RAF Spitfire Images | Limited Edition of 10

A pair of Second world war RAF Spitfires fly over Ayr, Scotland.

Battle of Britain memorial flight with two vintage spitfire aircraft flying together at the Scottish International Airshow is featured in this RAF Spitfire Image. 

The Spitfire was also commonly referred to as the Supermarine Spitfire. The Spitfire fighter aircraft was a strategically important British single-seat fighter of World War II.

The Spitfire became famous during the Battle of Britain. A 1,030 horsepower Merlin engine powered the aircraft, had a wingspan of 36 feet 10 inches (11.2 meters), was 29 feet 11 inches (9.1 meters) in length, and had a top speed of 360 miles (580 km) per hour. But the key feature of the RAF Spitfire image was its superior speed and maneuverability at high altitudes. The RAF Spitfire had a ceiling of 34,000 feet (10,400 meters).

The RAF Spitfires in this image have stressed-skin aluminum structures and a graceful elliptical wing with a thin airfoil.

Hurricane plane vs. Spitfire

RAF Spitfires' role in the Battle of Britain was to engage German fighters. The Hurricanes, however, were slower at concentrating on targeting the German bomber aircraft. As a result, the Hurrican fighter planes were credited with more "kills." But without the RAF Spitfire's superior performance against the formidable German Messerschmitt BF 109, one could argue that the Hurricane fighters planes' margin of success would have been reduced and that it's the Spitfires that provided the margin of victory.

© Dan Kosmayer, 2015