Supermarine 361 Spitfire LF.XVIe Aircraft Data
As the Rolls Royce Merlin engine was in great demand for various aircraft, a licence was granted to the Aircraft Engine Division of the Packard MotorCompany in Detroit, Michigan, to build the Merlin 66. Although the difference were slight (the Packard engines were built to metric measurements whereas the British Merlins conformed to Imperial measurements), the Packard Merlins were designated Merlin 266. In total Packard produced around 55,000 Merlin 266 engines.
The two-speed, two-stage supercharged Merlin 266 produced 1,580hp/1,179kW was rated to provide its best performance at lower altitudes, resulting in almost all Mark XVIs emerging from the production lines as LF.XVIs. Initially the Mark XVI was built at the same production at Castle Bromwich as the Mark IX, but later separate lines were established.
The first Mark XVI aircraft were produced in the late summer of 1944. These aircraft were visually identical to the Mark IXs of the same era. The Spitfire XVI gained operational status at RAF Coltishall in late October of 1944. In February 1945 production was switched to the low-back rear fuselage model with the all-round vision cockpit canopy and an enlarged chord pointed rudder. As the XVI was rated as a low-altitude fighter, most were built with the clipped-span wings of 32ft 8in (9.96m) instead of the standard full-span wings of 36ft 10in (11.23m).
By the time production ceased in July 1945, a total of 1,054 Spitfire XVIs had been built, all in the Castle Bromwich works.
Only one airworthy LF.XVI remains in active military service: TE311 is part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby.
The two-speed, two-stage supercharged Merlin 266 produced 1,580hp/1,179kW was rated to provide its best performance at lower altitudes, resulting in almost all Mark XVIs emerging from the production lines as LF.XVIs. Initially the Mark XVI was built at the same production at Castle Bromwich as the Mark IX, but later separate lines were established.
The first Mark XVI aircraft were produced in the late summer of 1944. These aircraft were visually identical to the Mark IXs of the same era. The Spitfire XVI gained operational status at RAF Coltishall in late October of 1944. In February 1945 production was switched to the low-back rear fuselage model with the all-round vision cockpit canopy and an enlarged chord pointed rudder. As the XVI was rated as a low-altitude fighter, most were built with the clipped-span wings of 32ft 8in (9.96m) instead of the standard full-span wings of 36ft 10in (11.23m).
By the time production ceased in July 1945, a total of 1,054 Spitfire XVIs had been built, all in the Castle Bromwich works.
Only one airworthy LF.XVI remains in active military service: TE311 is part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby.
- Country of Origin: United Kingdom
- First Flight: early 1944
- Initial Service Date: October 1944
- No. Built: 1,054
- No. In Service: 1 (approx.)
- No. of Hardpoints: 3
- Crew: 1
Power:
Rolls Royce Merlin 266 at 1,580 hp
Weapons:
The first (high-back) XVIs had two 20mm Hispano cannon with 120 rounds each and four 0.303 Browning machine guns, each with 350 rounds. A small number of aircraft were produced with either eight Brownings or four Hispano cannon. These aircraft mostly had standard span wings.
The E-wing of the Spitfire LF.XVIe allowed either four 20mm Hispano cannon or two Hispano cannon with two 0.50 Browning machine guns.
The C-wing of the Spitfire LF.XVIc accommodated either two 20mm Hispano cannon and four 0.303 Brownings or eight 0.303 Brownings.
In the fighter-bomber role the Mark XVI had the capacity to carry a bomb load of 1,000lbs (454kg): one 500lb (227 kg) bomb on the centreline rack and one 250lb (114 kg) bomb under each wing.
The E-wing of the Spitfire LF.XVIe allowed either four 20mm Hispano cannon or two Hispano cannon with two 0.50 Browning machine guns.
The C-wing of the Spitfire LF.XVIc accommodated either two 20mm Hispano cannon and four 0.303 Brownings or eight 0.303 Brownings.
In the fighter-bomber role the Mark XVI had the capacity to carry a bomb load of 1,000lbs (454kg): one 500lb (227 kg) bomb on the centreline rack and one 250lb (114 kg) bomb under each wing.
Dimensions:
| Length: | 31ft 4 in. |
| Wing Span: | 36ft 10 in. |
| Wing Area: | 231 sq.ft |
| Height: | 11ft 5 in. |
| Empty Weight: | 5,894 lbs |
| Max. Weight: | 8,289 lbs |
| Internal Fuel: | 632.90 lbs |
Performance:
| Max. Speed: | 405 mph |
| Service Ceiling: | 40,500 ft. |
| Normal Range: | 434 nm |
Operators:
FranceGreece
Netherlands
New Zealand
Poland
United Kingdom
Random great photos of the Supermarine 361 Spitfire LF.XVIe:
