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AIRCRAFT HISTORY

Continued . . .

Spitfire Mk XVNo Spitfire Mk XV produced, this designation being appled to Seafires (see later text).
Spitfire Mk XVIThis variant was for all practical purposes a Mk IX powered by a Packard-built Merlin 266. As this was not interchangeable with the Rolls-Royce article, a new mark number was issued to avoid confusion. There were two versions, the F.XVI and the LF.XVI, which sported the clipped E-wing. From early 1945, they were produced with a bubble canopy and the taller pointed rudder. Entering service fairly late on in the war, most were to be used in the ground-attack role.
Production: 1,054 (F.XVI and LF.XVI versions combined)
Spitfire Mk XVIINo Spitfire Mk XV produced, this designation being appled to Seafires (see later text).
Spitfire Mk XVIIIThe Spitfire Mk XVIII, which was an upgraded Mk XIV, was destined to become the final development of the original airframe. Just too late for the war, 100 were built in the F (fighter) and 200 in the FR (fighter-reconnaisance) configurations, the latter with three vertical cameras. Additional fuel tanks were installed in the wings and rear fuselage, increasing total capacity to 175.5 Imp gal (798 litres) in the F.XVIII to give a longer range. The FR.XVIII carried rather less fuel, due to the cameras occupying tankage space. The cut-down rear fuselage and bubble canopy were standard on this variant, as was the E-wing. Once again, the fuselage and main landing gear had to be strengenthed to cope with the extra weight, the maximum overload rising to no less than 11,000 lb (4,994 kg).
Production: 100 (F.XVIII); 200 (FR.XVIII)
Spitfire Mk XIXThe PR.XIX was the last unarmed reconnaisance Spitfire variant to be built. The first 21 aircraft were un-pressurized and powered by the Griffon 65, whereas the remainder were pressurized and powered by the Griffon 66, the wings on these having extra fuel tanks which increased total capacity to 172 Imp gals (782 litres). Otherwise, it was based on the Mk XIV. Entering service just after the war's end, this model made its last operational flight in Malaya on 1 April 1954.
Production: 225


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