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Supermarine Spitfire Mark 14E |
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Written by Aircraft
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Sunday, 07 June 2009 22:00 |
| THAI | Supermarine Spitfire Mark 14E | | Manufactory | PALKARD MERLIN 1580 hp | | Aircraft Type | n/a | | Powerplant | n/a | | Range | 430 miles | | Wingspan | 36 ft 10 in | | Length | n/a36 ft 1 in | | Height | 12 ft 3/4 in | | Weights Empty | n/a | | Weights Max T/O | n/a | | Max Speed | 416 miles /hr. | | Output | n/a | | First Flight Date | n/a | | Service in RTAF | 1950 - 1955 | | ^Top | n/a | | | 
In 1950, the Royal Thai Air Force purchased thirty Supermarine Spitfire Mark XIVs from the United Kingdom, comprising twenty-four of F14E model and six of FR14E model, at a cost of 16,340 pound each, designated Fighter Type 14. Four of PR19 reconnaissance version were purchased in 1954. The unmistakeable lines of the Spitfire. One of its claims to frame is that it was the only Allied fighter to remain in continuous production throughout the whole of WW2 - a grand total of 20,351 aircraft was built starting with the Merlin-engined 355 mph-capable, eight .303in machine gun-armed Mk IA and ending with the Griffon-engined F24 with four 20mm Hispanos, rocket-projectile launchers and a top speed in excess of 450 mph.
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|  | | The Spitfire is one of the great classic aircraft of all time. The earlier versions of this fighter were powered by the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. In order to keep the Spitfire competitive with faster enemy aircraft, later versions of the Spitfire utilised the Rolls-Royce Griffon engine. The Mk.14 Spitfire was a high-altitude development of the marque, and was often used for photo-reconnaisance work. This particular machine seems to feature camera windows to the rear of the cockpit. The Griffon 65 engine of 2050hp fitted to the Mk.14 gave a top speed of 448mph. The silver paint on this aircraft gives no clue as to identity, but a serial of '2493' has been quoted.
Spifire research sources identify this aircraft as ex-RAF SM914. Thirty Spitfires of this mark saw RTAF service from 1948 through to 1958. One source claims that major parts of a second Spitfire, a PR.XIX, are also held here. This could be the sole Spitfire PR.XIX that served with the RTAF from 1946. This machine, which could be either ex RAF serial PM630 or PM836, was acquired in Thailand by an overseas organization. I am told that when they attempted to remove it from the country, the Thai authorities confiscated the aircraft. | | ^Top ขอบคุณ ข้อมูลจาก sunthai group ที่อนุญาติให้เผยแพร่ข้อมูล |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 07 June 2009 22:29 )
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