Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>Spitfire>HA8309
Spitfire IXc "MJ966" flown by Chef Denys Boudard, 340 Sqn. FAF, France, June 1944
General Background
The Mk. IX replaced the Mk. V in June 1942 and on September 12, 1942 a Mk. IX brought down a Ju-86R flying at 43,000 feet. Another major achievement of the Mk. IX took place on October 5, 1944 when 401 Squadron became the first allied aircraft to shoot down an Me-262 jet. Even with the arrival of the Griffon powered Mk. XIV the Mk. IX continued in service until the end of WWII. There were 5,665 Mk. IX Spitfires and its variants produced.
The Aircraft
Vickers Armstrong Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory became the largest producer of Spitfires. CBAF had built over half of the approximately 20,000 Spitfires of all variants, 12,129 Spitfires in four variants. MJ966 was delivered January 25, 1944 and entered service with the RNZAF 485 Sqn in February before transferring to the 340 Sqn as GW-B in June 1944. 340 Sqn was made up of Free French pilots and was part of the air cover for the D-Day landings and the advance into Belgium.
Specifications :
| Number built : | 5,665 all Mk. IX variants |
| Crew : | 1 X pilot |
| Dimensions : | |
| Length: | 31 ft. 3.5 in. |
| Wingspan: | |
| Standard (F) | 36 ft. 10 in. |
| Clipped (LF) | 32 ft. 2 in. |
| Height: | 11 ft. 9 in. |
| Wing Area: | (F) 242 sq. ft. or (LF) 231 sq. ft. |
| Weight: | |
| Empty: | 5,610 lbs. (2,545 kg) |
| Maximum Takeoff: | 7,500 lbs. (3,402 kg) |
| Performance: | |
| Engine: | 1 X V-12 Rolls-Royce Merlin 61 @ 1,515 hp or |
| 1 X V-12 Rolls-Royce Merlin 63 @ 1,712 hp | |
| Maximum Speed: | 408 mph (657 kph) @ 25,000 ft. |
| Service Ceiling: | 4,000 ft. |
| Range w/o drop tank: | 434 miles (698 km) |
| Armament: | 2 X Hispano 20mm cannons |
| plus either | 4 X .303 machine guns or |
| 2 X .50 machine guns | |
| 1,000 lbs of bombs (500 centerline, 250 each wing) |