Supermarine Spitfire Mk 24
Supermarine · GB · first flew 1946 · fighter
The Mk 24 was the final production Spitfire, the last of the line, differing from the Mk 22 mainly in carrying four Hispano Mk V cannon with shorter barrels and additional fuel capacity.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, elliptical |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Five-blade Rotol propeller on Griffon 85 — same engine as the Mk 22; the Mk 24 adds two additional fuselage fuel tanks and retains the bubble canopy |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Five-blade Rotol propeller on Griffon 85 — same engine as the Mk 22; the Mk 24 adds two additional fuselage fuel tanks and retains the bubble canopy
- Two additional fuselage fuel tanks giving noticeably enlarged rear fuselage volume
- Bubble canopy with cut-down rear fuselage as standard; very similar to Mk 22 but with four 20 mm Hispano Mk V cannon (shorter muzzle protrusions than Mk II barrels on most Mk 22s)
From the Mk 22, look for the shorter cannon muzzle protrusions of the Hispano Mk V (versus the longer Mk II barrels on many Mk 22s). Additional fuselage fuel tanks create a slightly fuller appearance ahead of the tail. In practice the two marks are extremely difficult to distinguish in the air.
Specifications
- The Supermarine Spitfire Mk 24 has a length of 9.96 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.23 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 726 km/h (451 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Eighty-one built between 1946 and 1947, all delivered post-war. The last Spitfire to be produced at Castle Bromwich. It served briefly with 80 Squadron in Hong Kong before the RAF transitioned to jets.
Variants
Effectively a sub-variant of the Mk 22 series. The Mk 23 designation was not used in production.
Where you'll see it
RAF 80 Squadron Hong Kong, 1950-52 — the last Spitfire unit. A small number survive in museums; no confirmed airworthy Mk 24 exists, though Mk 22s sometimes fly as representatives.
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