Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire XVI at Duxford, September 2006
Specifications / Technical Data / Description
Nicknamed
‘Spit’ or ‘Spitty’
Manufacturer
Supermarine Aviation Works (a subsidiary of
Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd)
Woolston, Southampton, England
Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd)
Woolston, Southampton, England
Designed by
R. J. Mitchell (1935)
Role
Fighter / Interceptor
Crew
1
Engine
1 x Rolls-Royce Merlin 66 liquid-cooled V-12 piston engine
Engine Power
Takeoff power: 985 kW (1,320 hp) at 3,000 revs
Max level speed
657 km/h (408 mph) at 7,620 m (25,000ft)
Cruising speed
521 km/h (324 mph) at 6,096 m (20,000 ft)
Climb rate
-
Initial:16.24 m/s (3,197 ft/min)
-
At sea level:21.5 m/s (4,232 ft/min)
-
At 3,000 m (9,843 ft):18.6 m/s (3,661 ft/min)
-
At 6,000 m (1,9685 ft):15.5 m/s (3,051 ft/min)
Time to altitude
6,096 m (20,000 ft) in 6.4 mins
Service Ceiling
12,954 m (42,500 ft)
Range
400 km (248 mi) on internal fuel
Empty Weight
2,309 kg (5,090 lbs)
Max. Takeoff Weight
3,354 kg (7,400 lbs)
Wing Span
9.9 m (32 ft 6 in)
Wing Area
21.46 m² (231 ft²)
Length
9.47 m (31 ft 1 in)
Height
3.86 m (12 ft 8 in)
Armament
Data for version
Spitfire Mk. IXe
First combat mission
6 October 1939 - at the start of the 'Phoney War'
Final delivery (all variants)
February 1948
Total production
22,800
ICAO Code
SPIT
Production Variants
Mk.I, Mk.II, Mk.III, Mk.IV, Mk.V, Mk.VI, Mk.VII, Mk.VIII, Mk.IX, Mk.X, Mk.XI, Mk.XII, Mk.XIII, Mk.XIV,
Mk.XVI, Mk.XVII, XIX, Mk.XX, Mk.21, Mk.22, Mk.24
PR Mk.IV, Mk.X, Mk.XI, Mk.XIII, Mk.XIX -
Unarmed Photo-Reconnaissance (PR) Models with Merlin 61, 63, 63A or 70 (high-altitude) engines
Seafire Mk.IB, Mk.IIC, Mk.III, Mk.XV, Mk.XVII, Mk.45, Mk.46, Mk.47 -
Naval versions of the Spitfire
Mk.XVI, Mk.XVII, XIX, Mk.XX, Mk.21, Mk.22, Mk.24
PR Mk.IV, Mk.X, Mk.XI, Mk.XIII, Mk.XIX -
Unarmed Photo-Reconnaissance (PR) Models with Merlin 61, 63, 63A or 70 (high-altitude) engines
Seafire Mk.IB, Mk.IIC, Mk.III, Mk.XV, Mk.XVII, Mk.45, Mk.46, Mk.47 -
Naval versions of the Spitfire