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For an aircraft conceived as a stopgap, the MkIX was an astonishing
success. The planned successors to the MkV were the pressurized
MkVII and unpressurized MkVIII. Both of these aircraft required
much development work. But an improvement was urgently needed
to the MkV as the new FW190 was running rings round it over France
and the Channel, and losses were becoming alarming. It was known,
through tests of the new Rolls Royce Merlin 61, with 2-stage
2-speed supercharger in a MkIII airframe, that results would
be good. Therefore this engine was mated to the MkV airframe.
Bingo! The result was a fighter that matched, and in some areas
beat the FW190. |