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This Mk. VA was one of the few Spitfires supplied to the United States for evaluation. By request of gen. Arnold, two production Spitfires Mk.V, R7347 and W3119 were shipped to the United States in late summer of 1941. The aircraft were tested at NACA Langley in November-December 1941. W3119 was later transferred to Wright Field for comparative trials, while R7347 remained at Langley until January 1943.

R7347 is representative of early Mk V production, featuring A-type wing and de Havilland propeller. [NASA]

Labels: Spitfire Mk. V