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Britain's Supermarine Spitfire Mk I fighter1
Design
Engine
Early models of the Spitfire Mk I had the Merlin II engine, whereas later models had Merlin III engines.1 The early models also had a 2 blade propeller, which was later replaced by a 3 blade propeller.1
Propellers
The two bladed fixed pitch propeller was replaced by a three bladed variable pitch propeller during 1938-1940.1
Prototype
The Spitfire Mk I first flew on May 14, 1938.1
Production
Deliveries to the Royal Air Force (RAF), of the Spitfire Mk I, began in June 1938.1
Variants
- Spitfire Mk IB: Had mixed cannons and MGs.1 Completed in 1940.1
Usage
Australia, Britain, Canada, and New Zealand used the Spitfire Mk I.1
First Kills
On October 16, 1939 two Junkers Ju 88s were shot down by Spitfires over the Firth of Forth.1
Battle of Britain
19 RAF squadrons were equipped with Spitfire Mk Is in August 1940.1
| Supermarine Spitfire Mk I1 | Supermarine Spitfire Mk IA1 | Supermarine Spitfire Mk IB1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Fighter1 | Fighter1 | Fighter1 |
| Crew | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| Engine (Type) | Rolls-Royce Merlin II1 | ||
| OR | Rolls-Royce Merlin III1 | ||
| Cylinders | V 121 | ||
| Cooling | |||
| HP | II: 1,0301 III: 1,0301 |
||
| Propeller blades | 2 or 31 | ||
| Dimensions | |||
| Span | 36' 10"1 11.23 m1 |
36' 10"1 11.23 m1 |
36' 10"1 11.23 m1 |
| Length | 29' 11"1 9.12 m1 |
29' 11"1 9.12 m1 |
29' 11"1 9.12 m1 |
| Height | 11' 5"1 3.48 m1 |
11' 5"1 3.48 m1 |
11' 5"1 3.48 m1 |
| Wing area | |||
| Weight | |||
| Empty | 4,810 lb1 2,182 kg1 |
||
| Loaded | 5,844 lb1 2,651 kg1 |
||
| Performance | |||
| Speed @ 19,000 / 5,790 m |
355 mph1 571 kph1 |
||
| Cruising speed | 210 mph1 338 kph1 |
||
| Climb | 2,530'/minute1 771 m/minute1 |
||
| Climb to 20,000' / 6,096 m |
9.4 minutes1 | ||
| Service ceiling | 31,900'1 9,723 m1 |
||
| Range | 575 miles1 925 km1 |
||
| Armament | |||
| Wings | 8: 0.303" MG1 | 2: 20 mm1 4: 0.303" MG1 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
