Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>Spitfire>HA8319

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

Spitfire IX ZD-B/MH434 was manufactured in 1943 and delivered in August of that year. The first pilot to fly MH434 was South African Flt. Lt. Henry Lardner-Burke who wasted no time by shooting down an Fw-190 and damaged another on a bomber escort mission on August 27, 1943. By March 1945 when the aircraft stood down it had flown over eighty operational sorties. The aircraft went to the Belgium AF and other owners but ended up being owned and flown by the Old Flying Machine Company based at Duxford.

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)