Stability and Control characteristics of the Early Mark Spitfires

[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.