Spitfire Mk I serial K9801 with 2 blade propeller on the ground
Spitfire Mk I (Early) & Mk Ia Specifications:
- Designation: Spitfire Mk I (Early) & Mk Ia
- First Flight: 14th May 1938 (K9787)
- Into Service: August 1938
- Type No.: 300
Dimensions:
- Span: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
- Length: 29 ft 11 in (9.12 m)
- Height: 11 ft 5 in (3.48 m) [Tip of Prop, Tail Down]
Engine:
- Early Production: Single-speed, single-stage 990 hp Merlin II (first 64 airframes)
- Later Production: 1,030 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin III (remaining airframes)
Weights:
- Typical Mk Ia:
- Empty: 4,810 lb (2,182 kg)
- Loaded: 5,844-6,200 lb (2,651-2,812 kg)
Performance:
- Max Speed:
- 363 mph (583 km/h) at 18,500 ft (5,640 m)
- Later versions: 353 mph (568 km/h) at 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
- Max Dive: 450 mph (725 km/h)
- Stalling Speed:
- 73 mph (117 km/h) (flaps & undercarriage up)
- 74 mph (119 km/h) (flaps & undercarriage down)
- 85 mph (137 km/h) (landing configuration)
- Time to 20,000 ft: 9 minutes 25 seconds
- Rate of Climb: 2,530 ft/min (771 m/min)
- Service Ceiling: 31,900 ft (9,723 m)
- Range: 575 miles, (Combat) 395 miles
Armament:
- Guns: Eight 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns (initially only four supplied due to shortages)
- Ammo: 300 rounds per gun
Propeller:
- Early: Watts Two-blade, Fixed-pitch 10.67 ft (3.22 m) Dia.
- Later Versions:
- de Havilland Three-blade, Two-pitch, Metal, Type 5/21 (Merlin II) or 5/20 (Merlin III)
- Constant-speed Type 5/29 (or 5/30)
- Some with Rotol Three-blade, Two-pitch, Jablo propeller
Additional Features:
- Cockpit: Unpressurized
- Tailwheel: Fixed
- Gunsight: GM.2 Reflector
- Radio Equipment: TR.9B, TR.9D, or TR.1133
Production Figures:
- Total Mk I Production: 1,567