Quote:
Originally Posted by Crumpp
It is not my theory. I don't know. It comes from what is considered the bible on the Spitfire's development, Morgan and Shacklady.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spitfire-His.../dp/0946219486
I just know nothing in this thread is convincing otherwise to make their conclusion invalid.
If you have a copy, look it up. If you don't and are interested in the Spitfire, get one. |
I have a copy of course. I read the section a week ago and my understanding is that the authors didn't make any conclusion, they only cite the pre-war plan. Some doubt that this plan was changed, some believe it has changed ... but really we don't even have evidence that the plan was accomplished, just as we don't have evidence that all units had converted.
What we have is evidence that Fighter Command wanted to change to 100 octane fuel and we have a large amount of squadrons that used 100 octane in May/June 1940 compared to a the few squadrons prior that time which used it on trial. Common sense tells me that it's not very likely that all squadrons changed from 87 octane to 100 octane in 6 weeks. Maybe someone can proof that I'm wrong with that assumption
My believe is that the widespread (meaning not limited to certain squadrons) use started in May/June 1940, however I don't believe that all squadrons used it exclusively from that time on but that the amount of squadrons that used it increased steadily and maybe it took the whole summer for some isolated squadrons.