Spitfire PR Mk XIX preparing to land at Farnborough 2006
Spitfire PR Mk XIX PS853 owned by Rolls Royce with flaps and undercarriage down ready to land against a cloudy blue sky at the Farnborough Airshow 2006 on wednesday 19th July . Powered by the Rolls Royce Griffon engine and owned by the Rolls Royce Corporate Heritage Department this aircraft was built at Southampton and delivered to the Central Photographic Reconnaissance Unit at Benson on 13 January 1945 . Reconnaissance livery has discreet markings with a red central spot encircled by a dark blue annulus . This made it hard to spot from a distance while taking photographs . It then went to 16 Squadron of 34 Wing and on to 268 Squadron at Celle on September 1945 . Returning to the UK by March 1946 to 29 MU . Four years later after a flying accident and repairs it joined Short Brothers and later was retired in June 1957 . A stretch at Biggin Hill and parking at West Raynham s gate then after a restoration took part in The Battle of Britain film in 1968 . Sold to Rolls Royce 17 September 17 1996 and registered as G dash RRGN formerly G dash MXIX and based at Filton near Bristol Squadron code C . Mark XIX max speed 446 miles per hour at 26000 feet altitude with climb of 15 minutes 30 seconds to reach 35000 feet and a ceiling of 42000 feet . Max range 1550 miles . The Merlin engine was an earlier alternative powerplant but the one that produced a sound reveered by veterans and enthusiasts worldwide . If you look at the pitch of the propellers on earlier spitfires you will notice the engine actually rotated in the other direction . The wings of early spitfires were also more eliptical in shape and the prop had 3 blades not 5 which came in with the Mark XIV and more powerful Griffon 65 engine
Size: 5709px × 3801px
Location: Farnborough Airfield Hampshire England Great Britain United Kingdom GB UK
Photo credit: © Christopher Barnes - Aviation / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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