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Why was the Spitfire more famous than the Hurricane?
The Spitfire and Bf 109E were well-matched in speed and agility, and both were somewhat faster than the Hurricane. However, the slightly larger Hurricane was regarded as an easier aircraft to fly and was effective against Luftwaffe bombers.
Why is the Spitfire so iconic?
A symbol of victory. The Spitfire is the most famous plane of World War Two. Its groundbreaking design and superior specifications gave the British a decisive advantage fighting the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. But early models were often cruelly exposed in head-to-head duels with the enemy.
Why was the Spitfire called the Spitfire?
It was named after the daughter of the manufacturer’s chairman. The Spitfire’s name is often assumed to derive from its ferocious firing capabilities. But it likely owes just as much to Sir Robert McLean’s pet name for his young daughter, Ann, who he called “the little spitfire”.
What did the Spitfire do in ww2?
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Capable of top speeds of 440 miles (710 km) per hour and ceilings of 40,000 feet (12,200 metres), these were used to shoot down V-1 “buzz bombs.” During World War II, Spitfires were exported in small numbers to Portugal, Turkey, and the Soviet Union, and they were flown by the U.S. Army Air Forces in Europe.
How was the Spitfire used in ww2?
Capable of top speeds of 440 miles (710 km) per hour and ceilings of 40,000 feet (12,200 metres), these were used to shoot down V-1 “buzz bombs.” During World War II, Spitfires were exported in small numbers to Portugal, Turkey, and the Soviet Union, and they were flown by the U.S. Army Air Forces in Europe.
What type of aircraft is a Supermarine Spitfire?
Supermarine Spitfire. The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, using several wing configurations, and it was produced in greater numbers than any other British aircraft.
What is the difference between a Spitfire and a hurricane?
The Hurricane had come from a lineage of bi-planes built for war, like the Hawker Demon and the Hawker Fury. Production of these rugged planes had gone well, so well in fact that the RAF even approved sales to other WWII allies. Unlike its Hawker peer, the Spitfire had no warfighting lineage driving its design.
Why was the Spitfire so popular in the 1930s?
Two years before the Battle of Britain, where the aircraft proved indispensable, the Spitfire had only just started production. In the late ’30s, it was actually the Hawker Hurricane fighter that was the favorite of many RAF commanders. The Hurricane had come from a lineage of bi-planes built for war, like the Hawker Demon and the Hawker Fury.
How many Spitfires were used in the Battle of Britain?
During the Battle of Britain, between July and September 1940, 19 squadrons of Supermarine Spitfires (372 aircraft at peak on August 30) and 33 squadrons of Hawker Hurricanes (709 aircraft on August 30) faced the Luftwaffe from airports throughout southern England.