Spitfire VIII manual/info

[Sgt. Pappy]

I'm still trying to find the operation manual on the Spitfire VIII (Merlin 63, 66, or 70) in order to determine the weights and loadings of the aircraft.

As I've mentioned somewhere else before, the Spitfire weights confuse me. The tare weights state the VIII is heavier than the IX by 182 lbs. but with no ammo or fuel for either plane, the VIII is only heavier by 88 lbs. What gives?

Weight and Factors
The full ammo/fuel and accessories (i.e. radio, gunsight, battery etc.) without ordnance or drop tanks weight is 7,770 - 7,800 lbs. for a Spitfire F.Mk.VIII (Merlin 63), broad-rudder, normal span of 36' 10", and standard Mk.VIII fuel tanks totaling to 123 Imperial Gallons, standard Rotol (Dural) 4-bladed prop, enlarged elevators, Aero-Vee intake, C-type wing, 2x20mm cannon (120 rpg), 4x.303" MG (350 rpg)
Tare weight: 5,931 lbs.

The Spitfire IX weighs (with same mentioned config. as stated above) 7,445 lbs. for an F.Mk.IX (Merlin 61), standard rudder, normal span of 36' 10", Standard Mk.IX fuel tanks totaling 85 Imperial Gallons, standard Rotol (Dural) 4-bladed prop, old Spitfire V elevators, old Spitfire V intake, C-type wing, 2x20mm cannon (120 rpg), 4x.303" MG (350 rpg)
Tare weight: 5,749 lbs.

ammo weight (240x 20mm shells; 1400x .303" rounds: 243 lbs.)
fuel weight (123 IG: 886 lbs. 85 IG: 612 lbs.)
oil weight (i THINK both carried 8.5 IG of oil: 77 lbs.)

[Sgt. Pappy]

Ah sorry, double post.
Disregard this.

[Micdrow]

Originally Posted by Sgt. Pappy

Ah sorry, double post.
Disregard this.

No problem the duplicate post is removed.

[Sgt. Pappy]

Hm now I'm finding many inconsistent weights with these Spitfires.

The VIII ... it's 7760 lbs - (on data sheets, 7900 lbs)
IX ... 7,380 lbs - 7470 lbs.

I've checked the criteria but the planes don't seem much different in any way.
What's with all these weights?

[Ivan1GFP]

Does the tare weight include guns?

- Ivan.

[claidemore]

Tare would be without guns, ammo, fuel or oil, in other words, 'dry weight'. 5930/31 for Mk VIII and 5749 for Mk IX, 181/182 lbs difference.

With 2x20 + 4x.303 gross weight was 7800 lbs for the Mk VIII.
Tropicalized version, with dingy etc was 7900 lbs, 100 lbs more. (I believe they all had the same air filters, it was other equipment that added the 100 lbs). The RAAF climb/speed tests showed a weight of 7690, which is about right for a Mk VIII/Trop with empty wing tanks.

When i subtract the 180 lbs and the extra 38 gallons of fuel, I get100 lbs difference between the VIII and IX, which should be the weight of the dingy which is included in the IX max weight, but not in the 7800 lbs VIII max weight. That could be the difference.

BTW the Pilots Notes for Spitfire VII, VIII are available online, for about $12.95 from a couple sources.