Supermarine Spitfire

Spitfire Photographer: Chris Howells
Supermarine Spitfire XVI at Duxford, September 2006
RAF roundel Royal Air Force
Specifications / Technical Data / Description
Nicknamed
‘Spit’ or ‘Spitty’
Manufacturer
Supermarine Aviation Works (a subsidiary of
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
  • 2 × 20 mm Hispano II cannon wing-mounted, firing 120 rounds per gun with a velocity of 840–880 m/s (2,800–2,900 ft/s)
  • AND 2 × 0.50 in Browning M2 machine guns wing-mounted, firing 250 rounds per gun with a velocity of 810 m/s (2,660 ft/sec)
  • 2 x 250 lb bombs under wings external load (total 1,000 lb)
  • centreline rack for 500 lb bomb OR drop tank
  • 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
    NB Because of its performance, versatility, and reliability the Spitfire was the only British fighter aircraft to be produced continuously before, during, and after the Second World War: the Spitfire was produced over a decade between 1938 and 1948. From engine to propeller, wings to tail, armament to body, even the landing gear - little remained the same in the quest for the ultimate fighter. The silhouette, however, remained distinctive.
    Spitfire blueprint