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General Specifications
Wingspan: 11.22 m (36 ft. 10 in.) Length: 9.46 m (31 ft.) Height: 3.85 m (12 ft. 7 in.) Weight: 2,630 kg. (5,800 lb.) Engine: Rolls-Royce Merlin 63 Horsepower: 1,650 hp. Guns: Four .303 in. Browning machine guns and two 20 mm Hispano cannons ___________________________________________________________
Developed in 1936 from the trophy-winning Supermarine S6B racing seaplane, the Spitfire is regarded as one of the all-time classics of aviation. It was the only Allied fighter in continuous production throughout the war, and was best known for its role in the battle of Britain. More than twenty increasingly fast and well-armed versions of the Spitfire were produced during the war, and the planes were used for a variety of different purposes, ranging from high and low altitude fighting to unarmed photo-reconnaissance.
Produced as a stopgap measure to combat the new FW-190's produced by Germany, the Spitfire IX was surprisingly successful. With deliveries beginning in 1942, the Spitfire IX was the model produced in the greatest numbers. This model featured a four-bladed propeller, a 1650 horsepower Merlin engine, metal-skinned ailerons, and a larger rudder than earlier versions.
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