FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1953
1953 - 1319.PDF
Navyplane. Odd Three Out Navyplane.—This twin-float pusher seaplane was sponsored by the Admiralty and was designed to take the Smith radial engine, which was not a success. A Bent ley A.R.1 rotary was substituted for trials, conducted by Lt.-Cdr. John Seddon. The nose in corporated a glass screen to afford the best possible field of view for reconnaissance, and the observer was provided with wireless. The gun mounting was of the pivoted traversing type. Sparrow.—The Sparrow lightplane, of 1924, was the first land machine to be built by Supermarines since the Pemberton Billing days. For the 1924 Lympne Competition it was arranged as a sesquiplane, the two wings being of different sections. The engine was the tiny Blackburne three-cylinder radial and the gross weight was under 900 lb. A speed range of 27-72 m.p.h. was claimed and the ceiling was 11,000ft. The 1926 version, seen on the right, was a parasol monoplane, fitted with a Bristol Cherub flat twin. S.24/37 ("Dumbo").—This experimental deck-landing torpedo/ bomber/ reconnaissance aircraft bore the Supermarine Type Number 322. Two prototypes were built, the first with a Merlin 30 and the second with a Merlin 32. The most striking feature was the variable-incidence wing, pivoted on the main spar and electrically actuated. Additionally, there were Handley Page leading-edge slots, and the entire trailing edge was hinged. The fuselage was of wooden construction and a great deal of wood was also used in the wings. The gross weight was about 12,000 lb and the top speed nearly 280 m.p.h. Sparrow sesquiplane. MHH e3© Sparrow monoplane. S.24/37 ("Dumbo"). F.7/30 (Spitfire). Spitfire I prototype. Speed Spitfire. Spitfire II. Spitfire and Seafire Spitfire I.—Production-type Mark Is differed from the original version of the prototype in having ejector exhausts, a tailwheel in place of the skid and numerous other small modifications. The Mk IA had eight 0.303in guns and the IB two 20 mm guns and four 0.303in guns. The original fixed-pitch wooden airscrew was replaced by a D.H. v.p. or c.p. three-blader. Speed Spitfire.—This special machine was built in 1938 and had an experimental boosted Merlin. At one stage the massive underwing radiator was completely removed and the coolant was allowed to boil away. The tail skid was retained and the wind screen specially faired. When war came a standard Merlin was fitted. Spitfire III.—In this experimental mark a Merlin XX engine drove a three-blade Rotol airscrew. The wing spar and under carriage were strengthened and a larger radiator was necessary. Spitfire IV (later Spitfire XX).—This was another experimental development, with a Griffon I IB engine, which flew during 1941, One version had provision for six 20 mm guns. To avoid con fusion with the P.R.IV the designation was later changed to Spitfire XX. Spitfire P.R. IV.—A Merlin 45, large leading-edge tanks and a wing oil tank distinguished this unarmed photographic-recon naissance version. Spitfire* V.—The engine of the Mk V was a Merlin 45, 46, 50, 50A, 55 or 56. The VA and VB corresponded in armament to the IA and IB, and the VC had universal-armament wings, later with provision for carrying two 250 lb bombs. Low-altitude versions had special Merlins and clipped wing-tips. Spitfire VL—The first British fighter with a pressure cabin, this machine had a wing span of 40ft 2in (the standard span was 36ft lOin) and a Rotol four-blade, constant-speed airscrew. Spitfire VIL—A redesign of the Spitfire to take the Merlin 61 series engine, with two-stage supercharger. The wing-tips were extended to take full advantage of the power at altitude, and the tailwheel was retractable. Some Mk VIIs had deep-chord Spitfire III.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
