Floatplane fighter Spitfire Mk IX MJ892
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXb, was developed during World War II to test the viability of the Spitfire operating from water in a naval or island-hopping context. This floatplane variant of the Spitfire Mk IX, like the Mk Vb, was also experimental and only one example was produced. Key specifications and details:
Designation and Type Information:
- Designation: Floatplane (Mk IXb)
- Type Number: 385
- First Flight: May 1944
- Type: Floatplane Fighter
Dimensions:
- Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
- Length: 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
- Height: 10 ft (3.05 m) measured to the tip of the tail, with the tail down on land.
Powerplant:
- Engine: Rolls-Royce Merlin 66, a two-speed, two-stage supercharged V12 engine.
Weight:
- Empty Weight: 6,500 lb (2,955 kg)
- Maximum Weight: 8,610 lb (3,914 kg), including a 50 Imperial gallon (227 liter) overload fuel tank.
Performance:
- Maximum Speed: 378 mph
- Fuel Capacity:
- Upper fuselage tank: 48 Imperial gallons (218 liters)
- Lower fuselage tank: 37 Imperial gallons (168 liters)
Armament:
- Two 20mm Hispano cannons (with 120 rounds per gun)
- Four 0.303 inch Browning machine guns (with 350 rounds per gun)
Aircraft Characteristics:
- Cockpit: Unpressurized, but with internal bulletproof glass to offer some protection to the pilot.
- Tailwheel: Deleted, similar to the earlier floatplane Spitfire Mk Vb, to make way for the floats.
- Floats: The aircraft was fitted with floats, but no specific details on the type or manufacturer are mentioned here.
Propeller:
- Rotol Four-Blade Propeller, Type R3/4F5/2 or R3/4F5/3: Constant-speed, variable-pitch propeller made of duralumin, with a diameter of 11 ft 3 in (3.43 m).
Production:
Only one example of this floatplane version was built and modified:
- MJ892: The only converted aircraft.
This single prototype did not lead to further production or deployment, likely due to the complexities of operating a high-performance floatplane fighter and the rapidly changing priorities of aerial warfare at the time. The Mk IX Spitfire’s capabilities were better utilized as a land-based fighter, and floatplane variants did not see widespread service. The floatplane experiments were part of the broader effort to expand the versatility of aircraft during the war, particularly in naval and remote island environments.