Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>Spitfire PR>HA7605
Spitfire PR.XIX PS 915 "The Last"
General Background
The Spitfire PR.XIX was the last Spitfire with elliptical wings and was the last RAF Spitfire type in front-line service. The PR.XIX was a combination of power by the Griffon engine of the Mk.XIV and the wings of the PR.XI making it the fastest Spitfire. Weapons were removed to allow for larger fuel tanks in the leading edge of the wings making it possible to fly missions as far as Berlin at altitudes over 40,000 feet. By the end of production 225 XIX had been made.
The Aircraft
PS 915 joined 541 Squadron at Benson in June 1945, about one month after Germany
surrendered ending WWII in Europe. From here PS 915 moved to the PR (Photo
Reconnaissance) Development Unit to do testing of new cameras. Its next assignment was with
2 Squadron at Wunsdorf, Germany. From here the aircraft flew strategic recon sorties
monitoring the Iron Curtain divide between East and West Europe. This aircraft had the honor of
conducting the last operational sortie by an RAF Spitfire. On April 1, 1954 PS 915 flew a
photographic mission over Johore, Malaysia in search of suspected Communist guerrilla
encampments. To mark this milestone the ground crew painted “The Last” on the left side of the
engine cowling.
Specifications :
| Number Produced : | 225 |
| Performance: | |
| Engine: | (1) Rolls-Royce liquid-cooled Griffon 66 / 12-cylinder developing 2,035 HP @ 2,134 m (7,000 ft.) The difference between the Griffon 65 and the 66 was the 66 had a blower to provide cockpit pressurization. |
| Fuel Capacity: | |
| Internal: | 954 L (252 gal) |
| External: | Optional slipper tank/drop tank 85 L or 643 L (90 gal or 170 gal) these were seldom used on this Spitfire model because the added drag eliminated any benefits. |
| Maximum Speed: | 735 km/h (457 mph) |
| Cruise Speed: | 580 km/h (360 mph) |
| Maximum Altitude: | Approximately 14,000 m (approximately 45,000 ft) |
| Normal altitude for vertical photography: | 9000 m (29,530 ft) |
| Range: | 880 km (547 miles) |
| Maximum Range: | 1,125 km (699 miles) with a slipper tank/drop tank |
| Dimensions: | |
| Length: | 9.96 m (32.68 ft) |
| Wingspan: | 11.23 m (36.84 ft) |
| Weapons: | None, only equipped with (2) vertical cameras with a focal length of 920 mm and (1) oblique camera with a focal length of 350 mm. |