Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[greybeard]

Quoting Wikipedia (bold by me): "Production of the LF Mk IXs, frequently referred to as the Spitfire IXB, initially ran in parallel with the Merlin 63 powered Marks. This version first became operational in March 1943 with the Biggin Hill Wing, comprised at the time of 611 and 341(Free French) Squadrons. This type was by far the most produced of the Spitfire IX variants, with over 4000 built. The maximum power of the Merlin 66 was 1,720 hp (1,280 kW) at 5,750 ft (1,283 kW at 1,752 m) and the maximum speed of the Spitfire LF IX was 404 mph (650 km/h) at 21,000 feet (6,400 m). The Merlin 66 introduced a new Bendix-Stromberg injection carburettor, which replaced the earlier S.U float carburettor."

And Spitfire Mk. IX, XI and XVI - Variants Much Varied: "More rarely seen are the suffixes A and B. These have caused some confusion, as these letters in earlier Spitfire marks define eight-gun and two drum-fed cannon and four machine gun armament configurations, respectively. It would seem that the designations IXA / IXB were used ad-hoc by the RAF units during the early part of the Mk. IX’s operational career, to distinguish the low-altitude-optimized Merlin 66-equipped LF IX (called Mk. IX B) from the initial Merlin 61/63/63a-equipped F IX (called Mk. IX A). These designations are sometimes seen in pilot’s log books, squadron Operational Record Books, etc."



Distinctive feature of this mark is the early type, rounded tip, tail. It is modeled the initial production variant, featuring two big bulges on wings, intended to accomodate two 20 mm cannons each, but never introduced into production. Starting from January 1944, they were replaced by two "slim" ones suited for one cannon only.


A Spitfire Mk. IXA belonging to 611 Sq., late in 1942, representative of the initial big bulges on wings

Deserves mention the radio equipment, this too of the early type, including a VHF TR 1133 radio, no wire, tapered mast without triangular prong, and an IFF featuring two aerials between fuselage and tailplane leading edge tip.


An Mk. VB showing typical installation of IFF aerials


Canadian 401st Squadron Spitfire Mk. IXB at Eindhoven during late 1944-early 1945

Click here to download

Credits:
3d: Oleg Maddox/1c Company/ TD

Antenna/IFF wires from Spitfire Mk.I mod (UP.3)

Original idea, research, beta testing: Greybeard

classfile, hier.ini tweaks: Spitwulf

Tested only with UP2.01 and DBW, should work in any modded environment (feedback would be welcomed!).

Enjoy!

[henkypenky]

Looking great, going to download as soon as my computer is back  Only, I thought these early variants also had the smaller (Mk V) air inlet

Oct 10: dl'd and installed in CUP, works like a charm. Thanks a lot, for this nice plane

[Kopfdorfer]

Thanks GB ,

I love your historians perspective ( I always hated the choice to use the pointed empennage in the MkIX).

Kopfdorfer

[SAS~Storebror]

Nice
If someone would have asked me for a missing Spitfire variant, I would have said "nope, we have them all" but you learn something new every day

Thanks Grey, much appreciated!

Best regards - Mike

[Knochenlutscher]

Cool, fills a gap.
Thanks for your contribution.
Best wishes
Tobias

[Docholiday]

THX .

Now the HIGH altitude Variante with the longer and Pointed wingtips are the only Spitfire still Missing 😎
Cheers
Doc

[greybeard]

... Only, I thought these early variants also had the smaller (Mk V) air inlet

Not this. Smaller air inlet was coupled with Merlin 61/63/63a, equipping Spitfire F Mk. IX (the so-called Mk. IXA).

TO ALL
A big thank you for the warm reception of this umpteenth variant of the Spitfire. I'm not an expert on this airplane, but the fact is that this is the version which better, and for longer, represented it.

Please let me know if it works in other versions of the game: I would be happy to add their "tags".

Cheers,
GB

[Epervier]

Thank you very much !
SSP coming soon !

[Benno]

Hi'
A mk 6/7 would be great,  one can but dream !!
Benno

[redfox]

Please let me know if it works in other versions of the game: I would be happy to add their "tags".

Works in 4.12

Cheers - Redfox

P.S. And a Thank You for the a/c

[greybeard]

SSP coming soon !

Merci Epervier!

[greybeard]

Works in 4.12

Thank you! Tag added!

BTW: I also updated screenshots on first post; previous ones erroneusly sported wrong cockades, due to a mod I had loaded when I took pictures. Don't worry! You got in the download the late type, as currently shown above.