Supermarine Spitfire Pr Mk.XIX

Plastikmodell

Maßstab 1:72

ungebaut/ unbemalt

Supermarine Spitfire Pr Mk.XIX
Arguably the ultimate version of the famous Supermarine Spitfire, the unarmed Rolls-Royce Griffon powered PR.XIX reconnaissance aircraft relied on nothing more than speed and stealth to survive in the combat area. The first decal option included with this 2017 release marks a significant aircraft which still holds the world altitude record for a single piston engined aircraft - In February 1952, Flight Lieutenant Ted Powles flew Spitfire PS852 to an altitude of 51.500 ft. during a reconnaissance flight over the Chinese Island of Hainan. Flying with RAF No.81 Squadron out of Kai Tak airfield in Hong Kong, Powles set an altitude record for the Spitfire and indeed for all single engine piston fighters which still stands to this day, serving as an enduring legacy of these magnificent machines.

The alternative decal option supplied with this kit is one of the beautiful reconnaissance Spitfires operated by the Swedish Air Force at the start of the Cold War period. Delays in getting the reconnaissance version of their Saab J29 jet fighter into production saw the SAF with a desperate need for a single engined reconnaissance aircraft and found an effective interim solution in 50 former WWII RAF Spitfire PR Mk.XIXs. Purchased from the British at an extremely attractive price, the aircraft were given the Swedish designation S.31 and were faster than any other aircraft currently flying with the Swedish Air Force. Serving until 1955, the S.31 Spitfires proved highly successful, but were nevertheless unceremoniously scrapped or used for target practice on their retirement. They are however an important chapter in the Spitfire story.