Stability and Control characteristics of the Early Mark Spitfires

[TomcatViP]

http://www.avialogs.com/list/item/34...in-xii-engines

hve a look p7, 8 & 16 (repect. rpm vs speed as indicated by the manual, handling characteristics and boost). Doc is AP1565B Spit IIA&B flight manual, edited in June 40 and published in July40.

[Crumpp]

Originally Posted by TomcatViP

http://www.avialogs.com/list/item/34...in-xii-engines

hve a look p7, 8 & 16 (repect. rpm vs speed as indicated by the manual, handling characteristics and boost). Doc is AP1565B Spit IIA&B flight manual, edited in June 40 and published in July40.

Good post. The RAE was very much aware of the longitudinal instability and the Operating Notes is full of warnings that are the result.

I will post the relevant graphs, stability and control engineer opinion, and the highlights from the Operating Notes in my continuation.

What is funny is the next aircraft I was going to discuss is the Hawker Hurricane. Sir Sydney Camm may not have understood swept wing theoy during the war but he was a master of stability and control design. The Hurricane was a wonderful gun platform and had near perfect longitudinal stability. His other major designs, the Typhoon and Tempest also exhibited the same characteristics.

In the Battle of Britain, Hurricanes scored the highest number of RAF victories, accounting for 1,593 out of the 2,739 total claimed.

Last Witness” Bob Doe explains: “An average pilot could get more from a Hurricane than from a Spitfire. But if you were good you could get more from a Spitfire. A Hurricane was like a brick-built s---house. It was sturdy and reliable, and it did not leap about when the guns were fired.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/b...been-lost.html

[NZtyphoon]

Originally Posted by Crumpp

What is funny is the next aircraft I was going to discuss is the Hawker Hurricane. Sir Sydney Camm may not have understood swept wing theoy during the war but he was a master of stability and control design. The Hurricane was a wonderful gun platform and had near perfect longitudinal stability. His other major designs, the Typhoon and Tempest also exhibited the same characteristics.

Interesting that the Pilot's Notes for the Typhoon I note:

39. General Flying
(i) Stability. - The aircraft is stable directionally and laterally, but is slightly unstable longitudinally...

Tempest V Pilot's Notes:

44. General Flying
(i) Stability. - The aircraft is stable directionally and laterally, but is slightly unstable longitudinally.