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The Supermarine Spitfire; A Comprehensive Guide for the Modeller Part 1: Merlin Powered, Modellers Datafile 3
by Humphreys, Robert
- Used
- Very Good
- Paperback
- first
- Condition
- Very Good
- ISBN 10
- 0953346528
- ISBN 13
- 9780953346523
- Seller
-
Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Bedford, England: SAM Publications, 2000. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Trade paperback. Very good. The format is approximately 8.25 inches by 11.75 inches. Illustrated covers. 175, [1] pages. Illustrations (many in color). Glossary. Appendices (includes genealogy and bibliography). Index. Fold-out scale plans. 4 panel/8 page) at back cover. Rear cover has slight fore-edge curvature. The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, from the Mk 1 to the Rolls-Royce Griffon-engined Mk 24 using several wing configurations and guns. It was the only British fighter produced continuously throughout the war. The Spitfire remains popular among enthusiasts; around 70 remain airworthy, and many more are static exhibits in aviation museums throughout the world. The Spitfire was designed as a short-range, high-performance interceptor aircraft by R. J. Mitchell, chief designer at Supermarine Aviation Works, which operated as a subsidiary of Vickers-Armstrong from 1928. Mitchell developed the Spitfire's distinctive elliptical wing (designed by Beverley Shenstone) with innovative sunken rivets to have the thinnest possible cross-section, achieving a potential top speed greater than that of several contemporary fighter aircraft, including the Hawker Hurricane. Mitchell continued to refine the design until his death in 1937, whereupon his colleague Joseph Smith took over as chief designer, overseeing the Spitfire's development through many variants. During the Battle of Britain (July-October 1940), the public perceived the Spitfire to be the main RAF fighter; however, the more numerous Hurricane shouldered more of the burden of resisting the Luftwaffe. Nevertheless, the Spitfire was a better fighter aircraft than the Hurricane. Spitfire units had a lower attrition rate and a higher victory-to-loss ratio than those flying Hurricanes, probably because of the Spitfire's higher performance metrics. During the battle, Spitfires generally engaged Luftwaffe fighters—mainly Messerschmitt Bf 109E-series aircraft, which were a close match for them. After the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire superseded the Hurricane as the principal aircraft of RAF Fighter Command, and it was used in the European, Mediterranean, Pacific, and Southeast Asian theaters. Much loved by its pilots, the Spitfire operated in several roles, including interceptor, photo-reconnaissance, fighter-bomber, and trainer, and it continued to do so until the 1950s. The Seafire was an aircraft carrier-based adaptation of the Spitfire, used in the Fleet Air Arm from 1942 until the mid-1950s. The original airframe was designed to be powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine producing 1,030 hp (768 kW). It was strong enough and adaptable enough to use increasingly powerful Merlins, and in later marks, Rolls-Royce Griffon engines producing up to 2,340 hp (1,745 kW). As a result, the Spitfire's performance and capabilities improved over the course of its service life.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Ground Zero Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 86627
- Title
- The Supermarine Spitfire; A Comprehensive Guide for the Modeller Part 1: Merlin Powered, Modellers Datafile 3
- Author
- Humphreys, Robert
- Format/Binding
- Trade paperback
- Book Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- Presumed First Edition, First printing
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0953346528
- ISBN 13
- 9780953346523
- Publisher
- SAM Publications
- Place of Publication
- Bedford, England
- Date Published
- 2000
- Keywords
- K5054, Royal Air Force, Photo-Reconnaissance, Seafire, Decals, Powerplants, Squadrons, Aircraft Production, Fighter aircraft, Spitfire Variants, Merlin Engine, MKXVI
Terms of Sale
Ground Zero Books
Books are offered subject to prior sale. Satisfaction guaranteed. If you notify us within 7 days that you are not satisfied with your purchase, we will refund your purchase price when you return the item in the condition in which it was sold.
About the Seller
Ground Zero Books
Biblio member since 2005
Silver Spring, Maryland
About Ground Zero Books
Founded and operated by trained historians, Ground Zero Books, Ltd., has for over 30 years served scholars, collectors, universities, and all who are interested in military and political history.
Much of our diverse stock is not yet listed on line. If you can't locate the book or other item that you want, please contact us. We may well have it in stock. We welcome your want lists, and encourage you to send them to us.
Much of our diverse stock is not yet listed on line. If you can't locate the book or other item that you want, please contact us. We may well have it in stock. We welcome your want lists, and encourage you to send them to us.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Trade Paperback
- Used to indicate any paperback book that is larger than a mass-market paperback and is often more similar in size to a hardcover...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...