Supermarine Spitfire
by: RLindsey
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Word Count: 253
Quite possibly the most famous airplane of World War II, the Supermarine Spitfire was in production from 1937 to the end of the war, and in use until 1957. The Spitfire was a constantly evolving design and parts from the earlier planes will not even fit the later planes. Just as the Spitfire seemed to be getting ahead of the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the Germans introduced the Focke-Wulf 190, requiring more refinements. The Battle of Britain owes much to this plane and the Hurricane.
The Mk V (mark five) was the favorite of many early pilots. Later versions were heavier, but faster and better climbers. The Mk VIII was, for a while, the definitive variety until the Mk IX. The Mk XIV was very fast and best for combating Germany’s V-1 flying rockets. The Mk XIV had a Griffon engine and a five-blade propeller.
Spitfires were used by Australia, two units of the United States Army Air Force (USAAF), South African Air Force, and the Soviet Union. After the war, Spitfires were sent to Israel, Greece, Indochina, Belgium, Myanmar (Burma), Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, France, India, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Southern Rhodesia, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, and Yugoslavia.
Type: Fighter
County: United Kingdom
Length: 31 feet 1 inch (9.47 m)
Wingspan: 36 feet 10 inches (11.23 m)
Speed: 448 mph (721 km/h)
Ceiling: 43,000 feet (13,100 m)
Range: 460 miles (740 km)
Engines: one 2,050 hp Rolls-Royce Griffon 65 water-cooled inline
Crew: one
Armament: two 20 mm cannon, two .303 machine guns, or two 0.50 cal Browning machine guns
About the Author
Robert M. Lindsey
http://lindseyfreelancing.com/
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