How many blades does a Spitfire prop have?

How many blades does a Spitfire prop have?

With the advent of the Merlin III engine the two-bladed wooden propeller was replaced by the De Havilland three-blade metal, two-pitch propeller, significantly enhancing performance, particularly in the climb.

Which Spitfire had the Griffon engine?

The Mk XII was the first Spitfire powered by a Griffon engine to go into service. The first of 100 Supermarine-built production aircraft started appearing in October 1942; two RAF squadrons in total were equipped with the XII.

What are the different types of Spitfires?

Contents

• 2.1 Mark numbers, type numbers.
• 2.2 Prototype K5054 (Supermarine Type 300)
• 2.3 Mk I (Type 300)
• 2.4 Foreign orders: Mk Is.
• 2.5 Speed Spitfire (Type 323)
• 2.6 Early reconnaissance (PR) variants.
• 2.7 Mk II (Type 329)
• 2.8 Mk III (Type 330)

How many variants of Spitfire were there?

There were 24 marks of Spitfire and many sub-variants. These covered the Spitfire in development from the Merlin to Griffon engines, the high speed photo-reconnaissance variants and the different wing configurations.

How much does a Spitfire propeller cost?

In 1939, a Spitfire cost £12,604 to build, or about £830,000 in today’s prices. Now the four blades of a replica propeller cost £35,000, with the full hub at £150,000.

What material is a Spitfire made of?

Unlike its contemporary, the Hawker Hurricane, which used biplane construction techniques, utilizing wood and fabric, the Spitfire was of modern all-metal construction.

Who built the Griffon engine?

Rolls-Royce Limited
The Rolls-Royce Griffon is a British 37-litre (2,240 cu in) capacity, 60-degree V-12, liquid-cooled aero engine designed and built by Rolls-Royce Limited. In keeping with company convention, the Griffon was named after a bird of prey, in this case the griffon vulture.

How many blades does a Spitfire have?

The Hamilton Standard propeller four blades, unlike the Spitfire Mk XIV’s five blades. A Royal Canadian Air Force Spitfire Mk. XIV showing signs of wear. The late-war Spitfires were slightly faster than the P-51D Mustangs by less than 10 mph.

How many Mk XVI Spitfires were built?

A total of 1,054 Mk XVI Spitfires were built at Castle Bromwich and delivered for service beginning in October 1944. They saw action with the RAF’s 2nd Tactical Air Force in a ground-attack role. The Mk XVI had a Merlin 266 engine, which was the Merlin 66 built under license in the USA by the Packard Motor Company.

What type of mainwheels did the Spitfire have?

Unless otherwise noted, all Griffon-engined Spitfire variants used the strengthened Dunlop AH10019 “four spoke” pattern mainwheels. With the increasing use of hard-surfaced runways in the post-war years, many Spitfires were either manufactured or re-fitted with, larger mainwheels which were of a “three spoke” pattern.

Are there any Griffon-engined Spitfires?

Although the Griffon-engined Spitfires were never produced in the large numbers of the Merlin-engined variants they were an important part of the Spitfire family, and in their later versions kept the Spitfire at the forefront of piston-engined fighter development. This article describes the Griffon-powered Spitfire variants.