Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>Spitfire>HA7108
Spitfire Mk.XIVe Ecole de Chasse at Coxyde, Belgian Air Force, 1950s
General Background
Spitfire Mk XIV was the most important Griffon-engined Spitfire. It was powered by a 2,035hp Griffon 65 engine based on the Mk. VIII fuselage. Given its superior performance, the Mk.XIVs were used extensively to intercept the high speed V-1 flying bombs from Germany. In the European continent the aircraft was mainly used as armed reconnaissance searching for enemy targets.
Probably one of the best-known fighters of WWII the Spitfire had a big psychological effect at home and in Germany. With its great performance the British were given hope of surviving the Battle of Britain and the German pilots learned to respect its fighting capabilities. It wasn't the workhorse the Hurricane was but the great handling capabilities along with its great looks made the Spitfire a WWII icon. The plane was also used very successfully in a reconnaissance role and was the only Allied fighter in production for the entire WWII years.
Probably one of the best-known fighters of WWII the Spitfire had a big psychological effect at home and in Germany. With its great performance the British were given hope of surviving the Battle of Britain and the German pilots learned to respect its fighting capabilities. It wasn't the workhorse the Hurricane was but the great handling capabilities along with its great looks made the Spitfire a WWII icon. The plane was also used very successfully in a reconnaissance role and was the only Allied fighter in production for the entire WWII years.
The Aircraft
In November 1950 former RAF Mk. XIVe Spitfire NH-904 was acquired by the Belgium military and marked as B2-K/SG-108. In April 1951 it was transferred to Belgium Fighters’ School at Koksijde (Coxyde in French) and remarked IQ-V/SG-108. It was retired in 1954, sold for scrap in 1957. The dealer chopped the wings off and placed the fuselage on his shop roof. Bought in 1966 and brought to the UK it received the wings from Mk. XIVc RM694. In 1968 purchased for the film “Battle of Britain”. Next owners were Jeff Hawks (1969-71), Sir Roberts (1971-79), Spencer Flack (1979-88) painted red and white registered as “G-FIRE”. Planes of Fame East, Minnesota (1988-1991) as “N8118J”, Robert Pond, Minnesota (1991-1997) as “N1148P”, Palm Springs Air Museum (1997 to present) marked as “W2-P”.
Specifications :
| Basic Information : | |
| Country of origin: | Britain |
| Classification: | single-engine fighter |
| Crew: | 1 |
| Production: | first produced in 1943 |
| Number produced: | 950 of all XIV variants |
| Dimensions: | |
| Wingspan: | 36ft 10in (11.23m) |
| Length: | 32ft 8in (9.96m) |
| Performance: | |
| Powerplant: | 1 X Rolls-Royce Griffon 65 12 cylinder liquid-cooled engine 2,035hp (1,517kW) |
| Speed max: | 447mph (720km/h) |
| Range: | 460 miles (740 km) on internal tanks |
| Ceiling max: | 42,978ft (13,100m) |
| Weight: | |
| Empty: | 6,603lb (2,995kg) |
| Maximum: | 10,285lb (4,665kg) |
| Armament: | 2 X 20mm (.078in) Hispano cannons |
| 4 X Browning 7.7mm (0.303in) machine guns | |
| Up to a 1,000lb (454kg) payload with other options possible |