What type of wing does a Spitfire have?
The Spitfire conducted its maiden flight on 5 March 1936. The elliptical wing was decided upon quite early on. Aerodynamically it was the best for our purpose because the induced drag caused in producing lift, was lowest when this shape was used: the ellipse was . The elliptical wing was decided upon quite early on. Aerodynamically it was the best for our purpose because the induced drag, that caused in producing lift, was lowest when this shape was used; the ellipse was an ideal shape, theoretically a perfection.An elliptical planform is the most efficient aerodynamic shape for an untwisted wing, leading to the lowest amount of induced drag.
What is the difference between the Spitfire and the hurricane wing shape?
The Hawker Hurricane, with its rugged construction and fabric-covered wings, was designed for simplicity and ease of maintenance, while the Supermarine Spitfire, with its sleek lines and elliptical wings, embodied speed and agility. During the Battle of Britain, which we discussed in the last Sortie, Hurricanes made up around 2 of every 3 fighter aircraft, and also claimed a higher proportion of the “kills”. The performance difference between the Spitfire Mk1 and the Hurricane was marginal.What did American pilots think of the British Spitfire when they encountered it for the first time in WWII? They loved it. Light, lavish, agile, it could hold its own with the Bf 109, it was a 1300 hp dream after the 600 hp T-6 trainer. They initially had a hard time giving it up for the huge American P-38s and P-47s.However, while it was the superior machine of the skies, the Spitfires would have been nothing without the brave members the Royal Air Force that piloted them. The average life expectancy of a Spitfire pilot during the Battle of Britain was just four weeks.However, the early Merlin engine’s lack of fuel injection meant that Spitfires and Hurricanes, unlike the Bf 109E, were unable to simply nose down into a steep dive.
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. Let’s consider their ultimate marks that were used in the war though – the Spitfire was slightly faster, was appreciably more agile, had a better rate of climb. The Mustang had far better endurance and better firepower (and I think had a slightly higher ceiling).Close in dogfighting, the Spit was better than the Mustang. But if you wanted to get where the fight was, you flew the Mustang. Comparing apples with oranges. Spitfire was a short range interceptor, even with droptanks, Mustang a long range escort.
Which was better, the P-51 or the Spitfire?
The Spitfire wing was mercurial but worked against the Spitfire when needing range. The P-51 laminar wing was much better for this. Logistically the P-51 turned up in their hundreds and hunted down the remnants of the Luftwaffe. As the Battle progressed, it became increasingly common for Luftwaffe pilots to incorrectly attribute losses and damage to the Spitfire, in what became known as “Spitfire Snobbery”. For the Germans, it seems, it was more acceptable to have been shot down by the RAF’s Spitfire, rather than any other aircraft.The opinion of Soviet pilots and ground personnel during the Second World War about aircraft such as the British Spitfire was varied, according to some it was a good fighter, an adequate interceptor as well as better than some local designs, but others thought that it had some defects that This made it unsuitable for .The Bf 109 was arguably the best fighter in the world in 1940. It was faster than the Spitfire at high altitude, could dive more rapidly and carried a more effective armament of two cannon and two machine guns.The Germans started the war believing that the Messerschmitt Bf109 was a much better aircraft than the Spitfire, which it was under certain circumstances. But the battle of Britain taught them the error of that thought. When asked what he wanted by Goering, one of their aces replied “Spitfires.Used to be that the German Messerschmitt was the most feared fighter plane in WW2. But then in 1943, the US came up with the Mustang – a plane very capable of taking on the Messerschmitt.
Why is the Spitfire so special?
A symbol of victory. The Spitfire is the most famous plane of World War Two. Its groundbreaking design and superior specifications gave the British a decisive advantage fighting the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. But early models were often cruelly exposed in head-to-head duels with the enemy. Erich Hartmann: The German World War II Pilot Who Was the Deadliest Flying Ace of All Time, ATI. Delve, K. The Story of the Spitfire: An Operational and Combat History.
Did German pilots fear the Spitfire?
I don’t think the Germans feared Spitfires. They did respect them, along with Hawker Hurricanes that flew with them. The only drawback to early Spitfires were there machines rifled for a 303 cartridge. Pilots would complain emptying there magazines on a single plane, because of the lack of penetration power of the 303. They soon discovered that the Spitfire was a very capable aircraft, but not perfect. The rudder was oversensitive, and the top speed was just 330 mph (528 km/h), little faster than Sydney Camm’s new Merlin-powered Hurricane.