MAQUETTE À MONTER - Spitfire Mk.VI Hasegawa | No. 09107 | 1:48

Characteristics

Description

When the Supermarine Spitfire Mk. V series was introduced in 1941, it was regarded as a temporary stop-gap fighter until production of a pressurized high altitude version became available. It was feared that German was preparing high flying bombers such as the Junkers Ju86P, which could not be countered with existing aircraft. During a meeting in March 1941 the Air Ministry of Aircraft Production requested 50% of the Mk.V to be converted to pressurized high altitude versions to be available before the end of 1941. Jeffrey Quill, two squadrons to be available before the end of 1941.

Jeffrey Quill, Supermarine test pilot flew the prototype pressurized Spitfire AA.802 on 5 July 1941 and reported favorably on its high altitude flying prospects. The partially pressurized cabin on the Spitfire Mk. VI cannot be compared with a pressurized cabin of a modern airliner, as the differential achieved in the Spitfire was only 2 pounds per square inch, which meant that at 37,000 feet, the cabin pressure was the same as being at 28,000 feet (in a modern airliner the cabin pressure is maintained at about 8,000 feet).

The Mk. VI Spitfire differed from the Mk. V in several respects. It had no side door, and while the canopy was changed into place by the ground crew, it was sealed with an inflatable rubber gland. The aircraft used a four bladed propeller, and it had extended wing tips.

The first production Mk. VI came off the line in December 1941; however, when it did get into service, the performance of the German Junkers 86 had improved to the point where the Spitfire was unable to catch it and it was not until the Mk. IX Spitfire became available, could this be accomplished. Production of the Mk. VI stopped in October 1942 with only 100 aircraft having been built.

More to read about the KIT here, thanks to scalemates, a Belgian Scale modeling database