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!colspan="2"|'''Supermarine Spitfire (GB)''' |
!colspan="2"|'''Supermarine Spitfire (GB)''' |
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| − | The '''[[Supermarine]] Spitfire''' is a British [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_Two World War II] fighter aircraft, which saw worldwide service during the war and the years afterward. The Spitfire was first introduced in 1938 and continued in operational service until the 23rd November 1954.[http://www.deltaweb.co.uk/spitfire/post_war.htm] During its sixteen year service, the Spitfire saw action in the [[Battle of Britain]], the Mediterranean, mainland Europe, Africa, the Pacific, Israel and many other places worldwide, making it one of the most globally active fighter aircraft ever built. Today several remain in operational condition, mainly with British enthusiast clubs such as the [[Battle of Britain Memorial Flight]]. |
+ | The '''[[Supermarine]] Spitfire''' is a British [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_Two World War II] fighter aircraft, which saw worldwide service during the war and the years afterward. The Spitfire was first introduced in 1938 and continued in operational service until the 23rd November 1954.[http://www.deltaweb.co.uk/spitfire/post_war.htm] During its sixteen year service, the Spitfire saw action in the [[Battle of Britain]], the Mediterranean, mainland Europe, Africa, the Pacific, Israel and many other places worldwide, making it one of the most globally active fighter aircraft ever built. Today several remain in operational condition, mainly with British enthusiast clubs such as the [[Battle of Britain Memorial Flight]]. [http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/] |
==Origins== |
==Origins== |
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As tensions between Britain and Nazi Germany heated up, the Air Ministry decided that a new fast, sleek fighter aircraft was necessary to complement the [[Hawker Hurricane]], as a large proportion of British air power at the time still consisted of ageing biplanes like the [[Bristol Bulldog]] and [[Gloster Gladiator]]. R.J.Mitchell saw this as an oppurtunity, and, learning from his previous designs, came up with a new design based on the [[Supermarine Type 224]]. Mitchell, eager to see this aircraft enter service, was dissappointed as the Air Ministry declined his design. |
As tensions between Britain and Nazi Germany heated up, the Air Ministry decided that a new fast, sleek fighter aircraft was necessary to complement the [[Hawker Hurricane]], as a large proportion of British air power at the time still consisted of ageing biplanes like the [[Bristol Bulldog]] and [[Gloster Gladiator]]. R.J.Mitchell saw this as an oppurtunity, and, learning from his previous designs, came up with a new design based on the [[Supermarine Type 224]]. Mitchell, eager to see this aircraft enter service, was dissappointed as the Air Ministry declined his design. |
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| − | Mitchell, however, did not give up. Making several changes, such as an enclosed cockpit and sleeker wings, he submitted a design featuring the new [[Rolls-Royce Merlin]] engine. The owner of Supermarine, [[Vickers-Armstrongs]], saw potential in his design, and helped Mitchell into the late design stage of the aircraft. It wasn't long before the Air Ministry took notice, and on the 1st December 1934, contract [[AM 361140/34]] was issued, which gave Mitchell £10,000 to see the aircraft through to the production stage. This was to become [[Air Ministry Specification F10/35|specification F10/35]], which was the groundwork of the Spitfire. |
+ | Mitchell, however, did not give up. Making several changes, such as an enclosed cockpit and sleeker wings, he submitted a design featuring the new [[Rolls-Royce Merlin]] engine. The owner of Supermarine, [[Vickers-Armstrongs]], saw potential in his design, and helped Mitchell into the late design stage of the aircraft. It wasn't long before the Air Ministry took notice, and on the 1st December 1934, contract [[AM 361140/34]] was issued, which gave Mitchell £10,000 to see the aircraft through to the production stage. This was to become [[Air Ministry Specification F10/35|specification F10/35]], which was the groundwork of the Spitfire. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Spitfire#Design_and_development] |
| − | The first prototype, K5054, first flew on the 5th March 1936. [[Captain Joseph Summers]], who piloted the aircraft, described it as a competent machine, but perhaps not as good as it could be. Several fallacies included a fairly slow speed (just 330 mph), which was little more than the Hurricane was capable of. |
+ | The first prototype, K5054, first flew on the 5th March 1936. [[Captain Joseph Summers]], who piloted the aircraft, described it as a competent machine, but perhaps not as good as it could be. Several fallacies included a fairly slow speed (just 330-350 mph), which was little more than the Hurricane was capable of. [http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWspitfire.htM] |
==Operational History in the RAF== |
==Operational History in the RAF== |
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Revision as of 15:12, 7 July 2009
| |
| Supermarine Spitfire (GB) | |
|---|---|
| Fighter Aircraft | |
| aka | Type 300 |
| Production | 1938–1948 |
| Combat Experience (With RAF) | World War II (in general) Battle of Britain |
| Number of passengers | 1 |
| Length | 29ft 11in (9.12 metres) (Mk1-6) 31ft (9.90 metres) (Mk8-12) |
| Wingspan | 32ft 6in (9.9 metres) (Mk9 + 12)
36ft 10in (11.23 metres) (Mk1-5, 8 + 14) |
| Height | 9ft 10in (3.02 metres) (Mk1 + 2) 11ft 5in (3.48 metres) (Mk5 +6) |
| Empty Weight | Mk1-8: 1953-2354 kg Mk9-24: 2309-3247 kg |
| Loaded Weight | Mk1-8: 2692-3624 kg Mk9-24: 3354-4490 kg |
| Max Takeoff Weight (Mk5) | 2911 kg |
| Engine | Rolls-Royce Merlin (Mk1-9) Rolls-Royce Griffon (Mk12-24) |
| Power/Thrust | 2000 hp (Merlin 66) 2035 hp (Griffon 65) |
| Range |
Combat Range: |
| Service Ceiling | 43,000 ft (13,560 m) |
| Rate of Climb | Mk1-8: 1350-4660 ft/min Mk9-24: 3760-4745 ft/min |
| Armament Carried (Major weapons throughout production) |
Guns:
8/4/2x 0.303" Browning machine guns or/with |
| Comparable Aircraft | Bell P-39 Airacobra Curtiss P-40 |
| Designer | R. J. Mitchell |
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British World War II fighter aircraft, which saw worldwide service during the war and the years afterward. The Spitfire was first introduced in 1938 and continued in operational service until the 23rd November 1954.[1] During its sixteen year service, the Spitfire saw action in the Battle of Britain, the Mediterranean, mainland Europe, Africa, the Pacific, Israel and many other places worldwide, making it one of the most globally active fighter aircraft ever built. Today several remain in operational condition, mainly with British enthusiast clubs such as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. [2]
Origins
As tensions between Britain and Nazi Germany heated up, the Air Ministry decided that a new fast, sleek fighter aircraft was necessary to complement the Hawker Hurricane, as a large proportion of British air power at the time still consisted of ageing biplanes like the Bristol Bulldog and Gloster Gladiator. R.J.Mitchell saw this as an oppurtunity, and, learning from his previous designs, came up with a new design based on the Supermarine Type 224. Mitchell, eager to see this aircraft enter service, was dissappointed as the Air Ministry declined his design.
Mitchell, however, did not give up. Making several changes, such as an enclosed cockpit and sleeker wings, he submitted a design featuring the new Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. The owner of Supermarine, Vickers-Armstrongs, saw potential in his design, and helped Mitchell into the late design stage of the aircraft. It wasn't long before the Air Ministry took notice, and on the 1st December 1934, contract AM 361140/34 was issued, which gave Mitchell £10,000 to see the aircraft through to the production stage. This was to become specification F10/35, which was the groundwork of the Spitfire. [3]
The first prototype, K5054, first flew on the 5th March 1936. Captain Joseph Summers, who piloted the aircraft, described it as a competent machine, but perhaps not as good as it could be. Several fallacies included a fairly slow speed (just 330-350 mph), which was little more than the Hurricane was capable of. [4]
Operational History in the RAF
This section should detail the wars which the aircraft fought in, and how it helped, etc. Feel free to add subsections on specific battles, etc.
Flight Characteristics
Information on how it feels to fly the aircraft - include quotes.
Variants
The variants section should be laid out as followed, and each variant should include details on changes made to the aircraft, and specific performance specifications:
[NAME OF AIRCRAFT][MARK]
[NAME OF AIRCRAFT][MARK]
[NAME OF AIRCRAFT][MARK]
[NAME OF AIRCRAFT][MARK]
[NAME OF AIRCRAFT][MARK]
Feel free to add more sections for more variants of the aircraft.
Legacy
Detail information on surviving examples, recognition by RAF pilots, etc.
REMEMBER TO CATEGORISE THE AIRCRAFT AT THE BOTTOM!