Air Vice Marshal W. F. Dickson and his Spitfire LF Mark VIII serial JF814, WFD, Italy
The Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk VIII was a low-altitude optimized version of the Mk VIII, designed to excel in combat at lower levels while maintaining much of the performance and versatility of the standard Mk VIII.
Specifications:
- Designation: LF Mk VIII
- Type No.: 360
- Type: Single-seat low-level fighter
- First Flight: (Similar to Mk VIII, 20th November 1942)
Dimensions:
- Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
- Length: 31 ft 3½ in (9.54 m)
- Height: 11 ft 8½ in (3.57 m) [tip of prop, tail up]
Performance:
- Engine: Two-speed, two-stage, 1,720 hp (1,282 kW) Merlin 66
- Maximum Speed: 404 mph (650 km/h) at 21,000 ft (6,400 m)
- Service Ceiling: 41,500 ft (13,410 m)
- Range: 660 miles (1,062 km)
Armament:
- Standard Armament:
- Two 20 mm Hispano cannon (120 rounds per gun)
- Four 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns (350 rounds per gun)
- Optional Loadout:
- Four 20 mm Hispano cannon (120 rounds per gun)
- Bomb capacity: 1,000 lb (454 kg), with one 500 lb (227 kg) bomb on the centerline and one 250 lb (113 kg) bomb under each wing.
Features:
- Cockpit: Unpressurized, featuring internal bulletproof glass to protect the pilot.
- Tailwheel: Retractable for better aerodynamic performance.
- Propeller: Rotol four-blade, variable-pitch, constant-speed, Type R12/4F5/4 (Jablo or Hydrulignum), 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) diameter.
Radio Equipment:
- Communication & Navigation: TR.1143 and A.1271 (for beam approach navigation) with ARI.5000 or ARI.5025 radio equipment.
Production:
- Total Built: 1,225 units.
Notable Features:
- Optimized for Low Altitude: The LF Mk VIII was specifically designed for low-altitude operations, where its Merlin 66 engine provided superior power and performance in combat at lower heights compared to other high-altitude variants.
- Flexible Armament: Similar to the standard Mk VIII, the LF version maintained flexibility in armament configurations, allowing for both anti-aircraft and ground attack roles.
- Improved Propulsion: The powerful Merlin 66 engine coupled with the Rotol four-blade propeller allowed for increased speed and agility in low-level dogfighting.
- Extended Range: The LF Mk VIII retained the 660-mile range, making it suitable for extended missions in various theaters, especially for escort and patrol roles.