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Originally Posted by 41Sqn_Stormcrow
I have to agree with Kur this time.
The elliptical form in itself had aerodynamically only most minimal to vanishing advantages above a trapezoid wing with rounded wingtips but had some advantageous side effects such as increased wing aera and reduced relative chord thickness due to the long chord lengths. That is why supermarine chose elliptical wings above trapezoid wings because these side effects provided advantages with respect to the specifications issued by the ministry.
It came at the cost of a wing very difficult to produce and it was commonly abandoned by all air forces.
If the elliptical form would have been so advantageous why did so few other air forces not adopt them? Supermarine was neither the inventor nor the patent holder of the elliptical wing.
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Partly it was a Mitchell design signature, because Mitchell believed the ellipse presented the best aerodynamic compromise available. He also designed a heavy bomber (the B.12/36) and a flying boat with thin, elliptical wings; on some later projects, such as a two-seat, carrier borne version of the Spitfire, he compromised and used wings with straight leading and trailing edges.
A really interesting book to get a hold of is
British Secret Projects 3 Fighters and Bombers 1935-1950