Supermarine Aircraft Spitfire Supermarine Aircraft Spitfire The Supermarine Aircraft Spitfire is an Australian homebuilt aircraft produced in kit form by Supermarine Aircraft. A replica of the famous British Supermarine Spitfire World War II fighter, it was originally produced to 75% scale. Subsequent models have increased the scale of the fuselage and added a second seat. Australian pilot and aviation engineer Mike O'Sullivan had always wanted a Spitfire and built a replica for his own use in 1991. This was followed by a , Rotax-powered prototype in 1994. The next year, in 1995, he joined with business partner John McCarron to form the Supermarine
Supermarine Aircraft Spitfire British Light Aircraft Association. The company has since moved to Cisco Airport, Texas in the US, which O'Sullivan also manages. The prototype MK25 was initially fitted with a Rotax engine, before development progressed through a series of more powerful Jabiru types. Early production models were powered by eight-cylinder, Jabiru engines made in Australia. Subsequently, the company introduced a V6 Isuzu engine conversion, producing with supercharger, as well as a V8 General Motors automotive engine conversion producing . Early versions of the Spitfire MK26 used an eight-cylinder Jabiru 5100 horizontally opposed aero engine, but early installations suffered from inadequate cooling. The