Help: Spade Grip Brake Lever
 

I need to know by how many degrees or distance the spitfire spade grip brake lever was able to move.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...zONNwcxRa4&t=1

Any rough value is welcome...

Thanks

Eh? Why?

It'd be about the same distance a front brake lever on a motorcycle moves when you squeeze it.

In other words, it'd depend on maintenance, how worn the pivots were, personal preference, and general reality. :grin:

Maybe you could email these guys.

http://spitfirespares.co.uk/controls.html

can the spit breaks be set to axes? If not I would not get to wrapped up about it, just make it comfortable. ;)

No they can't mate. Well, there's no point even if they can. Brakes are either on or off, but combined with rudder give differential braking.

Hi Krupi,

Hope this is helpful.

https://vimeo.com/48850519


Note: the resting position is closest to the throttle (ie left side as you're looking at it from the seat). The brakes are activated by moving the lever to the right (closest to the undercarriage lever). This lever's deflection is pretty much the width of the spade grip itself (probably makes it easier to hold with the right hand while holding the right side of the spade grip at the same time)

Doesn't look right to me Snapper mate. Why would the travel go from one side to the other like that? One would have to have two hands on the grip to be able to apply full brake with that amount of travel....

Happy to be proved wrong of course. :D

I figure if they had to hold the brakes for a period of time (ie holding for takeoff, doing runups), it was easier for them to hold the lever with the right side of the spade grip in their grasp as well. However, it does seem like a helluva travel, so I'll ask over at the A2A forum. If I'm right, Krupi can buy me a beer. If not, he'll have to shout out for yours. :)

No idea on the arc of travel but pilot reports I have read described the lever as "very light to operate" and "similar to using a bicycle brake lever" .

I also do not the believe the lever was just an on or off affair, varying pressure on the lever varied the amount of braking. A long throw would give more precision when braking.

By all accounts almost no pressure was required to operate the brakes. Braking on the ground and turning in a Spitfire was regarded as much easier than the same manoeuvres in US aircraft with pedal brakes.

Thanks guys for the help guys.

Snapper while they are normally very detailed in that sim I think it is wrong, the shape of the brake lever means it will clash with part of the grip before it could swing that far to the left.