Original wartime caption: Details of the Mk XIV Spitfire have now been released by the Air Ministry. See A.M.Bulletin No.15468 Picture (issued 1944) shows – Air view of the Mk XIV Spitfire.
The iconic aircraft of the Battle of Britain. Although more Hawker Hurricanes took part, in the battle. The Spitfire was operational throughout WW2, the last operational flight was in 1954. There are over 50 airworthy spitfires flying, with more undergoing reconstruction.
The Supermarine Spitfire was a development of the Schneider Trophy winning seaplane, a monoplane designed by Supermarine’s Chief Designer R. J. Mitchell. This aircraft eventually won the trophy for Britain to keep, it is in pride of place in the Royal Aeronautical Society Close to Hyde Park Corner. Supermarine had been started by Noel Pemberton-Billing after moving from Essex, after a failed attempt at opening an Air park at South Fambridge. He sold the Supermarine Company to pursue a political career and died on 11th November 1948 in the houseboat he was living in at Burnham on Crouch. Although somewhat tenuous it links the Spitfire to Essex and specifically the Borough of Maldon.
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) [nb 16]
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)
Squadrons flying Spitfires from RAF Bradwell Bay
278 Squadron
Spitfire llA
Spitfire VB
126 Squadron
Spitfire 1XB
Spitfire LF XVlE
124 Squadron
VB and Spitfire Vll
Spitfire HF lXE
287 Squadron
Spitfire lX
Spitfire XVl
310 Squadron
Spitfire LF lX
312 Squadron
Spitfire HF lX
313 Squadron
Spitfire lX