These Spitfires could fly above 40,000ft! | Spitfire Mk.VI & Mk.VII

Much has been written about the Supermarine Spitfire. It is a cultural icon, whose history has been well documented over the years. In this video though, we zoom in on a particular part of the Spitfire's development: the development of the Spitfire into a high altitude fighter.
When Germany started conducting high altitudes flights over Britain during the Second World War, there was fears within the RAF that Germany would start to bomb Britain from such heights. These fears were such that it was deemed that the RAF needed a new dedicated higher altitude fighter. As explored in previous videos the Westland Welkin and the Vickers Type 432 were designed to fullfill such a requirement. However, the Spitfire was also developed to help ease these fears. The Spitfire Mk.VI and Mk.VII were specifically designed for this purpose, while a handful of Spitfire Mk.VCs and Mk.IXs were converted in desperation.
Links:
Vickers Type 432 Video: • The WW2 experimental h...
Westland Welkin Video: • This fighter plane was...
Quick History of the Spitfire: • The Quick and Simple H...
Links:
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Images:
World War Photos
Destination's Journey
Imperial War Museum
Sources:
601 Squadron: 601squadron.com/men-of-601-squ...
Britmodeller: www.britmodeller.com/forums/i...
Destinations Journey: www.destinationsjourney.com/h...
German Aircraft of World War Two: www.century-of-flight.freeola....
Key Aero: www.key.aero/forum/historic-a...
Key Aero: www.key.aero/forum/historic-a...
Rickard, J (12 March 2007), Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX, www.historyofwar.org/articles/...
Rickard, J (12 March 2007), Supermarine Spitfire Mk V, www.historyofwar.org/articles/...
Rickard, J (12 March 2007), Supermarine Spitfire HF Mk VI, www.historyofwar.org/articles/...
Rickard, J (12 March 2007), Supermarine Spitfire Mk VII, www.historyofwar.org/articles/...
Spitfire Performance: www.spitfireperformance.com/Sp...
WW2aircraft: ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads...
Books:
Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II
The Encyclopedia of Aircraft of World War II by Paul Eden
Documents:
Combat report from Prince Emanuel Galitzine following his encounter with the Ju.86. Available from the National Archives.
#spitfire #ww2 #aviationhistory #aviation #ww2aircraft #supermarine #flying #history #airforce #royalairforce #fighter
0:00 - 0:38 - Intro
0:38 - 2:38 - Spitfire Mk.VI
2:38 - 7:07 - Spitfire Mk.VII
7:07 - 8:52 - Modified Spitfire Mk.V
8:52 - 10:12 - Modified Spitfire Mk.IX
10:12 - 11:15 - Combat in the Stratosphere

[@solospirit4212]

Very pleased to see you carried on the high altitude aircraft...especially with this one...always a pleasure seeing Spitfire variants 🙂👍

[@AntiqueAirshow]

I was on a roll with high altitude fighters, so it made sense to look at the Spitfire ones. Also it was a nice change to discuss a high altitude fighter that actually saw service and had some success 👍✈️

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

The normal elliptical wing with wash out of ordinary Spitfires was so efficient that even at and above the Spitfire's service ceiling the extended wing tips gave no real induced drag performance increase. Notice the reduced span ailerons on the Mk VII wings, carried into the VIII and XIV Spitfires.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

That is well illustrated by the fact that Spitfire Mk.V's in Northern Africa were able to reach 40,000ft and combat the Ju.86. Albeit atmospheric conditions where better in Northern Africa, but it still quite impressive

[@Splattle101]

I understand that engagement between the modified MkIX and the Ju-86 was the highest-altitude combat of WWII. Anywhere.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

Yes I believe that is correct. Quite high up 👍✈️

[@joeschenk8400]

Ah....thanks for a video on one of my favorite topics. Great photos. I always liked those pointed wings on the Mk VI and VII. Thanks again!

[@AntiqueAirshow]

No problem, those tips do give a unique look to the wings 👍✈️

[@sergeipohkerova7211]

I've always felt that the Spitfire IX was aesthetically the prettiest aircraft of WW2, while the Bf109K and Fw190D series aircraft were the most functionally dangerous/cool looking. The P-51D is like a middle ground. On the topic of the Ju86R, it would be funny if the Spitfire came up at it like a SAM on a U2, like, I ain't here to shoot'cha, Fritz, I'm here to crash into ya!

[@AntiqueAirshow]

nice and I would say for the most part I would agree. However for the Spitfire I've always loved the early variants like the Mk.I, Mk.II and Mk.V. It would be an interesting tactic. To a degree they had to use that tactic with V1 bombs. They had to bump it off course with the tips of the wing

[@russellmarriott9396]

Hawker Tempest has quite a presence I would suggest.

[@jacktattis]

@michaelcohen904 well it got its wish with the MkIX on

[@jacktattis]

@@russellmarriott9396 Not above 34800 ft believe

[@jeremyrichards8327]

As a matter of interest the Spitfire Mk IX owed its performance to the work of Stanley Hooker who worked on the supercharger for the Merlin giving it considerably more power and made the plane both faster and with a greater ceiling. He later became Sir Stanley Hooker and was brought back to work on the RB211 jet engine after it had suffered problems during development at Rolls Royce.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

That is very interesting, thank you for sharing 👍✈️

[@andrewcockburn7484]

He wasn't much of an engineer though.

[@peterbrown6224]

@@andrewcockburn7484 I have that book 🙂

[@ianbell5611]

Thank you. Aircraft I'd never heard of spit mk6,7 and JU86. Have a great Christmas. All the best for 2023. Cheers

[@AntiqueAirshow]

Thanks and likewise 👍✈️

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

The Ju86 was an old bomber design withdrawn after the Spanish Civil War. It had good taper on the wings a bit like the Vickers Wellington which increased aerodynamic efficiency. It had external trailing edge flaps and ailerons as with the Ju52/3M and Ju87 Stuka. The P and R could have extended wing tips.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

@@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935 It is interesting to see that while the design was obsolete before the war it still soldiered on in such a unique role.

[@kevanhubbard9673]

That's pretty high pretty much as high up as a modern airliner travels .

[@AntiqueAirshow]

indeed it is. Pretty impressive by a Spitfire

[@Darrylx444]

good stuff, thanks

[@AntiqueAirshow]

Thank you 👍✈️

[@iskandartaib]

There is a Mark VI at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington DC.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

👍✈️

[@jacktattis]

All Spitfires from the MkVI on could get to 40000ft+ except for the Mk XII which was restricted to absolute 39000ft

[@georgeferguson7114]

THE BIG SHOW is worth a read re the Orkneys.

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

Exactly who was involved is historically unclear, Pierre implied in the book that he was present.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

I'll have to check it out. There isn't much on the internet about the Orkneys

[@georgeferguson7114]

Pierre Closterman recounts his time flying high altitude Spitfires acting as fleet defence. @@AntiqueAirshow

[@stevenhoman2253]

Were the flaps modified in any way? By Fowler, flaps and the like?

[@AntiqueAirshow]

As far as I'm aware the flaps weren't modified at all. Apart from the extended tips, pressurized cabin and different engine the Mk.VI was very similar to the Mk.V and likewise the Mk.VII apart from some additions was similar to the Mk.VIII

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

People under-rate split flaps, they allow a perfectly clean undisturbed airflow over the entire top surface while still driving extra airflow up over the leading edge. Simple flaps like the Bf109's go turbulent and effectively lose wing area.

[@sugarnads]

FebRUary. StrAYfing not strarrfing. Strafe. Vowel consonant vowel. Hard A.

[@dad2jmcnb]

This video is very bad for something you usually only do a bit, unnecessary repetition of aircraft names. Between the 7 and 9 minute mark I think you said Ju-86 at least six times in about a minute. There was a lesser instance with the Spitfire earlier in the video. If this was in your script then you might look for someone to do a quick proofread before you record - just looking for stuff like this. We often become blind to this sort of thing when we're in the middle of creating.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

Thanks for the feedback appreciate it. I've gone back and had a look and know exactly what you mean. I'll make sure it isn't this bad in future videos 👍✈️

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

He can't re-name or re-number it can he? What do you expect?

[@dad2jmcnb]

@@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935 He understood, even if you do not.