Spitfire Mark II Tigershark
Spitfire Helicopters · United States · first flew 1979 · helicopter
The Spitfire Mark II, later named Tigershark, was a utility helicopter built in the United States in the late 1970s and intended for series production.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Turbine-powered conversion of the Enstrom F-28 with a redesigned fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Turbine-powered conversion of the Enstrom F-28 with a redesigned fuselage
- Pilot seated alone in the nose with a bench seat for three passengers behind
- Allison 250 turboshaft mounted well to the rear
A light helicopter with F-28 dynamic parts, a lengthened fuselage, a single pilot seat in the nose and a turbine mounted well aft.
Specifications
- The Spitfire Mark II Tigershark has a length of 9.29 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.75 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 217 km/h (135 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was a further evolution of the Spitfire Mark I, a turbine conversion of the Enstrom F-28. A mock-up was shown in February 1977 and the prototype first flew in February 1979.
Variants
The Mark II had a substantially redesigned, lengthened fuselage compared with the Mark I but kept the F-28 dynamic components and some of its airframe.
Where you'll see it
Spitfire depended on Enstrom for airframes, and relations were strained. A venture to build the Mark I and Mark II in Spain came to nothing.
Related aircraft
- Spitfire Helicopters Mark I
- Aérospatiale AS355 Écureuil 2
- Agusta-Bell AB412 Grifone
- Bell 412
- Eurocopter/Kawasaki BK 117
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