Discuss Up to OJB's Aircraft List Return to Previous Page Spitfires 2026 What air show would be complete without at least one Spitfire? At the show this year, we saw 3 of them, including a Mark IX (nine) and a rare Mark XI (eleven).  The Mark IX Spitfire PV270 was built in September 1944 and served with the RAF in Italy at the end of World War II. Restoration began in 2003 and it flew again in 2009.
Spitfire Mk IX Specs:
Wingspan: 32 ft 6 in (9.9 m)
Wing area: 231 square feet (21.46 square meters)
Length: 31 ft 1 in (9.47 m)
Height: 12 ft 8 in (3.86 m)
Empty weight: 5,090 lb (2,309 kg)
Loaded weight: 7,400 lb (3,354 kg)
Engine: Rolls-Royce Merlin 66.
Power: 1,720 hp (1,283 kW) at 11,000 ft (3,353 m)
Maximum speed: 404 mph (650 km/h) at 21,000 ft (6,400 m)
Rate of climb: 4,745 ft/min (24.1 m/s) at 10,000 ft (3,048 m)
Service ceiling: 42,500 ft (12,954 m)
Wing loading: 30.6 lb/ft^2 (149 kg/m^2)
Power/mass: 0.23 hp/lb (0.39 kW/kg)
Combat range: 248 mi (400 km) on internal fuel
Ferry range: 980 mi (1,577 km)
Armament: 2 x 20 mm Hispano II cannon; 120 rpg, 2 x 0.50 in Browning M2 machine guns or 4 x 0.303, up to 2 x 250 lb (110 kg) bombs (wing racks), plus 1 x 500 lb (230 kg) bomb (centre-section rack).  The Supermarine Spitfire XI PL983 is one of just two "Mark Elevens" remaining in an airworthy condition. It was designed for long range, high altitude photographic operations, and took photos of the damage after the famous "Dam Busters" attack in World War II. It originally served near the end of the war and was brought back to flying condition again in 2018.  Some Specs for the Spitfire XI:
Length: 30'
Height: 12' 7" (3.8 m)
Wingspan: 36' 10" (11.2 m)
Gross Weight: 8,040 lb
Engine: Rolls-Royce (Packard) Merlin 61, 63 or 70
Power: 1655 hp
Cruise Speed: 369 mph
Max Speed: 422 mph
Ceiling: 40,000 ft Sources: Warbirds Over Wanaka 2026 Programme, Aircraft Restoration Company web site, Aviation Enthusiasts Corner web site. |
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