Flying Officer Corran Perry Ashworth

Supermarine Spitfire

Specifications / Technical Data / Description

Supermarine Spitfire XVI at Duxford, September 2006
Photographer: Chris Howells

	Nicknamed: ‘Spit’ or ‘Spitty’
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)
	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