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Eastbourne International Airshow 2017

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SPITFIRE<br />

Mk IX<br />

The Supermarine Spitfire is a British singleseat<br />

fighter aircraft, used by the Royal Air<br />

Force and many other Allied countries<br />

before, during and after World War II.<br />

The Spitfire was built in many variants and<br />

produced in greater numbers than any other British<br />

aircraft. It was also the only British fighter to be in<br />

continuous production throughout the war.<br />

RR232 was built in Castle Bromwich by Vickers<br />

Armstrong and delivered to the RAF in 1944<br />

as an ‘HF.IX’ high altitude fighter where it was<br />

allocated to an anti-aircraft co-operation<br />

Squadron. It was then sold to the South<br />

African Air Force (SAAF) in 1948. She finally<br />

made it back to Britain in 1986 but it was<br />

not until 2001 that current owner Martin<br />

Phillips bought the aircraft and began a<br />

full restoration to airworthy condition<br />

that would take nearly 13 years! With<br />

parts having been sourced from myriad<br />

locations around the world.<br />

FLYING TIMES<br />

Sat 13:21; Sun 13:51<br />

DIMENSIONS<br />

Height: 3.86m; Length: 9.58m<br />

Wingspan: 11.23m<br />

PERFORMANCE<br />

Max Speed: 400mph<br />

POWERPLANT<br />

1 x Rolls-Royce Merlin 70<br />

DID YOU KNOW?<br />

During the full restoration one of the<br />

wings was salvaged from a hedge outside<br />

a pub near Exeter! She is now known as the<br />

‘City of Exeter’ in honour of a presentation<br />

Spitfire donated to the war effort.<br />

50<br />

EASTBOURNE INTERNATIONAL aIR S HOW <strong>2017</strong>

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