FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1944
1944 - 0801.PDF
AVRTL 20TH, 1944 FLIGHT 4*5 SPITFIRE TWELVE THE LOW-DOWN : Recognition features of the Spitfire XII low altitude fighter are clearly shown in these two flying photographs. sure maximum manoeuvrability. As the accompanying photographs show, this new rudder design has increased area and aspect-ratio and its changed outline is obvious from the pointed apex. Still in search of higher m.p.h. by every possible reduction in drag, especially parasite drag, the lines of the cockpit cover and the engine cowling were modified, achieving a greatly improved aerodynamic yform, while the fixed tailwheel was replaced by a fully retractable type. From the very first, the '' Spit XII'' proved to be highly successful, its greatly improved manoeuvrability, in creased speed and rate of climb at low altitudes giving it a combat perform ance, that is probably not equalled and most certainly not exceeded by any other fighter flying to-day. Griffon Features While the cleanness of the airframe contributes genorously to this gratify- ingly high standard of performance, it is primarily bestowed, of course, by the Rolls-Royce Griffon engine. This remarkably compact power-unit was described and illustrated in Flight of March 9th, but a brief review of its most notable characteristics will re fresh the reader's memory and will therefore not be out of place here. Fol lowing the well-proved general arrange ment of Rolls-Royce aircraft engines, the Griffon is a twelve cylinder liquid-cooled Vee type and is in the 2,000 h.p. class. It is larger than the famous Mer lin series, having a piston displacement of 36.7 litres as compared with the Merlin's 27.litres and is, in fact, of the same dimensions as the "R " type Rolls-Royce which won the Schneider Trophy Race in 1931. It employs the same type of mechanically driven two-speed supercharger as fitted to the Merlin XX, but an interesting departure from previous practice is the provision of an independent "remote " gear box on which is mounted the various acces sories required to operate such things as the undercarriage retraction gear, wheel brakes, flaps, blind-flying instrument panel and the electric generator. Students of aircraft recognition will be mainly interested in the square tips of the clipped wings, the pointed apex of the fin and rudder, a single radiator under the star board wing and a small intake beneath the port wing as on the Spitfire V. The spinner is larger and there are two streamlined bulges on top of the cowling and the tailwheel retracts.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
