Reginald J. Mitchell developed a racing seaplane, the Supermarine S6B, which won the Schneider Trophy on 13th September, 1931. During the contest the aircraft reached 340 mph (547 km/h).
In 1934 the Air Ministry announced that it was looking for a new fighter plane. Mitchell, whose company was now part of Vickers Aviation, decided to adapt his Supermarine seaplane, in an attempt to meet the requirements of the Royal Air Force.
The new all-metal single-seat fighter plane, the Supermarine Spitfire Mk. I, had several technical features of the earlier racing seaplane. It had the same structure and aerodynamic lines. However, it had a new engine, the 1,030 hp Rolls Royce Merlin and carried 8 machine-guns.
The first Spitfire prototype appeared on 5th March, 1936 and flew at 350 mph (563 km/h) and could ascend at approximately 2,500 ft (762 m) per minute. With its slender aerodynamic lines and elliptical-plan wings, it was claimed at the time, to be the smallest and cleanest aircraft that could be constructed around a man and an engine.
The Royal Air Force was impressed with its performance and in June, 1936, it ordered 310 aircraft. The Supermarine Spitfire Mk. I went into production in 1937 and was operational in June, 1938. Vickers Aviation could not keep up with demand and most of Britain's manufacturers began building Spitfires. By October, 1939, the Air Ministry had ordered over 4,000 of these airplanes.
Supermarine Spitfire Mk. II went into service in late 1940. These had a 1,150 hp Rolls Royce Merlin engine. Other versions appeared throughout the Second World War. This included Spitfire Mk. IV that was a photographic reconnaissance aircraft. The Spitfire Mk. VC was the first model to be used as a fighter-bomber and carried 500 pounds (226 kg) of bombs.
Hello. Find here all the best of clip video, photo of these last 3 years with this amazing survivor supermarine stunning spitfire PR XIX, equiped with high power griffon piston engine and contra rotating propeller, (listen to awesome start up sequence. startup) it is still flying very good and sharp, We are operating this bird in France, after rebuilding at Chino (CA USA) by Steve Hinton team, used by RAF royal air force in early days of 1945 at the end of the war ww2, it's a hight flight quality plane, agility, maneuverability for dog fight demo and display, aerobatic hight speed and low level pass, from Chino Los Angeles to Dijon Darois LFGI (france home base airfield and workshop) and flying also at legends airshow Duxford EGSU aerobatic and balbo display. Bex. Ila Berlin. Also with mustang p51 la Ferte Allais, paris (with Francois Gonet Annemasse on picture) flight formation airshow display at Hahnweide old timer, september 2007, festival de l'aviation ancienne. thumb up and see you soon at the field. save the planet aerobatic airshow... (acrobatie presentation voltige). enjoy this film and movie..
Undoubtedly the most famous British combat aircraft of World War II, the Spitfire is as deeply ingrained in the collective psyche of most Britons as the P-51 Mustang is in most Americans'. First flown on 5 March 1936, the Spitfire sprang from the design desk of R.J. Mitchell, who had previously submitted an unsuccessful design for a similar fighter, the Type 224. Once given the freedom to design an aircraft outside of the strict Air Ministry specifications, his Type 300 emerged as a clear winner; so much so that a new Air Ministry specification was written to match the new design.
Originally a gift from King Bhumibol of Thailand to The Planes of Fame Museum back in 1962, this aircraft spent many years in storage. The restoration gained impetus only oafter the museum decided to marry the airframe with Rolls-Royce Griffon engine and contra-rotating propeller from an Avro Shackleton maritime patrol aircraft. It was operated in Chino for many years, but sold to France in 2007.
Arnold.
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thanks for mantaining these living legends. I much enjoyed the vid. Great sound work the engine is the real music (to those of us who love these old great aircraft).
MegaLuckydog1 1 month ago
Really beautiful shot in 2:39 :-)
FirebrandB37 1 month ago
The Spit ... the most beautiful aircraft ever built? ABSOLUTELY!
Rikitocker 3 months ago
One of the best Spitfire videos on |YouTube - you are exceptional people in keeping this machine flying :)
zekezero12345 4 months ago in playlist Liked
what a B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.L. plane! Eric, this video rocks!
Televisionsucksyou 7 months ago
I live in Chino and used to volunteer at the Planes of Fame museum. I remember them working on this plane. It is pretty awesome.
disturbedone5009 8 months ago