Thread: Contra Spit - Weird !

Apologies to the guy but I had to take a screenshot of his website and share this. The text is his aswell.



A mark XIX Spitfire fitted with a late model Griffon engine from a Shackleton maritime patrol aircraft, complete with the Shackleton's contra-rotating propellers.....The aircraft was put together some years ago as part of an attempt at a time-to-altitude record.

source: Chino 2004 Highlights

Other awesome photos are there, including a P38 Lightning.

Ah that would be the Griffon 85 fitted models. From Mk XXI upwards there were a few fitted with Griffon 85 2 stage engines with Contra - Props. Although I was not aware of any Mk XIX's with this engine. May have been a one off conversion. This includes the later Sea-Fang & Spiteful which were virtually new Aircraft compared to the older Marks.

Yes solid info there Spit, apparently the bulges above the exhaust pipes indicate the griffon engine is fitted. More on this particular Spitfire:

Spitfire PR Mk 19. This particular plane (PS890) was modified in 2002 to use a Griffon engine from an Avro Shackleton driving a contra-rotating propeller. Originally, a normal five-blade propeller was fitted. Note the small view hole for the camera between the cockpit and the insignia

Here's another photo, this time the same aircraft is without the clipped wingtips, and the small camera hole can be seen:


I have also become interested in the liveries of these planes after seeing this light blue, and wondering.... It turns out this is an original livery, used for reconnaissance. A darker blue was used for very high level recon work, and desert versions were even painted pink ! Old black & white photos of Spits of course leave us with no idea of how these versions actually looked. I have found a rare Spitfire livery to find a decent photo of is that of the USAF.

Lastly a period photo from 1954, colourised, of a similar livery, I think this was taken in Singapore, of one of the last operational squadron.

"The Last" is one of the PR Mk XIX's in the BBMF. It flew the last operational Spitfire Sortie in 1954 I believe.