High Speed Spitfire

[mfg495]

Before the started of WW2, a Spitfire was being designed for an attempt on the World Air Speed Record. The modified aircraft, K9834, was known as the Speed Spitfire and first flew late 1938. Unfortunately, before an attempt on the record could be made, the Messerschmitt Me 209 raised the record beyond the reach of a modified Spitfire.



When the war did start, this aircraft was converted to usable operational condition by fitting a Merlin XII engine with a three bladed airscrew.
Because of work needed to change it to the fighter version, it was fitted with an oblique facing F.24 camera on the port side and was then sent to the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) at Heston, then to RAF Benson when the Unit moved. It only carried out one operational reconnaissance mission. Because having only a 60 gallon fuel tank (designed for its record attempt) it did not have the range require for reconnaissance work. So it remained in service as a high speed run around until 1946

[krieg]

Originally Posted by mfg495

Before the started of WW2, a Spitfire was being designed for an attempt on the World Air Speed Record. The modified aircraft, K9834, was known as the Speed Spitfire and first flew late 1938. Unfortunately, before an attempt on the record could be made, the Messerschmitt Me 209 raised the record beyond the reach of a modified Spitfire.



When the war did start, this aircraft was converted to usable operational condition by fitting a Merlin XII engine with a three bladed airscrew.
Because of work needed to change it to the fighter version, it was fitted with an oblique facing F.24 camera on the port side and was then sent to the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) at Heston, then to RAF Benson when the Unit moved. It only carried out one operational reconnaissance mission. Because having only a 60 gallon fuel tank (designed for its record attempt) it did not have the range require for reconnaissance work. So it remained in service as a high speed run around until 1946

that is one smick looking machine thanks for posting the nice pics
cheers mark

[Whiterook]

Very nice indeed!!!!

[Geek44]

What a great post and some excellent pics. Such a beautiful machine...a serious piece of hardware...how come the operational versions ended up with a three blade? Of course, they went up to four and five blades and IIRC they tried contra-rotating as well?
Thanks mfg495.

[Wolster]

Later marks certainlt had contra rotating props. Can't fnd a picture of the real thing!!

[mfg495]

Here you go...


With clipped wings



Spitfire PR.XIX - PS890 was originally delivered to RAF Benson in 1945. In 1954 it was transferred to the Royal Thai Air Force, then in 1962 was donated by King Bhumibel to the Air Museum at Claremont, California. During its rebuild its wings were clipped and it was fitted with a Shackleton engine with contra-rotating props, then flown by Planes of Fame in Chino. In 2005 it was sold to the French collector, Christophe Jacquard, who took it to Duxford to have the wing tips replaced. It is now based at Dijon-Darois, airport, France.

[McCoy]

From what I've heard all but two of today's flyin' Spits is in England n' the other two is in France n' Sweden.

[mfg495]

Originally Posted by McCoy

From what I've heard all but two of today's flyin' Spits is in England n' the other two is in France n' Sweden.

Have a look at this site, it lists all the currently airworthy Spitfires in the world.

Spitfires still fly

[McCoy]

Ah, that's a lot of 'em outside UK but no mention of the Swedish one.

[McCoy]

This Mk. XVI is based in Ängelholm since almost a year now.