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Spitfire LF Mk Vb of 316 (Polish) "Warszawski" Squadron. This Spitfire has the "cropped" Merlin 45 series engine and the "clipped" wings. The British Supermarine Spitfire was one of the most popular fighter aircraft of the Second World War. The basic airframe proved to be extremely adaptable, capable of taking far more powerful engines and far ...
The Rolls-Royce Griffon engine was designed in answer to Royal Navy specifications for an engine capable of generating good power at low altitudes. Concepts for adapting the Spitfire to take the new engine had begun as far back as October 1939; Joseph Smith felt that "The good big 'un will eventually beat the good little 'un."
The Spitfire's performance improved greatly as WWII progressed; for more information, see Supermarine Spitfire variants: specifications, performance and armament. Data from Spitfire: The History and Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. [207] [208] General characteristics. Crew: 1; Length: 29 ft 11 in (9.12 m) Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
A.P 1565B Spitfire IIA and IIB Aeroplanes: Merlin XII Engine, Pilot's Notes (July 1940). London: Air Data Publications, 1972 (reprint). ISBN 0-85979-043-6. Air Ministry. Pilot's Notes for Spitfire Mark F.VII – Merlin 64 or 71 engine; Mark F.VIII – Merlin 63,66 or 70 engine. Air Publication 1565G & H -P.N. London, UK: Air Ministry, December ...
The new engine had increased power resulting from engine improvements and engine limitations of +18 lbf/(sq in) and 3,000 rpm (5 minute combat). During the second half of 1943, production of the Merlin 63 powered F Mk IX was discontinued in favour of the Merlin 66 powered LF Mk IX. [ 32 ]
Supermarine Spitfire variants powered by early model Rolls-Royce Merlin engines mostly utilised single-speed, single-stage superchargers. The British Supermarine Spitfire was the only Allied fighter aircraft of the Second World War to fight in front line service from the beginnings of the conflict, in September 1939, through to the end in ...
Three weeks later, permission was given to Supermarine to explore the possibilities of adapting the Griffon to the Spitfire; in response, Supermarine issued 'Specification 466' on 4 December. This decision led to a change in the disposition of the engine accessories to reduce the frontal area of the engine as much as possible. [4]
Supermarine Spitfire prototype: Similar to C with minor design changes. Passed 50-hour civil test in December 1935. Failed military 100-hour test in March 1936. [5] Merlin F (Merlin I) Similar to C and E. First flight in Horsley 16 July 1936. [6] This became the first production engine; and was designated as the Merlin I.