Stability and Control characteristics of the Early Mark Spitfires

[Crumpp]

Yes, my memory was correct. PROHIBITED is the right word.

[CaptainDoggles]

I'm sure someone will be along soon enough to say that when it's the Spitfire we're talking about; the pilot instructions don't count because "it was wartime".

[Crumpp]

Stable spin situation have often a link with an aft CG location.

Most common cause of unrecoverable spins....

Gee, the Spitfire is placarded against spins....

What a coincidence Supermarine narrowed the aft CG limits without the installation of bob-weights!!

Must be a conspiracy to castrate English manhood!

[Crumpp]

Anybody take a guess as to why the Spitfire nose goes down from elevator input when recovery begins, and then for one full turn, goes down farther holding input......and then it recovers??

[taildraggernut]

Originally Posted by Crumpp

Anybody take a guess as to why the Spitfire nose goes down from elevator input when recovery begins, and then for one full turn, goes down farther holding input......and then it recovers??

Enlighten me...

[taildraggernut]

interesting account.....

During the Battle of Britain, I often used spins to save my life. I can think of at least four times when
this simple but dramatic manoeuvre of pretending to be shot down came in handy. I used it when I was
attacked by German fighters and had no chance to fight successfully> I usually started with a snap roll,
which culminated in a vertical stabilized spin. I would quickly close and open the throttle, producing
black smoke from the engine exhaust.
To German pilots, a spin was an indication that the Spitfire was out of control. Black smoke confirmed
that the aircraft had been shot down. Why follow and confirm the crash if it meant losing height over
enemy territory? Better to claim one Spitfire shot down!
Evidence after the war indicates that German fighters claimed the destruction of three times more RAF
aircraft than actual RAF losses in combat. So I was spinning happily, recovering at 5,000 feet or so,
and if there was enough gas and ammunition, I would climb again in search of better fighting
opportunities.
One might wonder why anyone would use this manoeuvre. There were situations, especially in the
Battle of Britain, where we were so outnumbered that the Spitfire had no chance. The manoeuvrability
of the Spitfire was so superior to the Me 109 that in a dogfight I considered two or even three Me 109s
equal opponents.

http://www.609wrsquadron.co.uk/Archi...Zurakowski.pdf

Oh but it's another one of those bloody pilots telling stories again....what do they know..

[NZtyphoon]

Pilot's Notes General AP2095

4. Manœvres not Permitted

(i)Intentional spinning of operational aircraft

(iv)The reasons underlying these prohibitions are partly considerations of strength, partly of control. Aircraft are designed to fulfil their operational role and not to perform manœvres of no operational value.

That 609 Sqn pilot...naughty! Tsssk tssk!

However pilots were trained to spin in order to learn how to stay calm and recover the aircraft - during WW1 pilots who got into a spin often didn't know how to recover; until a training regime was put in place spinning into the ground was a common cause of death.

[ACE-OF-ACES]

Originally Posted by NZtyphoon

Pilot's Notes General AP2095

4. Manœvres not Permitted

(i)Intentional spinning of operational aircraft

(iv)The reasons underlying these prohibitions are partly considerations of strength, partly of control. Aircraft are designed to fulfil their operational role and not to perform manœvres of no operational value.

Bingo!

There were all sorts of 'rules' put to paper..

For example

Performing a victory roll over the air field..

Prohibited to be sure!

For more reason than one!

But does that mean the plane was unable to and/or unsafe while preforming a 'roll' during combat?

Nope!

[Al Schlageter]

"One might wonder why anyone would use this manoeuvre. There were situations, especially in the Battle of Britain, where we were so outnumbered that the Spitfire had no chance. The maneuverability of the Spitfire was so superior to the Me 109 that in a dogfight I considered two or even three Me 109s equal opponents."

Crumpp has claimed in the past that the RAF was not outnumbered in the air battles over south-east England.

[Crumpp]

The reasons underlying these prohibitions are partly considerations of strength, partly of control.