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When the last Spitfire rolled out in February 1948, [54] a total of 20,351 examples of all variants had been built, including two-seat trainers, with some Spitfires remaining in service well into the 1950s. [3] The Spitfire was the only British fighter aircraft to be in continuous production before, during, and after the Second World War. [55]
The Supermarine Spitfire is one of the most iconic aircraft of all time. Between 1937 and 1947 over 20,000 of them were built and in those 10 years, Spitfires changed dramatically from the Mk 1 to the Mk 24. More powerful engines, new wing shapes, different armaments, and more were added to the Spitfire in an attempt to maintain its edge over ...
Mar 18, 2024 · A Spitfire prototype was built in January 1935, and the first flying model appeared in March 1936. The first test pilot was impressed and stated as he climbed out of the plane, "Don't touch anything" (Saunders, 15). The first operational planes were coming off the production line by May 1938.
- Mark Cartwright
Mar 4, 2011 · The Spitfire Mark II had slower maximum and cruising speeds, but a faster climb rate, being able to reach 20,000ft in 7 minutes, and had an improved ceiling of 32,800ft. The Mark II had better protection for the pilot as well, with increased armour behind the pilot’s seat to protect his head.
- Built by Supermarine. The company behind the Spitfire was Supermarine. Primarily known for their seaplanes and flying boats, with the Spitfire they proved that they could do much more.
- The Designer. The Spitfire was designed by R. J Mitchell, one of Supermarine’s top engineers. He had extensive experience designing seaplanes to race in the Schneider Trophy competition, experience which he now turned to creating a streamlined, maneuverable fighter.
- First Flights. The first flight by a Spitfire took place on March 5, 1936. Two-and-a-half years later, in August 1938, Spitfires first joined the ranks of Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) when they entered service at Duxford airbase.
- First Kill. On the 16 of October 1939, a Spitfire from No. 603 Squadron shot down a Heinkel He111 bomber. It was the first time in the Second World War that a German plane was destroyed over Britain, a harbinger of far greater destruction to come.
Oct 9, 2023 · The Supermarine Spitfire took to the skies for the first time on March 5, 1936, marking the beginning of a legendary chapter in aviation history. This iconic British fighter aircraft first took to the skies at Eastleigh Aerodrome in Southampton, England, which is now Southampton Airport. Eastleigh was the site of the Supermarine Aviation Works ...
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Jul 8, 2022 · 8. It was one of the first planes to feature retractable landing gear. This novel design feature initially caught several pilots out, however. Used to ever-present landing gear, some forgot to put it down and ended up crash landing. 9. Each Spitfire cost £12,604 to build in 1939. That’s around £681,000 in today’s money.
