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Spitfire Mk. IX


This Spitfire really packs a punch in scale features and flight performance!


PHOTOGRAPHY: JIM WIGGIN & FRANK FANELLI


this, we would often engage in interesting discussions ranging from our next project to how we performed some technical achieve- ment. On this particular trip Dave broke the silence with a simple question, “What in your opinion is the most beautiful car or truck of all time?” Without hesitation Dave quipped sarcastically, “Oh wait, I know, the Jeep!” No Dave, I replied. In a shock to him and most people who know me, the utilitarian and capable Jeep,


A 46


few years back my good friend Dave and I were on a trip to one of many airplane meets that we at- tended. During such a road trip as


while my favorite, is not the most beautiful car on my list. Surprised, Dave asked, “Well, what then?” I would have to say in my mind the most beautiful car of all time would be the British Aston Martin DB-5. A somewhat surprised hint of approval came in the form of a “humph” from Dave. “Okay, what is the most beautiful and


your favorite airplane of all time?” This question was a bit harder as I suffer from a condition known as aircraft-love-itis, how- ever I truthfully answered. It would have to be the Spitfire Mk IX, with the Mk. XXII be- ing a close second. The Spitfire was born in an era of smooth flowing lines, race inspired


aerodynamics, and like the Aston Martin that would come after it, the brute force, speed—and in the case with Mr. Bond— deadliness, would be camouflaged under its elegant and clean lines. The Mk. IX variant was born of necessity,


due to the fact that the Luftwaffe was gain- ing a critical advantage in air supremacy with the Focke Wulf 190A-3 appearing in late 1941. This was later proven after the British were able to test a captured Fw 190 A-3 and test it against the Mk. V version of the Spitfire. Air Command at the time con- cluded that building a new platform from the ground up would not be as effective as


JANUARY 2012


By Jim Wiggin


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