Spit tradeoff

[SmokinLoon]

We basically already have that with the Spitfire Mk VIII. 

ack-ack

'cept for the inferior guns, 500lbs less ordnance, worse climb rate, and slower speeds at all alts.   

Also, I didnt think any of the Spit 9's were produced w clipped wings and only a portion of the spit 16's were.

[Kev367th]

'cept for the inferior guns, 500lbs less ordnance, worse climb rate, and slower speeds at all alts.   

Also, I didnt think any of the Spit 9's were produced w clipped wings and only a portion of the spit 16's were.

All XVI's came out the factory clipped.

LF IX's I'm not sure if they came out clipped, full span or a mixture of both. Complicating it is that the LF IX could be swapped between clipped and full span at squadron level. Pics of both on the web.

[SgtPappy]

There are a couple of photos in Alfred Price's books which show war-time Mk.XVI's with normal 36' 10" wing spans. You can confirm they're XVI's looking at the slightly more bulbous nose.


History of Spitfire MK XVI SL721: Built in 1945 (although originally ordered as a Mk 21) it was initially delivered into storage at 6 MU in August.

[Karnak]

Yes, but they didn't come out of the factory that way.  It took about 15-20 minutes at an airfield to turn a Spit into a clipped or back to a standard wing.

[Guppy35]

'cept for the inferior guns, 500lbs less ordnance, worse climb rate, and slower speeds at all alts.   

Also, I didnt think any of the Spit 9's were produced w clipped wings and only a portion of the spit 16's were.

That would be an inaccurate statement as Spit IXs and XVIs were coming off the same lines of production and when ground attack was the name of the game the clipped wing was as well.

As Kev mentioned 16s came off the line with clipped wings.  Some were fitted in the field with wing tips on occasion.

Two examples of clipped from the start Spit IXs

[WMLute]

'cept for the inferior guns, 500lbs less ordnance, worse climb rate, and slower speeds at all alts.   

You don't see a huge difference in performance between the 8 and the 16.

Honestly, there is very little different between the two.

[SgtPappy]

Agreed. I say the Spitfire VIII really deserves more respect... It's been proven time and again to be a Spit XVI killer. Plus, it's got more fuel.

The absolute best Merlin Spitfire, and my favorite Spitfire of all time.

[Kev367th]

There are a couple of photos in Alfred Price's books which show war-time Mk.XVI's with normal 36' 10" wing spans. You can confirm they're XVI's looking at the slightly more bulbous nose.

(Image removed from quote.)
History of Spitfire MK XVI SL721: Built in 1945 (although originally ordered as a Mk 21) it was initially delivered into storage at 6 MU in August.

(Image removed from quote.)

Spit XVI SL721 was the personal hack of Air Vice Marshal James M Robb.
It flew in that configuration from August 1946, doesnt mean it wasnt built clipped.
There would be a good chance the full span tips were fitted at unit level as clipped wings would not be needed, it being a full 15 months after the end of the war in Europe.

[The Grinch]

The best Spit are the kind of spit that burns 

[SgtPappy]

Spit XVI SL721 was the personal hack of Air Vice Marshal James M Robb.
It flew in that configuration from August 1946, doesnt mean it wasnt built clipped.
There would be a good chance the full span tips were fitted at unit level as clipped wings would not be needed, it being a full 15 months after the end of the war in Europe.

Ah gotcha. makes sense.