Stability and Control characteristics of the Early Mark Spitfires

[NZtyphoon]

Originally Posted by Crumpp

Just some of the many references to the Longitudinal instability found in all of the early Mark Spitfires.

Spitfire Mk I Operatings Notes, July 1940:

Here are some good examples of pages designed to be used by trainee pilots and which are conservative in their assessments: for example the "violent pre-stall buffet" is a feature commented upon favourably by most Spitfire pilots who cite this feature as being a good warning device announcing that a stall was imminent, and it is something which was deliberately designed into the Spitfire by Mitchell.

How many aircraft need to be treated with care in bumpy conditions and high-g? All aircraft, except those that are particularly stable, need care when experiencing bumpy conditions under high-g loading, so there's nothing different about having such a warning in a Pilot's Notes. The "Pilot's Notes General" are specific about flying in bumpy conditions:

6. Flying in Bumpy Air.
(i) "Bumpy" air imposes g on the airframe and the effect of either horizontal or vertical variations of the wind on the airframe is proportional to the speed at which it is flying.
(ii) Speed should be restricted when flying in or near heavy cloud formations (especially cumulo-nimbus)...
(iii) As the effect of bumps may be added to g imposed by manœuvres, g due to manœvres should be kept to lower limits in rough weather.

In a high speed fighter pilots need to be careful in bumpy air - so what? Jeffrey Quill's comments about the elevators are interesting (to be posted later).