<DIV><DIV>Always overshadowed by its far more famous sibling the Spitfire, the Seafire was an aircraft adapted initially in haste to fill a large gap in the Fleet Air Arm's fighter inventory.&nbsp; The first Seafires were developed from the early marks of Rolls-Royce Merlin-powered Spitfire, but although the structure was strengthened to absorb some of the landing loads characteristic of carrier operation, the airframe would exhibit some alarming failures, a trait that continued through the life of the type.&nbsp; The next series of Seafires were Griffon powered and followed their RAF counterparts in introducing blow canopies and, later, modified wing planforms.&nbsp;</DIV>