Quote:
Originally Posted by 41Sqn_Stormcrow
Quite similar to Heinkel whose chief designers the brothers Günther had some strange fancy for elliptical wings.
But as I said the elliptical planform in itself brought minor to none primary aerodynamical advantages over trapezoid wings with rounded wing tipps. Only secondary advantages because of higher wing surface allowing to reduce AoA for same lift and a small relative chord thickness. He may as well have achieved the same advantage with a large trapezoid wing with rounded wing tipps like in his seaplanes that he used for winning the snyder trophy.
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Had Mitchell lived longer he may well have decided the same thing; as I mentioned some of his late design projects used different wing shapes. The carrier borne and two seat Spitfire derivatives are described more fully in Morgan and Shacklady's book and I'll dig out my copy of Secret Projects.