FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1943
1943 - 2318.PDF
34° FLIGHT Sixty-seventh of the Latest Recognition Series Aircraft Types SPITFIRE VB (CUPPED WINGS) and ANYTHING so unusual as a familiar type of aircraftwith its wing tips clipped off was bound to causea flutter of excitement among students of aircraft recognition. So there was no lack of interest when examples of the Spitfire III were seen flying around, quite a while ago, with, it seemed, the tips of their beautiful elliptical wings surprisingly omitted. Only three of these were made. More recently, the "Clipped Spit" returned, this time in the modified form of the VB, and is now in operational service as a low-level fighter and for ground attack. Apart from the square wing tips, the aircraft retains all the exter- nal characteristics of the Spitfire V, namely, the long, slim fuselage with an almost straight top-line, large pointed spinner, curved bottom line, small rounded fin and rudder, and small elliptical tailplane set level with the top-line of the fuselage. Two cannon protrude from the wings, and there is a large but shallow radiator under the starboard wing. Where additional range is required, a long, fiat auxiliary fuel tank may be fitted under the centre-section. The reduction of the span and wing area by the removal of the tips has the effect of increasing the speed at low alti- tude by reducing the drag. The accompanying increase in wing-loading has, of couise, reduced the rate of climb and the ceiling, but this is ol no consequence in a machine which specialises in low-level work. Its 1,150 h.p. Rolls- Royce Merlin XLV engine is, of course, tuned to give maxi- mum power at low altitude. Except for fabric-covered control surfaces, the Spitfire VB, like its forbears, is of all-metal construction through- out, the low cantilever wings being of the single-spar type, and the fuselage a monocoque structure with flush-riveted Alclad skin. Top speed of the Spitfire VB. with two 20 mm. cannori and four 0.303m. Brownings in normal wings is 369 m.p.h. > at 19,000ft., but the clipped wing model is, as stated, some- what faster. SMALL AND ROUNDED SJRAIGHT TAPER Span Length Height DIMENSIONS. • * • • . < • • • • . • Wing area (approx.) 32ft. Zin. 30ft. lift. 232 sq. t. CLIPPEDTIPS i
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
