supermarine spitfire maiden flight

maiden flight ,
The Supermarine Spitfire was a British single-seat fighter, which was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries during the Second World War, and into the 1950s. It was produced in greater numbers than any other Allied design. The Spitfire was the only Allied fighter in production at the outbreak of the Second World War that was still in production at the end of the war.
Produced by the Supermarine subsidiary of Vickers-Armstrongs, the Spitfire was designed by the company's Chief Designer R. J. Mitchell, who continued to refine the design until his death from cancer in 1937; the position of chief designer was then filled by his colleague, Joseph Smith . Its elliptical wing had a thin cross-section, allowing a higher top speed than the Hawker Hurricane and other contemporary designs; it also resulted in a distinctive appearance, enhancing its overall streamlined features. Much loved by its pilots, the Spitfire saw service during the whole of the Second World War and subsequent years, in most theatres of war, and in many different variants.
The Spitfire will always be compared to its main adversary, the Messerschmitt Bf 109; both were among the finest fighters of their day.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• rj
• mitchell
• supermarine
• spitfire
• RAF
• merlin

[eus478]

One more matter no-one likes to hear: the Spitfire wings were inspired by the Heinkel 70 from 1932.

[atrumira]

eus478,

You've set your sights on trolling a British themed video, no offense but maybe it would be a good idea if you got over being German

As for where Mitchell got his inspiration for the Spitfire's elliptical wing design, since the dawn of flight (after designers were able to move beyond the Wright Bros patents) designers the world over shared info, who did what 1st is a matter of opinion since the 1st to produce a specific design feature was not necessarily the originator of this idea.

[spineyExtra]

RJM definitely did not chose it for ease of manufacture, & was noted for aesthetics...interesting

[spineyExtra]

RJM always claimed 'swallows'

The incidence of the spits wing is +2° at its root and -½° at its tip.

[tomnm1]

this plane won ww2

[spineyExtra]

nah, didn't even win the battle of Britain (hurricane) - but is nevertheless iconic & beautiful

[darkassian111]

if it weren't for that plane i would be speakin german language

[atrumira]

LiverpoolScottish: RJ Mitchell, genius & saviour of Britain- RESPECT!"

5 star comment

Take 1 hand, cut off 2 fingers & count the remaining # of digits representing those for whom I hold the greatest respect for - Reginald J Mitchell being 1 of them

Remove his contribution from the equation & I shudder to think what the outcome of the Battle of Britain might have been. Yes the Hurricane shot down more planes but the Spit had the more difficult job of dealing w/ the brunt of the German fighters

[wikieditspam]

Didn't like the name? Well I think Spitfire definitely grew with age, and those cool looking jets of exploding exhaust blue fireballs definitely made the plane live up to it's name.

[NearAbbeyRoad]

@kolbpilot

Read what Adam Tooze says about the 109G. It was OK in a straight line. Its agility was removed.Spit and Mustang pilots would drive it into the ground knowing it could not pull out.

[davelj1941]

Anyone who puts down RJM, is anti British.........and anti free world.

[NearAbbeyRoad]

@kolbpilot

Germany had experienced pilots. Germany's management was bad from the start engaging in a war they just could not win.

[kolbpilot]

@NearAbbeyRoad The 109 was a quircky, enigmatic machine. Quite a few flaws, but loved by many a pilot who flew it. Yes, it was obsolete at the end, but it was still there, trying its best. Germanys' lousy low octane fuel didn't help matters either, while the Spitfire enjoyed burning Texacos' finest. Germany had the talent but bad management did 'em in.

[NearAbbeyRoad]

@kolbpilot

You emphasis the skills of the pilot in getting the me109 to perform.  That applies to any plane. In plane vs. plane the 109 by 1945 was way past its sell-by date.

[NearAbbeyRoad]

@kolbpilot

The me109 was hopelessly outdated in 1945. It was outdated in 1939, never mind 1945. It was the peer of the Hurricane, not the Spitfire. The Brits stopped playing about with the Hurricane early in WW2.

[kolbpilot]

@NearAbbeyRoad Somewhat agree. But the last model 109s, G14s or K4s, were still a machine to be reckoned with, out classed or not. Granted, it needed a talented pilot to exploit her strengths.