The evaporation and mixing of kerosine emerging from a Rat prefilming airblast atomizer was studied experimentally and numerically in an optical accessible, straight rectangular duct at conditions relevant for lean premixed and prevaporized combustion. Liquid phase properties were measured by Phase-Doppler anemometry and fuel vapour concentrations were determined by an infrared light extinction technique. Computations were based on the Lagrangian particle tracking technique, and captured the spray features sufficiently well with and without laking into account the spray feedback on the gas field. A degree of evaporation of 95% was measured after 100mm for 9 bar air pressure, 750K air temperature and 120 m/s air velocity. No autoignition of the fuel occurred. Parametric variations of pressure, temperature and velocity of the air flow, as well as of the initial temperature of the spray and of fuel loading were conducted. A strong influence of the initial fuel temperature on evaporation was found. The air pressure had mainly an indirect but strong effect through atomization quality.