TECHNICAL DATA

ENGINE: Rolls-Royce Merlin 66 developing 1,720 h.p.
ARMAMENT: 2 Hispano 20mm cannons, 4 Browning .303 machine guns
WING SPAN: 36 feet, 10 inches
LENGTH: 32 feet, 2 inches
HEIGHT: 11 feet, 8 inches
MAX. TAKEOFF WEIGHT: 7,767 lbs.
MANUFACTURED BY: Vickers Supermarine
TOTAL SPITFIRES BUILT: 20,334
TOTAL IN EXISTENCE TODAY: Approximately 70
FIRST SPITFIRE BUILT: 1938
FIRST SPITFIRE Mk.Vlll BUILT: 1943
MUSEUM'S SPITFIRE BUILT: 1944
MAXIMUM SPEED: 404 mph
RANGE (Wl EXTERNAL TANKS): l,180 miles
SERVICE CEILING: 41,500 feet

Its sleek lines and graceful curves make the Supermarine Spitfire arguably the most esthetically pleasing aircraft of World War II. Although only available in small numbers during the fall of 1940, the Spitfire became world famous thanks to its performance during the Battle of Britain. The Spitfire was truly a global fighter with more than forty different versions of the aircraft used all over the world. The Spitfire was the product of the great British designer Reginald J. Mitchell, who found fame designing racing seaplanes for the Schneider Trophy races. First flown on March 5,1936, the Type 300 (as the prototype of the Spitfire was known) was ordered into production for the Royal Air Force (R.A.F.) in July 1936. When World War II broke out in late 1939, the R.A.F. had taken delivery of a total of 306 Spitfires, only half of which were in service with front line squadrons (the remainder were assigned to training units).