![]() In the spring of 1944, the H.F.Mk.IX - high altitude fighter/high flying - also came. Production of the F.Mk.IX was discontinued in the autumn of 1943. more than 4,000 such aircraft were built. The L.F.Mk.IX was unofficially called the Mk.IXB and was produced in greater numbers than any other Mk.IX variant. This model was equipped with the Merlin 66 and was intended for operations at somewhat lower altitudes. IX- Low Altitude Fighter or Low Flying, as the Norwegian squadrons called them. This had the best performance at medium height as mentioned before. The largest model produced was the F Mk.IX fighter, first with the Merlin 61 and later the 63 engine. The engine type also varied, and the Mk.IX was adapted to different applications, depending on which engine the aircraft was equipped with. the must machine gears no longer had sufficient penetrating power and had also proved imprecise due to the flexibility of the wings at high G loads. the cannon was moved to a position just beyond the machine gun. then came the E-wing where the machine guns were replaced with more powerful 50 cal machine guns. In the summer of 1944, however, the firepower was increased. This model was therefore often called Mk.IXC, or more often just Mk.IX because all the machines that were built were equipped with C-wing. This could have various combinations of weapon systems, but the usual was a 20mm HIspano cannon and two 0.303 cal Browning machine guns in each wing half. these were machines equipped with a C-wing or so-called "universal wing", as it was called. However, the pace of production increased rapidly, and during September 58 machines were completed. Production began in the summer of 1942, and 18 machines were delivered during June. ![]() Comparisons were made with a captured FW 190A which showed that the performances were now equal The most important difference from previous models, however, was a new, two-stage supercharger that switched in at about 18,000 feet altitude so that the engine achieved its best performance at 27,000-28,000 feet. In terms of exterior, the nose of the aircraft became somewhat longer, with more exhaust pipes and two symmetrical coolers under the wings. No significant changes were made to the hull beyond what was necessary to fit a heavier engine. This again gave the RAF the opportunity for offensive raids into German-occupied Europe. The attempt was successful, and the Mk.IX was born. There was a great need for a quick solution, and an attempt was therefore made to mount a new and more powerful engine, the Merlin 61, with a four-bladed Rotol propeller in a Mk.V fuselage. Production of new planned versions of the spitfire, which would replace the Mk.V, was still some way off. When the Luftwaffe began fielding the Focke Wulf FW 190A in the late summer of 1941, the situation became very dire. Spitfire Mk.IX was built as a result of the difficulties Allied Spitfire Mk.V pilots experienced in meeting the latest German fighters in 1941.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |