Largest collection of Spitfires ever under one roof

[Hans Tucker]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10337381/Largest-collection-Spitfires-one-roof-12-aircraft-display-Duxford-air-museum.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ico=taboola_feed

[Merlin66]

I’m a Spitfire fanatic!!!!
I used to build Flight Simulator (combat flight 1 and 2) models….over thirty Merlin engined variations.
I have the largest library of books on the Spitfire in the Southern hemisphere.
Some years ago there was a display of 21 flying Spitfires!

[The Mekon]

The mothers of Great Britain gave up their pots and pans to make those planes. How about giving it all back!

[Stonius]

Ken, I wonder what were the major improvements between marks? People tend to think of spitfires as one plane, so I wonder how different they are?


it's funny I could have used you a couple of months ago - I had to play a spitfire pilot in a film. it was a business trying to research enough so I would look like I knew what i was doing.


Markus

[LewisM]

24 different Marks of Spitfires with numerous sub-variants of each mark.


8 different marks of Seafires (navalised Spitfire)


Major differences between many marks, both performance, structure, aerodynamics and engine type/power (2 major variations of engines - Rolls Royce Merlin and Rolls Royce Griffon)


The RAAF operated the Mk V (3 variants used) and the Mk VIII (2 variants used) in Australia/Pacific, and in the UK/Europe, most marks the RAF used.

[Stonius]

Thanks Ken, that's a good overview. Cheers Mate

[LewisM]

No worries George :P

[Stonius]

Haha, crap, Sorry - thanks LEWIS! :lol:

[astroron]

Would all of those aircraft be air worthy?
It says that some come from other collections,
So either they flew in or were crated in and
reassembled?
Cheers:thumbsup:

[Merlin66]

Checking the serials against the known 73 Airworthy Spitfires, all the examples are based in the UK and in flying condition with the exception of PK624 Mk XXII from the Fighter Collection which seems to be still under going re-build.
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/List_of_surviving_Supermarine_Spitf ires#/United_Kingdom

[astroron]

Thanks Ken:thanx:
Cheers:thumbsup:

[Merlin66]

Some of the Merlin engined models I created for FS Combat...

[Andy01]

There's on at the Darwin Air Museum - which was fascinating to see as I didn't know that Australia had any in service during WW2!

Long story short, post the Darwin bombing Aus PM Curtin threatened to withdraw troops from the middle east unless Churchill gave Aus some air support. Three Squadrons of Spitfires were then sent to Darwin.

Unfortunately, it was not a great 'plane for the conditions here as the Japanese bombers operated at 20,000 ft, where due to the cold the Spit's cannons froze up!

In the European theatre the Germans were usually at 10,000 ft and the Spit really shined.

Anyway, very interesting story, really brave lads - Darwin Spitfires (https://www.amazon.com.au/Darwin-Spitfires-Anthony-Cooper-ebook/dp/B00ONZQ6J2) -

[raymo]

It couldn't have been solely cold that affected the cannons; Spits operated
successfully at altitudes waaaaaay above 20,000 ft in temps waaaaaay lower
than would have been encountered in our airspace. I'm guessing that the higher humidity would have had something to do with it.
raymo

[LewisM]

Yeah that story about Tropical Spits isn’t true at all. Spitfires operated above 20000 a lot. The main issue with Spitfires in RAAF use was the very limited range/endurance plus the fact the earlier MkV needed a large tropical air filter that reduced performance (the MkVIII rectified much of this problem).

The RAAF operated 656 Spitfires here in Australia and the Pacific

[Merlin66]

The Spitfire Mk Vc(and a couple of Vb) arrived in August 1942 (total:246)

The significantly better MkVIII started to arrive in Aug 1943.(total: 410)

The early Japanese attacks were defended by some P40's and the later (in 1943) with the MkV Spitfires.
Although the MkV had a service ceiling of 37,000 ft, the maximum speed 371 mph was at 20,000 ft.

The MkVc had a heater tube from the rear of the engine exhaust stacks to the wing cannons. Not always effective ;(


"Australia's Pearl Harbour -Darwin 1942" by Douglas Lockwood gives a very personal account.
"Spitfires over Darwin 1943" by Jim Grant covers the spitfire MkV involvement.
"The Spitfire, Mustang and Kittyhawk in Australian service" by Stewart Wilson provides a very detailed history of about every Spitfire flown by the RAAF.

[iborg]

Hi

The Spitfire in Darwin's Aviation Museum is, unfortunately, 'only' a replica, but, I don't care!

It was still good to see it.

Philip

[LewisM]

These aren't replicas :P

Temora NSW 3 years ago

[raymo]

The pilot in the first pic pulled off a fine landing considering that his engine
has conked out.:D:D
raymo