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Description
Spitfire Prototype

Dimensions:
Span 32 ft10 in.(10.01m). length overall 29 ft. 11 in.(9,12m) height 12 ft. 7.75 in.(3.85) wing area 242 sq. ft.(22.48m2)

Weights: loaded 6,200 lb.(2,812kg)

Performance: Maximum speed 330 mph (528 km/h) later 348 mph (557 km/h). at 5,000 ft.

Power plant: Rolls-Royce Merlin C (950 hp) F (955 hp) and II (1030 hp).

The Spitfire K5054 was a private venture fighter and was designed as a short-range, high-performance interceptor aircraft; it was decided to change the engine to the also private venture P. V. 12 from RR. The PV12 was, in according with RR traditions named after a bird of prey, The Merlin, not the wizard by that name but it turned out to be a wizard when you need more hp.

In 1934, Mitchell and the design staff decided to use a semi-elliptical wing shape to solve two conflicting requirements; the wing needed to be thin, to avoid creating too much drag, while still able to house a retractable undercarriage, plus armament and ammunition.

The Air Ministry issued a specification F.37/34 for a 8 gun fighter in 1935 and Supermarine put forward the K5054, it first flew on march 5th with a RR Merlin C engine and surpass the specification wit a speed of 346 mph at 17,000 feet with a two blade propeller, by tangent it the speed was increased with 3,5 mph.
The prototype was first shown to the public in a flyby on July 27th 1936.

Extensive development trials were carried out at RAE and A&AEE. A Merlin F was substituted for the earlier C model and the only incident occurred on March 22nd 37 when it was force landed on fairly rough ground. The pilot kept the wheels retracted and K5054 was hardly damaged.

Early in 38, now with a Merlin II, the aircraft underwent night-time trials. On March 15th, during a night-landing, the brakes failed and K5054 ended up with its nose gorse beyond the airfield. Nine days later, having been repaired, it was again flying but this time the undercarriage collapsed on landing and the machine swung round.

By October 1938 it was brought up to Mk. 1 standard including a tail wheel instead of the tail-skid it started with. Browning guns, radio and other service equipment were fitted. After test it was used for experimental work at Farnborough. Its final fate is unknown but it was probably scrapped during late 1940.

From "Spitfire - the story of a famous fighter" by Bruce Robertson

Description
Spitfire Prototype

Dimensions:
Span 32 ft10 in.(10.01m). length overall 29 ft. 11 in.(9,12m) height 12 ft. 7.75 in.(3.85) wing area 242 sq. ft.(22.48m2)

Weights: loaded 6,200 lb.(2,812kg)

Performance: Maximum speed 330 mph (528 km/h) later 348 mph (557 km/h). at 5,000 ft.

Power plant: Rolls-Royce Merlin C (950 hp) F (955 hp) and II (1030 hp).

The Spitfire K5054 was a private venture fighter and was designed as a short-range, high-performance interceptor aircraft; it was decided to change the engine to the also private venture P. V. 12 from RR. The PV12 was, in according with RR traditions named after a bird of prey, The Merlin, not the wizard by that name but it turned out to be a wizard when you need more hp.

In 1934, Mitchell and the design staff decided to use a semi-elliptical wing shape to solve two conflicting requirements; the wing needed to be thin, to avoid creating too much drag, while still able to house a retractable undercarriage, plus armament and ammunition.

The Air Ministry issued a specification F.37/34 for a 8 gun fighter in 1935 and Supermarine put forward the K5054, it first flew on march 5th with a RR Merlin C engine and surpass the specification wit a speed of 346 mph at 17,000 feet with a two blade propeller, by tangent it the speed was increased with 3,5 mph.
The prototype was first shown to the public in a flyby on July 27th 1936.

Extensive development trials were carried out at RAE and A&AEE. A Merlin F was substituted for the earlier C model and the only incident occurred on March 22nd 37 when it was force landed on fairly rough ground. The pilot kept the wheels retracted and K5054 was hardly damaged.

Early in 38, now with a Merlin II, the aircraft underwent night-time trials. On March 15th, during a night-landing, the brakes failed and K5054 ended up with its nose gorse beyond the airfield. Nine days later, having been repaired, it was again flying but this time the undercarriage collapsed on landing and the machine swung round.

By October 1938 it was brought up to Mk. 1 standard including a tail wheel instead of the tail-skid it started with. Browning guns, radio and other service equipment were fitted. After test it was used for experimental work at Farnborough. Its final fate is unknown but it was probably scrapped during late 1940.

From "Spitfire - the story of a famous fighter" by Bruce Robertson