The question on spitfires

[1Cane]

Why don't the spitfire14& 16 have a bubble canopy?

[Chris79]

That’s an early 14

[mikeWe9a]

The fact is that both the Mk 14 and 16 did have bubble canopies - that is, production of both mks eventually had bubble canopies.

Spitfire variant numbers were not really in chronological order, and in many instances were not made to replace a previous mk, so it doesn't necessarily follow that a Mk 16 will have all of the refinements of lower numbered variants.  The Mk 16 for instance, was a Mk 9 in all respects, but it used the Packard version of the Merlin engine instead of Rolls Royce, presumably because there was a shortage of Rolls Royce Merlins - there were enough differences in the engine (imperial vs metric measurements, etc) that a different Mk number was needed to ensure correct logistical support.  The Mk 9 was still in production at that point, and eventually both the 9 and 16 were produced with bubble canopies.

Mike

[nooby52]

I did not know that about the MK 9/ 16. Very interesting.

[atlau]

The fact is that both the Mk 14 and 16 did have bubble canopies - that is, production of both mks eventually had bubble canopies.

Spitfire variant numbers were not really in chronological order, and in many instances were not made to replace a previous mk, so it doesn't necessarily follow that a Mk 16 will have all of the refinements of lower numbered variants.  The Mk 16 for instance, was a Mk 9 in all respects, but it used the Packard version of the Merlin engine instead of Rolls Royce, presumably because there was a shortage of Rolls Royce Merlins - there were enough differences in the engine (imperial vs metric measurements, etc) that a different Mk number was needed to ensure correct logistical support.  The Mk 9 was still in production at that point, and eventually both the 9 and 16 were produced with bubble canopies.

Mike

What about the wingtips?

[mikeWe9a]

What about the wingtips?

Yes, the Mk 16 had clipped wingtips.  I misspoke (typed?) above.  The Mk 9 was built in several versions during the war, both as a high altitude fighter (H.F.) and low altitude fighter (L.F.), with differing engines.  The Mk 16 was based on the L.F. Mk 9.  At the end of the Mk 9 production, L.F. versions with the cut down fuselage and bubble canopy were built with the clipped wing as well.  According to Wikipedia, most of these Mk 9s ended up serving with the South African Air Force (SAAF) after the end of WWII.

Mike

[FLS]

What about the wingtips?

Wingtips were bolt on parts. The "clipped" wing just used a different end piece. Same wing, different wingtip.
 

[Bruv119]

Spitfires are Awesome!   

[potsNpans]

Spits are fer' sissies 

[Karnak]

Yes, the Mk 16 had clipped wingtips.  I misspoke (typed?) above.  The Mk 9 was built in several versions during the war, both as a high altitude fighter (H.F.) and low altitude fighter (L.F.), with differing engines.  The Mk 16 was based on the L.F. Mk 9.  At the end of the Mk 9 production, L.F. versions with the cut down fuselage and bubble canopy were built with the clipped wing as well.  According to Wikipedia, most of these Mk 9s ended up serving with the South African Air Force (SAAF) after the end of WWII.

Mike

It took 30-45 minutes of ground crew time to change wing tips on a Spitfire.  They could be clipped, standard or extended.  It wasn't dependent on the engine or mark number, at least from somewhere in the Mk V production run on.  Late in the war high level operations were not in as much demand so clipped wings became pretty common on Merlin Spits.

[Mister Fork]

Spitfires are Awesome!   

...and the SpitV the best of everything!

More to add to Karnak's point - in the late stages of the war, with forward operating bases located deep inside France and the perimeter of Germany, the allied forces no longer had to climb out to 20'000+ ft to engage enemy German fighters...they were themselves barely off the ground before being engaged.  At 350-400MPH, a late war Allied fighter could fly into German-occupied territory in minutes. Conversely, German pilots only had minutes to get into the air once their EWR detected a fighter sweep.

It's like flying for the Rooks next to an occupied Bishop base. They just come up from the airfield in swarms!