[I/JG27_Waggel]

On the research for historical data (FW-190A-3 "Project Wurger") I tripped again and again over the Spitfire F Mk IX. The Spitfire F Mk IX was originally developed as a stopgap measure as a response to the appearance of the Focke-Wulf FW 190A. The Mk IX was a significant improvement on the Mk V using a merlin 61 with its two-stage supercharger. In July 1942 an early Mk IX was flown against a captured Fw 190A, and the two aircraft were discovered to have very similar capabilities. Both planes had their advantages and disadvantages. The RAF had its answer to the Fw 190 problem. My bad conscience drove me to arouse an equal opponent for the 190.

At the moment all modders are very buisys (as every day). But lets keep it british with a cup of tea. This topic should collect all possible data for the F Mk IX.

http://www.spitfireperformance.com/spitfire-IX.html

[I/JG27_Waggel]

I have some questions:

All the level speed performance of the RAF is given in miles per hour. There are different versions of miles in the wikipedia.

Is it right that 1 mile = 1.609 km ?

Next thing is feet.

1 feet = 30,48 cm ?

Next thing is:
The merlin 61 motor was built into the Spit Vb. Are there any changes for the frame to get a Spit F IX?.

I am no Spitfire expert and I do not want to make anything wrong. So if there are some historical experts for the Spit F IX please announce!

[rollnloop]

Is it right that 1 mile = 1.609 km ?

For WWII british/US lanbased fighters, it's true.

AFAIK japanese navy used the Nautical Mile (1852m), maybe some specific RN aircraft did this too ?

[ILV_Aquila_Noctis]

mph:km/h is always 1:1.609

and 1' (1ft) = 30.48cm = 12'' (12in)
So all your info is true :wink:

only thing where there are different versions between UK/Empire/Commonwealth and US is with gallons AFAIK

[I/JG27_Waggel]

Ok ... thanks a lot

[Redcanuck]

Bravo Waggel! for starting on this

Maybe PM Ranwers he has a visual mod for the early Mk IXc that you might be able to make use of.

[reflected]

You mean a Spitfire like this?



It has been done long ago.
Still, the AAA team has shut down the thread, I suppose because they're working on a real, new slot SpitfireIXb. Mine is just a visual mod made by Rawners.

[I/JG27_Waggel]

Hi Redcanuck

Yes, I saw this modification some time ago. I will ask him.

Edit: Uuups. Jesus there she is.

Hmm ... what is the difference between a Spit F IX and a Spit IXb.

First there was the Spit Vb.

Than the Focke Wulf models A-1, A-2, A-3 and A-4 arrived at the channel.

First of all the RAF answered with a Spit LF Vb. This Version of the Spit had much power in lower regions but the performance was bad in high altitude.

Than the RAF came out with the Spit F Mk IX. It was a Spit Vb with merlin 61 motor.

In 1943 there where new versions called Spit LF IX and Spit HF IX. I think these birds are in game. The LF is for low altitude und the HF is for high altitude.

This post can be wrong. I really do not now a lot about Spitfires.

[zulu64]

"Hmm ... what is the difference between a Spit F IX and a Spit IXb. "

There isn't any its a nomenclature stuff up from imprecise authors its in the same vein as ME109 versus BF109.

When they use the term "stopgap" they are saying it was rushed in to use before the VIII. The VIII was already in development to replace the MKV but would take time to finesse and get into service. The IX was basically a MKV airframe with a new engine, some were actually converted MKVs. This stopgap turned out to be so it became a production model.

[TinyTim]

"Hmm ... what is the difference between a Spit F IX and a Spit IXb. "

There isn't any its a nomenclature stuff up from imprecise authors its in the same vein as ME109 versus BF109.

When they use the term "stopgap" they are saying it was rushed in to use before the VIII. The VIII was already in development to replace the MKV but would take time to finesse and get into service. The IX was basically a MKV airframe with a new engine, some were actually converted MKVs. This stopgap turned out to be so it became a production model.

That's true, but it's worth mentioning that MkIXc as we have it in game has a Merlin 66, while IXb (or F) sported a weaker Merlin 61. The IXb/F was a true stopgap, IXc wasn't - it flew in large numbers till the very end of the war and even after.

It's probably a well known page to you Waggel, but worth mentioning anyway in my opinion:

http://www.spitfireperformance.com/

Can prove helpful for FM.

Thank you for all the effort Waggel, appreciated!

[Davew]

There actually was no Spitfire IXb.
The designation arose from the pilots referring to converted Vbs as IXbs. The official designation was F.IXc.
The IXc and IXe designations arose from the wings fitted, either the 'c' wing option - fitted with either four .303" machine guns and two cannon, or four cannon or the 'e' wing with 2 cannon and two .5" machine guns inboard of the cannon.
The F.IXc has the Merlin 61, 63, or 63A engine and the standard 'c' or universal wings from the MKV
the LF. IXc had the Merlin 66 and clipped wings, and the HF. IXc had the Merlin 70 with the standard wings. The extended wingtips used on the VII and VIII weren't used on the IX AFAIK. All engine options were two speed, two stage supercharged engines.

The only changes to this was the wing - which then formed the respective F.IXe, LF.IXe, and HF.IXe

When the FXVI started being produced, it was purley to be optimised for low level work, all had the clipped wings and the Merlin 266 (The packard merlin 66)

The IXc and IXe both had the pointed rudder, but the earlier IXc was the only one to have the curved rudder of the Vb. XVI had the pointed rudder only.

I think, though Im not sure, that the cut down fuse (or 'lowback') models of the IX were only IXes as well. The XVI was both.

I have heaps of info on the Spit, weights, speeds, armament, range, and comparitive data, and also information on the engines themselves somewhere - just let me know what you need.

[Redcanuck]

Right, right and absolutely right! :wink:

[reflected]

ummm...there WAS a Spit IXb. Even Spit IXa...I've just read about them in Ren

[313_Sheddan]

I partly agree with Davew:
In summer 1942 there came version Mk.IX with Merlins 61, 63 or 63A. Later version equiped with Merlin 66 was called Mk.IXB. Since this, hte Mk.IX planes were called Mk.IXA. It was confusing - Spitfires used A for 8-machinegun armament and B for 2 canons and 4 MGs. In 1943 Air Ministry ordered to rename Mk.IXA to F.Mk.IXC and Mk.IXB to LF.Mk.IXC..

Taken from: In the sky of proud Albion, written by Jiř

[Davew]

yeah, you're right except that a IX with the shorter air intake and rounded rudder is still just an early IXc. The engine air intake was extended about mid-way through the series I think.

Reflected, Sheddan, no there wasn't. It's often misquoted, particularly by pilots of the era, as they made the distinction.
Johnny Checketts also talks about having his own MKIXb in his biography as well. But they never existed as official designations.

As I mentioned earlier, the Spitfire suffixes came from the wing fitted. All the way through the series.
Ia (8 machine gun wing), Ib (2 cannon, four machine guns), IIa (8 machine gun wing), Va (8 machine gun wing), Vb (2 cannon, four machine guns), Vc (universal wing- 2 cannon, four machine guns or 4 cannon), IXc (universal wing), IX e (2 cannon, 2 .5in machine guns) etc

The 'c' wing was determined to be the standard once it had been developed, which is why aircraft that only used the one type of wing MKVII, MKVIII as an example have no suffix. This is also why the early Ixs were just F. IX, LF. IX, HF. IX with no suffix. The IXc designation was retrospective once the 'e' wing began to be fitted.

The confusion arose with the pilots because the new aircraft used converted Vc airframes, with the same armament as fitted to the Vb, installed in a 'c' wing, which had various alternate installations.
These aircraft had a number of things different to later IXs, identification light on the spine, different cannon blisters (the wider ones, vs the narrow ones of later models) and smaller balances, and used the Merlin 61 or 63 engine. They were also the first of the type, so like Mustangs, Messerschmitts, P-47s - whatever, it followed that this should have been the IXa, and these aircraft were commonly referred to as IXa. Once the aircraft fitted with the Merlin 66 started to come out, (the LF.IXc) these new a/c were referred to as IXb.

BUT. As I mentioned, these were never official designations for the IX. The official designations were F. IXc, LF.IXc, HF.IXc and F. IXe, LF.IXe, HF.IXe, and ONLY related to the wing and engine fitted to the aircraft, not the armament. F, LF, HF relates to the engine (and role - the engine was optimised for altitude performance High, Medium or Low), c or e refers to the wing. The IX never used the a or b Spitfire wing, hence there never was a IXa or IXb. It's also why there was never a MK XIVa or b, or a MKXVIa or b, though the XIV dropped the F, LF, HF prefix since it was only fitted with the Griffon 65 engine and used the F or FR prefix depending on whether it was fitted with cameras.