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Author Topic: Spit XIV  (Read 1218 times)

Offline Kev367th

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Spit XIV
« on: January 04, 2006, 06:57:50 AM »
Anyone remember how big the DT's were on the XIV prior to the introduction of the 'slipper tank'.
Seems the XIV has a smaller range now.

Current slipper tank is 30gals, but they were available in 45gal, 90gal and 170gal  capacities also. (Jettisonable)
« Last Edit: January 04, 2006, 07:16:32 AM by Kev367th »
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Offline justin_g

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« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2006, 07:26:16 AM »
IIRC old Spitfire drop tanks were 45gal "teardrop" type
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Offline Kev367th

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« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2006, 07:30:56 AM »
Thanks I thought it had changed.

We're down to 30gals then.

HT how about giving us bigger slippers? (pref 90gal to get back to previous range)
By the time you get a XIV to its best alt you've all but used the current slipper.

As an aside - Just read a XIV developmant doc that says all FR XIV's were retro-actively clipped because of skin wrinkles at the wing root. Caused by extra weight from cameras and extra internal tanks.
« Last Edit: January 04, 2006, 09:09:33 AM by Kev367th »
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Offline Delirium

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« Reply #3 on: January 04, 2006, 09:52:18 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Kev367th
HT how about giving us bigger slippers?


Here, they are your color too...



(sorry, just had to)
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Offline Kev367th

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« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2006, 09:53:31 AM »
LOLOLOL

Slightly off shade though to match the 'Pink' Spit IX I'm doing :)
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Offline Lye-El

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« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2006, 01:35:17 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Kev367th
LOLOLOL

Slightly off shade though to match the 'Pink' Spit IX I'm doing :)



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i dont got enough perkies as it is and i like upen my lancs to kill 1 dang t 34 or wirble its fun droping 42 bombs

Offline mussie

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Spit XIV
« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2006, 02:33:04 PM »
Man thats just smurfy
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Offline Nashwan

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« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2006, 04:39:35 PM »
IIRC, the old AH Spitfires used a 300 litre Luftwaffe drop tank. 300 litres = 66 imp gallons
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Offline Angus

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« Reply #8 on: January 05, 2006, 03:15:43 AM »
Pink  ones were phote-recce weren't they?
I've seen a pink Spit. Well, "Mountbatten Pink" they called it :D
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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

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« Reply #9 on: January 05, 2006, 03:53:15 AM »
"(Jettisonable)"

I thought the slipper tanks were not jettisonable. Or did you mean that only the 170gal tank was jettisonable?

-C+
« Last Edit: January 05, 2006, 04:01:15 AM by Charge »
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Offline Squire

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« Reply #10 on: January 05, 2006, 04:08:29 AM »
The 30 and 45 gallon tanks were, I dont know about the larger ones. I do recall a book talking about the trials of the 90 gallon tank though, and I seem to recall trials where it was jetted. Just dont have it in front of me.
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Offline Nashwan

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« Reply #11 on: January 05, 2006, 04:19:13 AM »
Quote
I thought the slipper tanks were not jettisonable. Or did you mean that only the 170gal tank was jettisonable?


They were all droppable. From the Spitfire IX manual:

"An auxilliary "blister" drop tank of 30, 45 or 90 gallon capacity can be fitted below the fuselage"

What might have caused confusion is that RAF pilots were instructed to bring their drop tanks back under normal circumstances:

"Drop tanks should only be jettisoned if this is necessary operationally"

I'm not sure if disposable slipper tanks were ever made, but afaik most were proper metal tanks, reusable, and so pilots were not supposed to drop them without reason. Many (most?) US drop tanks were made from compressed paper, and could only be used once, so were dropped as a matter of course.
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Offline Charge

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« Reply #12 on: January 05, 2006, 04:50:04 AM »
"They were all droppable. From the Spitfire IX manual:"

"An auxilliary "blister" drop tank of 30, 45 or 90 gallon capacity can be fitted below the fuselage"

So where do they mention it is jettisonable?

What troubles me is how a slipper tank behaves when it is released in flight. If it does not detach properly it could slam in the bottom of the a/c because of its shape. The 170 gallon tank is shaped a bit differently so it is probable that it detaches properly from the plane.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/spit5.html

-C+
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Offline Nashwan

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« Reply #13 on: January 05, 2006, 06:44:47 AM »
Quote
So where do they mention it is jettisonable?


"An auxilliary "blister" drop tank of 30, 45 or 90 gallon capacity can be fitted below the fuselage"

"Drop tanks should only be jettisoned if this is necessary operationally"

There's quite a bit more in the manual, eg:

"When carried, the 90 (or 170) gallon drop tank must be jettisoned before any dive bombing is commenced"

"Except in emergency, the fuselage bomb or drop tank must be jettisoned before landing with wing bombs"

"Drop tanks should not be jettisoned unless necessary operationally. While jettisoning, the aircraft should be flown straight and level at a speed not greater than 300 mph IAS"

Quote
What troubles me is how a slipper tank behaves when it is released in flight. If it does not detach properly it could slam in the bottom of the a/c because of its shape.


Spitfire The History notes that the 170 gallon torpedo tank with tailplane was prone to damage the fuselage in trials, but not the slipper tanks. The only other problem about dropping tanks I can see mentioned is a test of a tropicalised Spitfire V, there was no indication to the pilot of when the tank detached (doesn't say what type of tank)
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Offline Charge

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« Reply #14 on: January 05, 2006, 06:50:46 AM »
Rgr, TY Nashwan.

I have noticed that in LW planes the drop tank points downwards so I guess that is to ensure safe jettison so that the tank turns away from the fuselage but in turn it probabaly causes more drag.

-C+
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