldest surviving Spitfire is a Mark 1, serial number K9942; it is preserved at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford in Shropshire. This aircraft was the 155th built and first flew in April 1939. It flew operationally with No. 72 Squadron RAF until June 1940, when it was damaged in a wheels-up landing. After repair, it was used for training until August 1944, when it became one of several Battle of Britain aircraft veterans that were allocated to the Air Historical Branch for future museum preservation. | Rob Vogelaar

Supermarine Spitfire operators

Argentina
Australia
Belgium
Burma
Canada
Czechoslovakia
Denmark
Egypt
France
Free France
Greece
Hong Kong
India
India Empire
Indonesia
Ireland
Israël
Kingdom of Italy
Italy
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Pakistan
Poland
Portugal
Rhodesia
South Africa
Soviet Union
Sweden
Syria
Thailand
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
Yugoslavia

Specifications (Spitfire Mk VB)

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 29 ft 11 in (9.12 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
Height: 11 ft 5 in (3.48 m)
Wing area: 242.1 sq ft (22.49 m²)
Airfoil: root: NACA 2213; tip: NACA 2209.4
Empty weight: 5,065 lb (2,297 kg)
Gross weight: 6,622 lb (3,004 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 6,700 lb (3,039 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 1,470 hp (1,100 kW)
Propellers: 3-bladed Rotol constant-speed propeller

Performance

Maximum speed: 370 mph (600 km/h, 320 kn)
Range: 479 mi (771 km, 416 nmi)
Combat range: 248 mi (399 km, 216 nmi)
Ferry range: 1,100 mi (1,800 km, 960 nmi) with fuel tank
Service ceiling: 36,500 ft (11,100 m)
Rate of climb: 2,600 ft/min (13 m/s)
Wing loading: 27.35 lb/sq ft (133.5 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.22 hp/lb (0.36 kW/kg)

Armament

Guns:
- A wing
  - 8 × .303 in Browning Mk II* machine guns (350 rounds per gun)
- B wing
  - 2 × 20 mm Hispano Mk II (60 rounds per gun)
  - 4 × .303 in Browning Mk II* machine guns (350 rounds per gun)
- C wing
  - 4 × 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannon (120 rounds per gun)
- C wing (Alt.)
  - 2 × 20 mm Hispano Mk II (120 rounds per gun)
  - 4 × .303 in Browning Mk II* machine guns (350 rounds per gun)
- E wing
  - 2 × 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannon (120 rounds per gun)
  - 2 × .50 in M2 Browning machine guns (250 rounds per gun)