
Supermarine MK-1A Spitfire patrols the London skies over the Thames estuary during the Battle of Britain
Ref. No. T-003.
Title: London Skies - MK-1 Spitfire.
Description: Spitfire MK 1A WW2 fighter.
The first production Spitfire, the Mk-I was powered by a Merlin III giving 1,030 hp and a maximum speed of 367 mph. This make mostly fought in the Battle of Britain. It entered service in 1938 with 19 and 66 Squadrons. In all some 1,566 Mk-I Spitfires were produced.
Although in squadron service, with armour plate for pilot protection added, the top speed was more likely to be 345 mph. The first batch had a straight topped cockpit canopy, later changed for the bulge type. Originally fitted with wooden two-blade fixed pitch propellers, they were later equipped with de Havilland three-bladed variable pitch airscrews. Armament was either eight Browning .303 calibre machine guns (MK-IA) or two 20 mm cannons and four machine guns (MK-1B).
The cannon version was not produced in great quantity; the early cannon installations were not very satisfactory and prone to the mechanism jamming. The Spitfire MK-I entered service in 1938 with 19 and 66 Squadrons. In all some 1,566 Mk-I Spitfires were produced.
This is Supermarine Spitfire Mk-IA, JZ-E (AR213), 57 OTU, RAF,flown by F/O J.H. "Ginger" Lacey, 1942.
Span: 36 ft.10 in.
Lenght: 32 ft.3 in.
Weights: Empty 4,900 lb, loaded 5,900 lb.
Performance: Maximum speed 365 m.p.h. at 19,000 ft
315 m.p.h. at 20,000 ft.
Normal cruising speed 210 m.ph.at 20.000 ft. Rate of climb (initial) 2,520 ft. per min.
Time to 20,000 ft. 7.5 min. Service ceiling 37,200 ft.
Range; 470 miles.
Size: 910 x 610 landscape format.
Date: January 2010.
Medium: Oil on canvas.
Price: R3,333.00