The Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII is a part of the Royal Australian Air Force’s Temora Historic Flight.
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 Second World War, with a total of 1652 Spitfire Mk VIII variants 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, and, with World War II drawing to a close, the aircraft was not required on active service and was instead placed into storage.
After the war, the aircraft was utilised at Sydney Technical College as an instructional airframe and eventually restored 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 military serial number A58-602 and markings of Wing Commander R.H. (Bobby) Gibbes OAM DSO DFC.
The Spitfire was donated to the Temora Aviation Museum in July 2002 and is one of only three flying Spitfires in Australia, of which two are part of the Temora Historic Flight.
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Manufacturer |
Supermarine Aviation Works |
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Role |
Fighter |
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Crew |
1 |
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Engine |
Rolls-Royce Merlin 70 1710 horsepower (1275.66 kW) |
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Airframe |
Length 9.54m, height 3.85m |
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Wingspan |
11.23m |
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Weight |
2,633 kg basic, 3,638 kg maximum |
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Range |
1094 km |
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Ceiling |
43,000 feet |
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Max Speed |
669 km/h (361 knots) |