Supermarine Spitfire facts for kids

Spitfire LF Mk IX, MH434

The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft. It was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire was designed by R. J. Mitchell as a short-range, high-performance interceptor aircraft. There were more Spitfires made than any other British aircraft and it was the only British fighter that was being made throughout the war.

The Spitfire's elliptical wing had a thin cross-section. This allowed a higher top speed than other fighters of the time, including the Hawker Hurricane. The elliptic shaped wing gives the aircraft a very low amount of induced drag. Speed was seen as essential to carry out the mission of home defence against enemy bombers. The original airframe was designed to be powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine producing 1,030 hp (768 kW).

Because of its higher performance, Spitfire units had a higher victory-to-loss ratio than units flying Hurricanes.

A tribute to the people who built the spitfires can be found next to the site of the factory where they were made. It is in Castle Bromwich in Birmingham. It is a sculpture called Sentinel.

Specifications (Spitfire MK VB)

Data from Spitfire: The History[184] and Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II[185]

General characteristics

• Crew: one pilot
• Length: 29 ft 11 in (9.12 m)
• Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
• Height: 11 ft 5 in (3.86 m)
• Wing area: 242.1 ft2 (22.48 m2)
• Airfoil: NACA 2213 (root)

NACA 2209.4 (tip)

• Empty weight: 5,065 lb (2,297 kg)
• Loaded weight: 6,622 lb (3,000 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 6,700 lb (3,039 kg)
• powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Merlin 45[nb 16] supercharged V12 engine, 1,470 hp (1,096 kW) at 9,250 ft (2,819 m)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 370 mph (322 kn, 595 km/h)
• Combat radius: 410 nmi (470 mi (756 km))
• Ferry range: 991 nmi (1,135 mi (1,827 km))
• Service ceiling: 36,500 ft (11,125 m)
• Rate of climb: 2,600 ft/min (13.2 m/s)
• Wing loading: 27.35 lb/ft2 (133.5 kg/m2)
• Power/mass: 0.22 hp/lb (0.36 kW/kg)

Armament

• Guns:
  • A wing
    • 8 × .303 in Browning Mk II* machine guns (350 rounds per gun)
  • B wing
    • 2 × 20 mm Hispano Mk II (60 rounds per gun)
    • 4 × .303 in Browning Mk II* machine guns (350 rounds per gun)
  • C wing
    • 4 × 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannon (120 rounds per gun)
  • C wing (Alt.)
    • 2 × 20 mm Hispano Mk II (120 rounds per gun)
    • 4 × .303 in Browning Mk II* machine guns (350 rounds per gun)
  • E wing
    • 2 × 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannon (120 rounds per gun)
    • 2 × .50 in M2 Browning machine guns (250 rounds per gun)

Images for kids

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  Spitfire Mk IIA, P7666, EB-Z, "Observer Corps", was built at Castle Bromwich, and delivered to 41 Squadron on 23 November 1940.

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  This Spitfire PR Mk XI (PL965) was built at RAF Aldermaston in southern England.

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  Spitfire Mk IIa P7350 of the BBMF is the only existing airworthy Spitfire that fought in the Battle of Britain.

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  The elliptical planform of a Spitfire PR.Mk.XIX displayed at an air show in 2008: The black and white invasion stripes are visible.

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  Spitfire HF Mk VII: The shape of the ellipse was altered by the extended "pointed" wing tips used by the high-altitude Mk VIs, VIIs, and early Mk VIIIs.

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  Spitfire at the National Museum of the United States Air Force

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  K9795, the 9th production Mk I, with 19 Squadron in 1938

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  Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VC, BR114, of the No 103 MU, Aboukir, 1942

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  The Spitfire Mk XI flown by Sqn. Ldr. Martindale, seen here after its flight on 27 April 1944 during which it was damaged achieving a true airspeed of 620 mph (998 km/h or Mach 0.92)

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  Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk XIIs of 41 Squadron in April 1944

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  Spitfires Mk Vc (Trop) of 352 (Yugoslav) Squadron RAF (Balkan Air Force) before first mission on 18 August 1944, from Canne airfield, Italy

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  Lynn Garrison Spitfire AR614 now in Paul Allen Collection

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  Spitfire XIVe NH749 of the Commemorative Air Force, based at Camarillo airport, Southern California, seen with period-dressed crew members in 2011.

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  Replica Mk Vb on display in 2009

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  Cutaway diagram of the Spitfire

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  Spitfire VB of 222 Squadron, 1942