1,328 British Spitfire Mk. IXs were supplied to the Soviets during WWII. One of these aircraft was PT879, built at the Vickers Armstrong Factory and arriving in Murmansk in October 1944 assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 767th Regiment and 122nd Division of the Russian Air Force. On May 18, 1945 PT879 was involved in a training dogfight. The aircraft only had 18 hours and 29 minutes of flying time when another Spitfire cut off its tail. The pilot managed to bail out. The wreckage was later recovered and eventually restored by the Hangar 11 team.

Designed by R.J.Michell to meet a British Air Ministry specification, the Supermarine Spitfire first flown on March 5th, 1936. With its combination of beautiful fighter design, the excellent performance of its Rolls-Royce Merlin powerplant and firepower provided by twin cannons and four machine guns, the Spitfire became an unrivaled symbol of victory. The Spitfire had 40 major variants and was built in greater numbers than any other British aircraft of the time. It flew operationally on every front between 1939 and 1945 and was engaged in every one of the Royal Air Force's major actions.

Features:

- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.

- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.

- Pad-printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.

- Opening canopies, revealing detailed cockpit interiors.

- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear.

- Presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".

- Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.

- Accurately detailed underside with concealed screwheads.