The Supermarine Spitfire is a legendary example of British aircraft engineering and one of the best fighter aircraft of WWII. It flew in Europe, Africa and the Pacific. The first Spitfire Mk.Vs were upgraded from earlier I and II models and were operational in early 1941. A total of 6,641 airframes were produced. More than a hundred of RAF squadrons used Mk.Vs and they were also sent to British dominions and used by other Allied countries. The VB modification was equipped with the Merlin 45 or 46 engine (the latter was better suited for higher altitudes), two 20mm cannons and four 7.7mm machine guns. 143 of them were given to USSR and saw action in the skies of Kuban during Spring 1943.
In addition to Quick Mission Builder and Multiplayer modes, you can fly it in Career mode during Battle of Kuban timeframe.
- Armament: two 20mm guns "Hispano Mk.II", 60 rounds per gun, 650 rounds per minute and four 7.7mm machine guns "Browning .303", 350 rounds per gun, 1150 rounds per minute.
- Length: 9.2 m
- Wingspan: 11.21 m
- Wing surface: 22.48 m^2
Modifications
- Merlin 45 engine best suited for lower altitudes
- Rearview mirror (1 kg weight increase, minor speed loss)
Skins
- Standard pattern.
- Early type A camo of 'Dark Earth' and 'Dark Green' upper surfaces and 'sky' underside, used until August 1941.
- Desert Scheme of 'Dark Earth', 'Mid-Stone' upper surfaces and 'Azure Blue' underside.
- Spitfire #EP210 number 538 from the 3rd squadron of 57th GIAP, airfield Popovichevskaya, April 1943.
- Spitfire #EN951 RF+D of No 303 (Kosciusko) Squadron flown by Sqn Ldr Jan Zumbach, Kirton-in-Lindsey, September 1942.
- Spitfire #W3312 QJ+J 'Moonraker' flown by Sqn Ldr James Rankin, No 92 Sqn, August 1941.
- Spitfire #BL255 MD+T 'Buckeye-Don' flown by 1st Lt Dominic 'Don' Gentile, 336th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF.
- Spitfire #BM324 GW+S No 340 Sqn 'Ile-de-France' (Free-French), flown by Cpt Bernard Dupérier, August 1942.
- Spitfire #BL287 XR+C, flown by Pilot Officer Leo Nomis, No 71 Eagle Squadron, Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, England, April 1942.
- Spitfire #AB910 AE+H of No 402 (Canadian) Squadron, Horne, early June 1944.
- Spitfire JU+E of 111 Sq flown by Sqn Ldr G.F. Brotchie, Debden, Essex, March 1942.
Technical details
Indicated stall speed in flight configuration: 137..144 km/hIndicated stall speed in takeoff/landing configuration: 129..135 km/h
Dive speed limit: 725 km/h
Maximum load factor: 12.5 G
Stall angle of attack in flight configuration: 18.8 °
Stall angle of attack in landing configuration: 16.0 °
Merlin 46 engine:
Maximum true air speed at sea level, 3000 RPM, boost +9: 457 km/h
Maximum true air speed at sea level, 3000 RPM, boost +16: 515 km/h
Maximum true air speed at 7400 m, 3000 RPM, boost +9: 597 km/h
Maximum true air speed at 5000 m, 3000 RPM, boost +16: 604 km/h
Service ceiling: 12000 m
Climb rate at sea level: 12.9 m/s
Climb rate at 3000 m: 13.1 m/s
Climb rate at 6000 m: 12.0 m/s
Maximum performance turn at sea level: 25 s, at 270 km/h IAS.
Maximum performance turn at 3000 m: 30 s, at 260 km/h IAS.
Merlin 45 engine:
Maximum true air speed at sea level, 3000 RPM, boost +9: 480 km/h
Maximum true air speed at sea level, 3000 RPM, boost +16: 535 km/h
Maximum true air speed at 6000 m, 3000 RPM, boost +9: 590 km/h
Maximum true air speed at 3500 m, 3000 RPM, boost +16: 596 km/h
Service ceiling: 11200 m
Climb rate at sea level: 14.5 m/s
Climb rate at 3000 m: 14.7 m/s
Climb rate at 6000 m: 11.4 m/s
Maximum performance turn at sea level: 22 s, at 270 km/h IAS.
Maximum performance turn at 3000 m: 28.2 s, at 260 km/h IAS.
Flight endurance at 3000 m: 1 h 45 m, at 350 km/h IAS.
Takeoff speed: 160..170 km/h
Glideslope speed: 145..160 km/h
Landing speed: 130..135 km/h
Landing angle: 12.5 °
Note 1: the data provided is for international standard atmosphere (ISA).
Note 2: flight performance ranges are given for possible aircraft mass ranges.
Note 3: maximum speeds, climb rates and turn times are given for standard aircraft mass.
Note 4: climb rates are given for 2850 RPM and boost +9, turn times are given for 3000 RPM and boost +9.
Engine:
Model: Merlin 46
Maximum power in Take-off mode (3000 RPM, boost +12) at sea level: 1100 HP
Maximum power in Emergency Max All Out mode (3000 RPM, boost +16) at 14000 feet: 1400 HP
Maximum power in International power mode (2850 RPM, boost +9) at 19000 feet: 1115 HP
Model: Merlin 45
Maximum power in Take-off mode (3000 RPM, boost +12) at sea level: 1185 HP
Maximum power in Emergency Max All Out mode (3000 RPM, boost +16) at 9000 feet: 1455 HP
Maximum power in International power mode (2850 RPM, boost +9) at 14200 feet: 1170 HP
Engine modes:
Max Cruising power (unlimited time): 2650 RPM, boost +7
International power (up to 30 minutes): 2850 RPM, boost +9
Emergency Max All Out power (up to 5 minutes): 3000 RPM, boost +16
Water rated temperature in engine output: 105..115 °C
Water maximum temperature in engine output: 125 °C
Oil rated temperature in engine intake: 70..85 °C
Oil maximum temperature in engine intake: 105 °C
Supercharger gear shift altitude: single gear
Empty weight: 2415 kg
Minimum weight (no ammo, 10% fuel): 2732 kg
Standard weight: 2979 kg
Fuel load: 274 kg / 386 l / 85 gallons
Useful load: 564 kg
Combat debut: Winter 1941
Operation features
- Engine is equipped with the automatic governor of the manifold pressure that works when the throttle is set to 1/3 position or above. It is neccessary to turn the automatic governor off to set the boost value to +16.
- Engine has a single stage mechanical supercharger which does not require manual control.
- Engine is equipped with an automatic fuel mixture control which maintains optimal mixture if mixture lever is set to the forward position. To use automatic mixture leaning to reduce fuel consumption during flight move the mixture lever to backward position.
- Engine RPM has an automatic governor that controls the propeller pitch to maintain the required RPM.
- The water radiator is operated manually, while the oil radiator is unadjustable.
- Aircraft has a neutral static stability. The elevator effectiveness is high, so the aircraft should be controlled carefully, not giving too much flight stick input.
- Aircraft becomes unstable with extended landing flaps.
- Aircraft is equipped with elevator and rudder trimmers.
- Landing flaps have a pneumatic actuator so they can be extended to maximum position only. Speed with extended landing flaps is limited to 150 mph.
- Airplane tail wheel rotates freely and does not have a lock. Since the landing gear wheels are relatively close to each other, it is necessary to confidently and accurately operate the rudder pedals during the takeoff and landing.
- Airplane has differential pneumatic wheel brakes with the shared control lever. This means that if the brake lever is held and the rudder pedal the opposite wheel brake is gradually released causing the plane to swing to one side or the other.
- Airplane is equipped with a siren that warns a pilot if the throttle is set to a low position with the landing gear retracted.
- It is impossible to open or close the canopy at high speed due to strong airflow. The canopy has an emergency release system for bailouts.
- Airplane is equipped with upper and bottom formation lights which can be turned on simultaneously or independently.
- The gunsight is adjustable: both the target distance and target base can be set.
- The gunsight has a sliding sun-filter.
