Airfix Model World – July 2018

IN FOCUS
LATE-MARK SPITFIRES

IN FOCUS

LATE-MARK SPITFIRES

http://www.airfi xmodelworld.com 49

which was represented in the

final marks. Significant within

the design parameters of these

late-production versions was a

complete revision of the Spitfire’s

elliptical wing. Following the death

of RJ Mitchell during mid-1937,

development work on later Spitfire

sub-types had been performed

by various designers. One of the

better known among them was

Joseph Smith. Both he – and the

design team at Rolls-Royce – had

identified the Griffon as a more

powerful engine for the Spitfire

even as early as 1939, thus giving

greater performance possibilities

compared to the earlier Merlin-

powered models. The first example

with a Griffon installed (called a

Spitfire Mk.IV, serial DP845) flew

during November 1941.

Mythical boost

The success of this new layout

eventually led to several initial

Griffon-powered production

versions that flew in frontline

service, notably the Mk.XIV.

However, the increased

performance envelope delivered by

the Griffon ultimately necessitated

design and airframe changes. In

particular, the Spitfire’s elliptical

wing, with its Frise type balanced

ailerons, was less suited to the

Griffon’s increased power, the

ailerons especially being liable to

reversal at higher speeds.

The wing redesign that finally

reached production status for

later Spitfires was less elliptical

in shape compared to the earlier

marks, and had a torsional stiffness

recognised at the time of 47%

greater than the standard elliptical

wing of, for example, a Spitfire

Mk.II-series airframe. The new

wing’s redesigned ailerons were

some 5% larger and attached by

continuous piano hinges, instead

of the previous Frise balanced

type. They were also extended

slightly and this, coupled with

a straighter trailing edge and

redesigned tip, gave the wings

a different appearance to the

elliptical shape of previous

Spitfires. The new wingspan was

36ft 11in (11.25m), and it was the

first major revision of the Spitfire’s

wing since the early days of the

type’s design work.

The initial production Spitfire

with this major alteration was the

Mk.21 (Supermarine Type 356),

written originally as Mk.XXI until

the notation of mark numbers

was altered for British military

aircraft. So different was this new

version to the Spitfires that went

before, that for a time a different

name – Victor – was a possibility.

Early testing was carried out with

Spitfire DP851, which flew in an

intended Type 356 configuration

during October 1942. The first

production Mk.21 (eventually

written as F.Mk.21 or simply also as

F.21) was LA187. This example flew

initially during the first half of 1944,

but difficulties were encountered

with the new type (including

certain handling problems), which

delayed its full-scale production

and entry into service; the first

major operational RAF unit was 91

Squadron during early 1945.

Just 120 Spitfire F.21s were

eventually completed as such.

Reduced production orders during

the late war period, and even

performance envelope delivered by

marks, and had a torsional stiffness

wing’s redesigned ailerons were

some 5% larger and attached by

continuous piano hinges, instead

of the previous Frise balanced

type. They were also extended

slightly and this, coupled with

a straighter trailing edge and

redesigned tip, gave the wings

a different appearance to the

elliptical shape of previous

Spitfires. The new wingspan was

36ft 11in (11.25m), and it was the

first major revision of the Spitfire’s

wing since the early days of the

type’s design work.

with this major alteration was the

Mk.21 (Supermarine Type 356),

written originally as Mk.XXI until

the notation of mark numbers

was altered for British military

aircraft. So different was this new

version to the Spitfires that went

before, that for a time a different

This Mk.22 is apparently PK596, which

would make it one of a number of

surplus late-mark Spitfires sold to JG

Will during the 1950s.

Above: Spitfire Mk.22 PK350 was restored to airworthy condition in Rhodesia, Africa,

during the late 1970s by Jack Malloch and his team. Sadly, it crashed on March 26,

1982, killing Malloch and destroying the aircraft.

Above: Egypt was one of a small number of export customers for the Spitfire Mk.22. This example was photographed at Luqa,

Malta, while in transit to its new owners. Note the rocket launcher zero-length stubs under the wings.