Author Topic: For the Spitfire fanatics....  (Read 814 times)

Offline Guppy35

  • Radioactive Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 20387
For the Spitfire fanatics....
« on: April 20, 2004, 03:15:31 PM »
Link to a thread and many images of the Seafire 47 that was restored and flew for the first time last week in Texas.

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?threadid=24080

Dan/Slack
Dan/CorkyJr
8th FS "Headhunters

Offline Angus

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 10057
For the Spitfire fanatics....
« Reply #1 on: April 20, 2004, 09:02:52 PM »
WOW

The ultimate Spitty, - and a carrier aircraft as well.
Performance:
Weight: 10.300 lbs, overload 12.500 lbs
wing area 244 sq. ft
max power 2350 hp
max speed  452 mph
max climb 4800 ft/min
time to 20K is 4 min 48 secs
firepower is 12 lbs of bad-arse stuff pr sec
internal fuel: 154 gal
max range 1475 miles
roll-rate at 400 mph is 68 degrees per sec.
undercarriage energy absobtion: 26600 ft/lb

the weight of the Seafire 47 equals the weight of the Spitfire I with 32 passangers carrying 40 lbs of baggage each.


THE ULTIMATE SPIT!
It was very interesting to carry out the flight trials at Rechlin with the Spitfire and the Hurricane. Both types are very simple to fly compared to our aircraft, and childishly easy to take-off and land. (Werner Mölders)

Offline Ecliptik

  • Nickel Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 515
For the Spitfire fanatics....
« Reply #2 on: April 20, 2004, 10:28:52 PM »
Wow.  Counter-rotating props.   Climbs like a rocket, top speed of a Pony.  That is one spitty I'd not care to come up against in the air.

Offline Charge

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3414
For the Spitfire fanatics....
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2004, 04:05:19 AM »
It's a beautiful aircaft, even with that enlarged rudder stab. Great pics!

-C+
"When you wish upon a falling star, your dreams can come true. Unless it's really a giant meteor hurtling to the earth which will destroy all life. Then you're pretty much screwed no matter what you wish for. Unless of course, it's death by meteorite."

Offline VO101_Isegrim

  • Nickel Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 577
For the Spitfire fanatics....
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2004, 12:00:17 PM »
What makes this Spit variant ultimate? Frankly, the only improvement I see here is that they finally fixed the poor roll rate at high speeds, if Angus data is correct.  Otherwise, same specs as the old Mk XIV, but it`s a more than a ton heavier.. I guess it wasn`t exactly shining in the manouvering departement compared to earlier variants.. even more fuel to keep up with increasing fuel consumption, and frankly what surprised me those radiators. One would think Supermarine engineers could not make it any more bulky, yet they prove you wrong with each succeeding variant... just a question, did somebody told them this rad design sucks, change it for god`s sake ever during those 12 or so years?

Otherwise, one beutifully restored a/c!

Offline Seeker

  • Parolee
  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2653
For the Spitfire fanatics....
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2004, 01:02:59 PM »
Beuatifull.

Offline Angus

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 10057
For the Spitfire fanatics....
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2004, 03:14:15 PM »
The ultimate: because it was the last type to roll of the assembly line.
IF my data is right? Well this is the data from J.Quill, Supermarine test pilot. I have very little doubts about it.
Maneuver department:Told to be very very good, all stab problems solved and as seen, a very high rollrate.
Bear in mind also that this is a very strong plane and carrier capable.
And despite that radiator design, it is a very high performing aircraft allover.
It was very interesting to carry out the flight trials at Rechlin with the Spitfire and the Hurricane. Both types are very simple to fly compared to our aircraft, and childishly easy to take-off and land. (Werner Mölders)

Offline Charge

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3414
For the Spitfire fanatics....
« Reply #7 on: April 23, 2004, 01:13:17 AM »
Is that wing the same one (profile etc.) that is on Tempest? It looks the same. Was it XIV that used it first time? I guess the roll performance improved somewhat dramatically along with the new wing?

To me the XIV is the best looking Spit of all times. :)

-C+
"When you wish upon a falling star, your dreams can come true. Unless it's really a giant meteor hurtling to the earth which will destroy all life. Then you're pretty much screwed no matter what you wish for. Unless of course, it's death by meteorite."

Offline Karnak

  • Radioactive Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 23048
For the Spitfire fanatics....
« Reply #8 on: April 23, 2004, 02:03:17 AM »
Charge,

That is the new Spitfire wing introduced with the Spitfire F.21.

The Spitfire Mk XIV retains the basic wing designed by Reginald Mitchell, with slight modifications introduced on the Spitfire Mk V, Mk VIII and Mk IX.

I agree with you about the Spitfire Mk XIV though.  Gorgeous fighter.  Best looking fighter of all time.
Petals floating by,
      Drift through my woman's hand,
             As she remembers me-

Offline VO101_Isegrim

  • Nickel Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 577
For the Spitfire fanatics....
« Reply #9 on: April 23, 2004, 10:20:33 AM »
Guppy, I am still fascinated by this : did they ever consider a complete re-design of the radiators to a more advanced layout? If so, why didnt it materialize - priority of production?

Offline Karnak

  • Radioactive Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 23048
For the Spitfire fanatics....
« Reply #10 on: April 23, 2004, 12:32:09 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by VO101_Isegrim
Guppy, I am still fascinated by this : did they ever consider a complete re-design of the radiators to a more advanced layout? If so, why didnt it materialize - priority of production?

I've never heard of one, but I do know that the radiators got steadily bigger.  They are the major drag point on the Spitfire, followed by the front of the cockpit.
Petals floating by,
      Drift through my woman's hand,
             As she remembers me-

Offline Furball

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 15781
For the Spitfire fanatics....
« Reply #11 on: April 23, 2004, 01:14:49 PM »
Supermarine Spiteful looked to have slimline radiators to me.













494 mph, Griffon 101, 2,420hp :eek:

http://www.vflintham.demon.co.uk/aircraft/spit/spiteful.htm
I am not ashamed to confess that I am ignorant of what I do not know.
-Cicero

-- The Blue Knights --

Offline Guppy35

  • Radioactive Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 20387
For the Spitfire fanatics....
« Reply #12 on: April 24, 2004, 01:16:47 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by VO101_Isegrim
Guppy, I am still fascinated by this : did they ever consider a complete re-design of the radiators to a more advanced layout? If so, why didnt it materialize - priority of production?


Furball has it right.  The Spiteful had redesigned radiators for the Griffon but it was too little too late.  I've never seen a specific reason for the lack of change, although I imagine since in some ways the XIV was something of a stop gap like the IX , that getting it into the air was the priority.  Considering it's performance it was probably worth it at the time :)

The only specific sentence I could find speaking to the radiator size increase.

"Due to the much greater heat rejection requirements of the Griffon, the familiar under wing radiators now grew, having far greater depth for additional radiator capacity"

I read something somewhere about the design of the Spit radiators overall, but I can't find it for the life of me

Dan/Slack
Dan/CorkyJr
8th FS "Headhunters

Offline Angus

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 10057
For the Spitfire fanatics....
« Reply #13 on: April 24, 2004, 04:28:21 AM »
The Germans fitted a DB 605 in a captured Spitfire. They had a cooling problem there. Not sure of the Rad modification.
It was very interesting to carry out the flight trials at Rechlin with the Spitfire and the Hurricane. Both types are very simple to fly compared to our aircraft, and childishly easy to take-off and land. (Werner Mölders)