Research of the Spit 16

[Squire]

Personally I think HTC should redesignate the Spit XVI as the Spit LF IX in the next version of AH. I suggested it back when they re did the Spits, and since. It would not be a big deal to do? My reasons are as follows:

#1 the designation XVI (16) causes too much confusion with the XIV (14), in terms of which is which, time added to the OOB, performance, ect. Too many roman numerals as well.

#2 most people do not realise that an LF IXe and a XVIe are all but identical despite the many posts pointing that out.

#3 It would end threads like this?

We would have:

Spitfire I
Spitfire V
Spitfire IX
Spitfire VIII
Spitfire LF IX (old XVI)
Spitfire XIV (Griffon engine version)
Seafire

Much easier on the eyes.

[lyric1]

More pics of the very rare & almost non existent Spit XVI of WWII.

[gripen]

The basic difference between the LF IX and the XVI is the engine as many has noted in this thread;

LF IX => Merlin 66
XVI => Merlin 266

The main performance related difference between these is the supercharger gear ratios (quoted from RR specs) and corresponding ratings without RAM at +18 lbs:

Merlin 66:
1st gear 1:5.79 (1705hp @ 5750')
2nd gear 1:7.06 (1580hp @ 16000')

Merlin 266:
1st gear 1:5.80 (1710hp @ 6400')
2nd gear 1:7.35 (1490hp @ 19400')

In practice the difference at 1st gear is negligible, but the difference at 2nd gear is significant and the XVI should have higher FTH at 2nd gear than the LF IX.

I think I posted the documentation to Pyro over four years ago, that time the Merlin 66 powered VIII had about the same FTH as the XVI. This means that the XVI engine is (was?) modeled as the Merlin 66 ie the XVI is in practice the LF IX. I don't know what is the current situation but at least according to the AH II comparison tool this has not changed.

[RTHolmes]

looks like our VIII and XVI both use the same model of 66/266:



your numbers do look like a significant difference between 66 and 266, but look at this:



... and note the 3k variation in MS FTH between the 3 different 66s.

[Squire]

FTH in 2nd gear for this Merlin 66 Spitfire LF IX is 21,000 ft not 16,000 ft which corresponds to AHs Merlin 66/266 Spitfires:

http://www.spitfireperformance.com/ma648.html

You can also see that there are 4 different Merlin 66s compared and each one has a different MS and FS gear indicating that they could be altered and were not absolutely uniform from engine to engine. One would assume that in service the 266s were rigged very closely to the 66s in terms of what the gears were set to.

[gripen]

The claimed 2nd gear FTH 16000' is naturally without RAM and  21000' given in the aircraft data sheet is with RAM (404mph). Corresponding value with RAM at 2nd gear for the XVI is  22500' at speed 406mph (XVI data sheet showing these values has been posted to Pyro). Notable thing is  that 1st gear FTH with RAM is 10500' at 384mph for both planes.

[BulletVI]

looks like our VIII and XVI both use the same model of 66/266:

(Image removed from quote.)

your numbers do look like a significant difference between 66 and 266, but look at this:

(Image removed from quote.)

... and note the 3k variation in MS FTH between the 3 different 66s.

AHha i always wondered why when i took a mk8 spit up against the spit 16 i survived longer and killed the Spit 16 occasionally thanks RTHolmes  

[lyric1]

A paragraph from this book



& how Spit XVI's didn't fight the Germans best or for that matter have any air to air encounters.