Temora Aviation Museum


NEXT FLYING DAY AT TEMORA AVIATION MUSEUM:

 

  Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII

 

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VH-HET       Military S/N: A58-758

History

This Spitfire is one of two flying Spitfire's in Australia both of which are here at Temora Aviation Museum.

The Spitfire Mk VIII is an all-metal, semi-monocoque construction with a canti-levered wing, fabric covered elevators and rudder and retractable landing gear. A total of 20,334 Spitfires were built before, during and after the war. 1652 Spitfire Mk VIII variants were built.

This aircraft was the last Spitfire acquired by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). It was built by Supermarine in England in 1944, test flown and then shipped to Australia. The Air Force took delivery of the aircraft in April 1945. With World War II drawing to a close, the aircraft was not required on active service and was placed into storage.

After the war, the aircraft was used at Sydney Technical College as an instructional airframe. It was then acquired by Mr. Sid Marshall who stored it, disassembled, at Bankstown until 1982. Mr. Colin Pay of Scone obtained the Spitfire and began a detailed restoration program which was completed in 1985 when the aircraft flew again.

The aircraft is painted in the green and grey camouflage colours worn by the RAAF aircraft defending Darwin during World War II and in operations in the South West Pacific. The aircraft carries the markings of Wing Commander R.H. (Bobby) Gibbes AM WG CMR DSO DFC*.

David Lowy acquired the aircraft in May 2000 and donated it to the Temora Aviation Museum in July 2002. The aircraft is maintained in an airworthy condition and regularly flown at Museum displays and airshows.

 

Specifications
 
Engine
Rolls-Royce Merlin 70
1710 horsepower (1275.66 kW)
27 Litre liquid cooled V-12 piston engine equipped with a two speed, two-stage supercharger.
 
Propeller
Rotol Constant Speed
10'9" diameter (3.22m)
An engine driven propeller governor hydraulically controls four wooden blades.
 

Fuel

Aviation Gasoline 100 Octane      

Fuselage Tank Capacity:

90 Imperial Gallons

409 Litres

108 U.S. Gallons

Wing Tank Capacity (2):

30 Imperial Gallons

136 Litres

  36 U.S.Gallons

 

Dimensions

Wingspan:

36' 10"

11.23 m

 

Length:

31' 3 ½ "

  9.54 m

 

Wing Area:

242 sq. ft

22.50 sq. m

 

Height:

12' 7 ¾"

  3.85 m

 
 

Weights

Empty:

5,805 lb

2,633 kg

 

Maximum Takeoff weight:

8,021 lb

3,638 kg

 
 

Armament

Two 20mm Hispano Cannons.
Four .303 in. Browning Machine Guns.
Provision for one 500 lb (227 kg) or two 250 lb (114 kg) bombs.
 

Performance

Maximum Speed:

361 knots

416 mph

669 km/h

Cruise Speed:

220 knots

253 mph

407 km/h