Supermarine Spitfire Mk IA (Type 300)

Role Interceptor fighter

Crew One

Designer Reginald J Mitchell (May 1895- June 1937)

Production 1,566 planes built (1,536 Mk IA; 30 Mk IB)

Engine Liquid-cooled 12 cylinder, v-formation Rolls- Royce Merlin III – 880hp at take-off; 1,030 hp at 16,250 ft

Propeller Initially, a two-blade fixed pitch Watts wooden prop (later three-blade DeHavilland variable pitch metal prop then DeHavilland three-blade constant speed prop)

Length 29ft 11in

Height (to tip of propeller) 11ft 5in

Wingspan 36ft 10in

Wing area 242 sq ft

Weight

Unloaded 4,810 lb

Loaded 5,819 lb

Range 395 miles

Max level speed 362 mph at 18,500 ft

Max diving speed 450 mph

Initial rate of climb 2,530 feet per minute

Ceiling 31,900 ft

Armament

MkIAEight .303 Browning machine guns – 300 rounds each

MkIB Four .303 Browning machine guns plus two 20mm Hispano cannon – 60 rounds each