Flying Officer Corran Perry Ashworth
Dedicated to my great-uncle - after whom I was named - who fought and died in WWII
Supermarine Spitfire XVI at Duxford, September 2006
Photographer:
Chris Howells
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Nicknamed: ‘Spit’ or ‘Spitty’![]() |
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Manufacturer | Supermarine Aviation Works | |
Designed by | R. J. Mitchell (1935) | |
Type | Fighter, fighter-bomber | |
Crew | 1 | |
Propulsion | 1 x liquid-cooled V-12 piston engine | |
Engine Model | Rolls-Royce Merlin 61 | |
Engine Power | 1,238 kW (1,660 hp) | |
Max level speed | 657 km/hr at 7,620 m (408 mph at 25,000 ft) | |
Cruising speed | 521 km/hr at 6,096 m (324 mph at 20,000 ft) | |
Initial climb rate | 1,204 metres per minute (3,950 feet per minute) | |
Service Ceiling | 13,106 m (43,000 ft) | |
Range | 698 km (434 miles) | |
Empty Weight | 2,545 kg (5,610 lbs) | |
Max. Takeoff Weight | 4,309 kg (9,500 lbs) | |
Wing Span | 11.22 m (36 ft 10 in) | |
Wing Area | 22.48 m² (242 ft²) | |
Length | 9.54 m (31 ft 3.5 in) | |
Height | 3.49 m (11 ft 5.5 in) | |
Armament |
4 X 20-mm Oerlikon cannon wing-mounted 600 rounds per minute velocity: 830 metres per sec (2,723 ft/sec) and 4 X 0.303 in Brownings wing-mounted 1,150 rounds per minute velocity: 810 metres per sec (2,660 ft/sec) |
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2 x 250 lb bombs under wings external load (total 1,000 lb) | ||
centreline rack for 500 lb bomb or tank | ||
Data for version | Spitfire Mk.IX | |
First combat mission | 6 October 1939 | |
Final delivery (all variants) | February 1948 | |
Total production | 20,334 | |
ICAO Code | SPIT, SASP | |
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 |
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