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What is the wingspan of a Spitfire?

By Daniel Moore
37′ 0″

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Similarly, what was the best mark of Spitfire?

IX was the best version. It retained the sweet handling of the earlier versions, while having performance to match contemporary Luftwaffe fighters. Although the later Griffon engined versions were faster (the Mk. XIV had a top speed 448mph compared to the Mk.

One may also ask, how many types of Spitfires are there? There were 24 marks of Spitfire and many sub-variants. These covered the Spitfire in development from the Merlin to Griffon engines, the high-speed photo-reconnaissance variants and the different wing configurations. More Spitfire Mk Vs were built than any other type, with 6,487 built, followed by the 5,656 Mk IXs.

Also know, how big is a Spitfire?

The plane had a wingspan of 36 feet 10 inches (11.2 metres), was 29 feet 11 inches (9.1 metres) long, and reached a maximum speed of 360 miles (580 km) per hour and a ceiling of 34,000 feet (10,400 metres).

How much is a spitfire worth?

One of only two Mk. 1 Spitfires still able to fly today has sold for a record amount at Christie's auctions. The gavel fell at £3,106,500 (US$4,784,010) on the painstakingly restored RAF Spitfire P9374, far exceeding pre-auction estimates of £2.5m.

Related Question Answers

Which is faster Spitfire or Mustang?

The maximum speed of a P51D was 437mph whilst the Spitfire was slightly faster at 448mph. For interception, this was clearly quite important. However, the P51D was generally more specialized than the Spitfire. In it's main role, the Mustang proved itself as a superb escort fighter in Allied bombing raids over Germany.

How much fuel did a Spitfire carry?

Spitfire: range with internal fuel Throughout its life, the core of the Spitfire fuel system remained essentially similar although with several variations on the theme (See table 1). The Mk I carried 85 gallons of petrol internally in two tanks immediately ahead of the cockpit.

Which plane shot down the most planes in ww2?

The P-51 Mustang claimed the most Allied kills with no fewer than 281 pilots earning the "Aces" (5 kills) distinction in a Mustang. It was the greatest fighter of the war.

Which is better Spitfire or me 109?

The Bf 109, in its initial avatars, was generally regarded as marginally superior to contemporaneous variants of the Spitfire. At low to medium altitudes, where much of the air combat in the early war occurred, the Bf 109 had the upper hand. However, the Spitfire was superior at higher altitudes.

Which is better Hurricane or Spitfire?

The slightly larger Hurricane was regarded as an easier aircraft to fly and was effective against Luftwaffe bombers. The Hurricane had a higher seating position, which gave the pilot a better view over the nose than the Spitfire.

Why was the Spitfire so successful?

The Spitfire was so good because it had enormous development potential. It was a top of the line fighter from 1939 all the way through to 1945, except for a brief period when the FW 190 was introduced. In the BoB it excelled as a short range interceptor, which is exactly what it was designed as.

What was the best fighter of ww2?

Focke-Wulf FW-190

Why is it called a Spitfire?

It got the first part of its name because it was developed by Supermarine Aviation Works, Ltd. He actually wanted to name it 'the Shrew' or 'the Scarab. ' However, he was overruled by one of his bosses, who chose the name Spitfire because said boss had a daughter who he called 'little Spitfire.

How long can a Spitfire stay in the air?

about 90 min

Are German planes better than Spitfires?

By the end of the war, the late Griffon powered Spits were the fastest climbing, highest flying, fastest level speed, best turning, & by a wide margin, the fastest diving fighters out there. The end-war Spits could climb higher & dive faster than any of the German jets.

Are Merlin engines still made?

Merlin engines remain in Royal Air Force service today with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and power many restored aircraft in private ownership worldwide.

Why is the Spitfire so famous?

A symbol of victory. The Spitfire is the most famous plane of World War Two. Its groundbreaking design and superior specifications gave the British a decisive advantage fighting the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. But early models were often cruelly exposed in head-to-head duels with the enemy.

What was the fastest plane in ww2?

The fastest aircraft to see any combat in WWII was the Messerschmitt Me 163, which set an airspeed record of 702 mph in 1944 (although this record was not recognized by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale due to its secrecy during the war).

What fuel does a Spitfire use?

He continued: "That process would make a crucial difference in mid-1940 when the Royal Air Force started filling its Spitfires and Hurricanes with the 100-octane gasoline imported from the United States instead of the 87-octane gasoline it had formerly used."

Who made the engine for the Spitfire?

Packard Motor Car Company in America produced 55,523 Merlin engines from 1941 under a $130,000,000 order from Rolls-Royce. The Merlin engine achieved mythical status during the Second World War when combined with key aircraft such as the Hurricane, Spitfire, Mosquito, Lancaster and the Mustang.

Is Spitfire a compliment?

"The Spitfire is one of the most iconic images of the Second World War and one of the reasons we kept the Nazis at bay. A World War Two veteran, who flew Spitfires in combat against the Luftwaffe, said Brits should take it as a "compliment" that Germans are making models of the iconic RAF fighter.

Why was the Merlin engine so good?

The Rolls Royce Merlin wasn't superior to all other engines, it was only superior to the other British-built engines. Thus the engine that powered so many of the British aircraft of World War II. On the positive side, Merlins were mechanically simpler than the German engines and had good power output and reliability.

Who owns a Spitfire?

Spitfire LF Mk.IXc PV270 (ZK-SPI). Owned by businessman Brendon Deere and restored to an airworthy condition over five years at Feilding, New Zealand, it flew again on 18 March 2009. The aircraft is based in a purpose-built hangar at RNZAF Base Ohakea along with Brendon Deere's North American Harvard.

What engine did a Spitfire have?

Rolls-Royce Merlin Rolls-Royce Griffon