Spitfire Mk XVI
of No.322 Squadron
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The Mk IX Spitfire was constantly updated and improved during its production, but only one of those changes was considered important enough to deserve a new mark number. This was the use of Packard Merlin engines, produced in American by the Packard car company. These engines had enough distinctive features to make their easy identification crucial (amongst other things they were built using American Customary Units instead of Imperial measurements).
The Mk XVI entered production in September 1944, and remained in production until August 1945. Early Mk XVIs were equipped with the “c” wing (four 20mm cannon or two 20mm cannon and four .303in machine guns). Later models used the “e” wing (two .50in machine guns instead of the four .303s). From February 1945 the Mk XVI used the bubble canopy with cut down fuselage also seen on late Mk IXs and most subsequent Spitfires. The majority of the 1,053 Mk XVIs produced had clipped wings, which improved their rate of roll.
Prototypes - Mk I - Mk II - Mk III - Mk V - Mk VI - Mk VII - Mk VIII - Mk IX - Mk XII - Mk XIV - Mk XVI - Mk XVIII - Mk 21 to 24 - Photo Reconnaissance Spitfires - Spitfire Wings - Timeline