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Audio recording of Spitfire fly-past at the 2011 family day at RAF Halton, Buckinghamshire Supermarine Spitfire G-AWGB landing at Biggin Hill Airport, June 2024. The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II.
November 1942 photo of a very early Mk IXb of 306 (Polish) ToruĊski Squadron.. The Supermarine Spitfire, the only British fighter to be manufactured before, during and after the Second World War, was designed as a short-range fighter capable of defending Britain from bomber attack [1] and achieved legendary status fulfilling this role during the Battle of Britain. [2]
The many changes were made in order to fulfil Royal Air Force requirements and to successfully engage in combat with ever-improving enemy aircraft. [3] With the death of the original designer, Reginald J. Mitchell, in June 1937, all variants of the Spitfire were designed by his successor, Joseph Smith, and a team of engineers and draftsmen. [4]
Watched by his rigger (left), a pilot of No. 352 Squadron, signs the aircraft serviceability form for his Supermarine Spitfire Mark VC on the tailplane of the aircraft, before taking off on the unit's first operation. Note the Yugoslav national marking, consisting of a red star superimposed on the white portion of RAF tail stripe.
A Spitfire made a practice take-off, with wooden wedges in the flaps to ensure a 25° angle and Furious steaming at 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph), into a 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) wind. The Spitfire was thrown into the air by the rise on the flight deck, bounced onto the forward slope, fell off the front near stalling speed and narrowly avoided ditching.
Depending on the supercharger fitted, engines were rated as low altitude (e.g.; Merlin 66, Griffon III), where the engine produced its maximum power below about 10,000 feet (3,000 m), medium altitude (Merlin 45), where the engine produced its maximum power up to about 20,000 feet (6,100 m), and high altitude (Merlin 70), where the engine produced its maximum power above about 25,000 feet ...
This was some 8 inches (200 mm) less than the prototype, in order to try and keep the tip speed down and avoid drag from the creation of transonic shocks. This required an additional, fourth propeller blade. [1] The finished aircraft weighed some 298 lb (135 kg) more than a standard 1938 vintage Spitfire. [1]
The new wing of the Spitfire F Mk 21 and its successors was designed to help alleviate this problem; the wing's stiffness was increased by 47 percent and a new design of aileron using piano hinges and geared trim tabs meant the theoretical aileron-reversal speed was increased to 825 mph (1,328 km/h).