Supermarine Spitfire/Seafire
As one of the most iconic aircraft from the World War II era, the Supermarine Spitfire is also quite easy to distinguish from similar fighters with low wings, a liquid cooled piston engine in the nose and a tailwheel undercarriage. Two key features make this possible. First there are the wings: they have an elliptical shape when viewed from above or below, with the trailing edge more rounded than the leading edge. Secondly, the Spitfire has a single wheel main landing gear that retracts outward in the wings. Other chracteristics that are typical for most but not all versions are the canopy, that has a bubble in the middle part, but is flush with the top of the fuselage in the rear part, and the vertical stabiliser with the shape of a rugby ball (well about half of it).
Different versions
To differentiate between the different subtypes of the Spitfire you have to look at (amongst others)
- the number of propeller blades
- the shape of the canopy
- the number of canopies
- the shape of the cowling
- the shape of the wing tips
More details will follow later.
Confusion possible with
Heinkel He112
The He112 has elliptical wings like the Spitfire, and outward retracting main gears. However, the wings have a slight inverted gull shape, with a bend near the main gears. Other difference are less easy to spot, but include the tail and canopy. (photo: WikiMedia)
Messerschmidt Bf109
The general appearance of the Bf109 is similar to the Spitfire and the German fighter even has outward retracting main gears. However, the wings are not elliptical. Moreover, the tail is lower and the canopy has many frames with flat panels in between.
Curtiss P-40
The wings of the P-40 have rounded tips that may fool you, but straight edges. Moreover, they have a small inverted gull wing shape: at the main landing gear there is a bend. These main gears retract rearward in the wings, turning ninety degrees in the process. Finally, the canopy shape is different.
Yakovlev Yak-1/Yak-/3Yak-7/Yak-9
Similar fighters from the other side of the front, but again the wings of these Yakovlev fighters have rounded tips and straight edges. These main gears retract inward in the wings. Finally, the canopy shape is different, in addition to other features.
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1/MiG-3
Like the Yakovlev fighters above, the MiG aircraft lack elliptical wings and has outward retracting main gears. The inners wings have no dihedral, while the outer wings have. At other points, the MiGs are more similar to the Spitfire, like the canopy. (photo: Anna Zvereva/WikiMedia)
Hawker Hurricane
The Hurricane often flew (and flies) side-by-side with the Spitfire. Then you quickly see that the Hurricane has more in common with the MiG and Yak aircraft above than the Supermarine aircraft, including the wing and gear characteristics.