Did the Hurricane and Spitfire have the same engine?
The Rolls-Royce Merlin Engine powered some of the most famous aeroplanes of World War II, including the Spitfire, the Hurricane, the Mosquito, the Mustang and the Lancaster. The Merlin was also used in aeroplanes like the Fairey Battle and the Boulton Paul Defiant. Production ceased in 1950 after a total of almost 150,000 engines had been delivered. Merlin engines remain in Royal Air Force service today with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and power many restored aircraft in private ownership worldwide.After the war, the Merlin was largely superseded by the Rolls-Royce Griffon for military use, although new variants were designed and built for airliners and military transport aircraft. Production ceased in 1950 after a total of almost 150,000 engines had been delivered.Over its production life, over 50 different development types of the Merlin Engine were produced, ranging from just over 1,000 horsepower, to right at the end of the war, the two Merlins that powered the de Havilland Hornet giving 2,050 horsepower each.
Was the Mosquito faster than the Spitfire?
The Mosquito reached 408 mph in level flight, which was faster than the operational version of the Spitfire at the time, whose top speed was 370 mph. After this demonstration flight, the airplane almost failed its acceptance for the Royal Air Force. Originally conceived as a high-flying, unarmed photo-reconnaissance aircraft, the Mosquito saw service in wide-ranging roles from bomber, fighter-bomber, night-fighter, anti-shipping strike, trainer, torpedo bomber and target tug. Probably the Mosquito was the most feared allied warplane in WWII by the Axis.
What was the fatal flaw of the Spitfire fighter plane?
You dive to escape enemy fire. Early Spitfires had carbureted engines that choked under negative G-forces, giving enemy fighters an edge in the skies. Pilots had to improvise—rolling instead of diving, flying with instinct and raw nerve. The P-51 had the range needed to be the war’s best escort fighter. The Spitfire was a performance aircraft with very little range. A defensive concept. The P-51 took the fight to the enemy.
What did German pilots think of the Spitfire?
The Spitfire handles well, is light on the controls, faultless in the turn and has a performance approaching that of the Me 109. As a fighting aircraft, however, it is miserable,’ Major Werner Mölders, JG 51, Luftwaffe. The Spitfire accommodates one pilot and flies at a top speed of 405 mph (652 km/h). It can fly at a range of 980 miles (1,577 km).