british single seat fighter aircraft royal_air_force allied countries second world war built variants wing configurations produced greater numbers british aircraft british fighter continuous production war continues popular enthusiasts approximately static exhibits aviation museums world designed short range high performance aircraft chief designer operated subsidiary accordance role mitchell supported development distinctive elliptical wing designed possible cross section enabled higher speed contemporary fighters including mitchell continued design death colleague took chief designer overseeing development multitude variants july october perceived public raf fighter numerous greater proportion burden nazi german air force luftwaffe units lower attrition rate higher victory loss ratio flying hurricanes higher performance general tasked engaging luftwaffe fighters mainly series aircraft close match battle superseded hurricane backbone saw action european mediterranean pacific south east asian theatres loved pilots served roles including photo reconnaissance fighter bomber trainer continued serve roles 1950s carrier based adaptation served fleet air arm mid-1950s original airframe designed powered engine producing strong use increasingly powerful later marks rolls engines producing consequence performance capabilities improved course life development production origins design meet specification new modern fighter capable mph type open cockpit wings large fixed powered horsepower cooled rolls engine flight february seven designs accepted service type big disappointment mitchell design team immediately embarked series cleaned designs experience trophy starting point led type retractable wingspan reduced submitted july accepted design went series changes including incorporation enclosed cockpit oxygen breathing apparatus smaller thinner wings newly developed powerful rolls engine later named november mitchell backing owner started detailed design work refined version type december issued contract providing construction mitchell improved design january contract new specification written aircraft april armament changed vickers machine guns wing following recommendation squadron leader operational requirements section march prototype took flight later southampton airport controls captain chief test pilot vickers quoted saying don touch landing minute flight came months maiden flight contemporary hurricane fitted new propeller summers flew aircraft march flight retracted time fourth flight new engine fitted summers left test flying assistants soon discovered good aircraft perfect rudder sensitive speed mph little faster new powered hurricane new better shaped wooden propeller allowed reach mph level flight mid summers flew handed aircraft squadron leader anderson flight lieutenant took prototype raf given orders fly aircraft report landing jones report positive request equipped position indicator week later june placed order formal report issued interim reports later issued basis initial production british public saw raf air display saturday june scale production supposed begin immediately numerous problems overcome time production roll southampton assembly line immediate problem main factory working capacity fulfilling orders flying boats outside contractors supposed involved manufacturing important components especially wings parent company reluctant manufactured outside concerns slow release necessary result delays getting production forward plan production stopped initial order build vickers able convince problems overcome orders placed march orders covering prefix serial numbers february director sir guaranteed production aircraft week beginning months order placed june placed order aircraft price scale production began facility southampton quickly clear order completed months promised small company busy building flying boats vickers busy building initial solution work production rolled assembly line flown months initial order final cost aircraft delays increased programme costs came aircraft originally estimated production aircraft cost expensive components hand fabricated finished fuselage approximately engine followed wings pair guns propeller manufacturing birmingham approached ask quickly plant turned aircraft production informal request major manufacturing facilities turned formal scheme boost british aircraft production capacity leadership known shadow factory plan austin given task building new factories supplement existing british car manufacturing industry adding overall capacity increasing potential reorganisation produce aircraft engines plan july bought site consisting farm fields sewage works birmingham shadow factory supplement original factories southampton building ordered modern machine tools available installed months work started site lord expert mass motor vehicle construction managed equipped factory funded government money project estimated factory built beginning cost doubled stressed skin construction required precision engineering skills techniques outside experience local labour force took time train built june factory incomplete numerous problems factory management ignored drawings provided favour tools drawings designs workforce completely stopping production continually threatened strikes slow downs demands higher average pay rates met built spite promises factory producing week starting april lord minister aircraft production lord handing control plant ministry immediately sent experienced management staff experienced workers gave control factory time resolve problems june built rolled july august september time production ended june total built went largest successful plant type conflict largest factory producing maximum aircraft month built half approximately aircraft type production dispersal battle britain efforts luftwaffe destroy main manufacturing plants near southampton bombing raid missed factories came august month raids mounted september factories completely wrecked people killed large number injured casualties experienced aircraft production workers fortunately future production machine tools relocated september steps taken disperse production small facilities southampton area end british government likes vincent garage station square reading later specialised manufacturing salisbury sole producer wing leading edge fuel tanks photo reconnaissance producing components purpose built works manufacturing installing engines built star road reading drawing office designs drafted relocated near southampton site aircraft assembly hangar prototype experimental assembled associated flew towns satellite airfields chosen focal points workshops southampton airport salisbury hill reading experimental factory subject luftwaffe daylight raid missed target bombed nearby school completed delivered airfields large queen mary low articulated trucks fully assembled tested passed raf flight testing production flight tested delivery second world war chief test pilot charge flight testing aircraft types built oversaw group pilots responsible testing developmental production built company southampton area devised standard testing procedures variations specific aircraft designs operated chief test pilot placed charge testing built factory team pilots assessed developments flew total total production wrote flight testing thorough pre flight check circuit height trim aircraft try fly straight level hands stick trim satisfactory throttle climb rpm rated altitude careful check power output engine height temperature appeared satisfactory dive power rpm trim fly hands feet mph personally cleared carried tests determine good bad production test usually affair initial circuit lasted minutes main flight took thirty minutes aircraft received final ground mechanics faults ready collection loved versions admit later marks faster earlier ones heavier handle positive control test throw flick roll times rolled mark mark got half flick rolls mark heavier got half later heavier versions got essence aircraft design compromise improvement end performance envelope rarely achieved deterioration rolled february total examples variants built including seat trainers remaining service 1950s british fighter aircraft continuous production second world war design airframe mid-1930s aviation design teams worldwide started developing new generation metal low wing fighter aircraft french germany example designed advantage new techniques construction availability new high powered liquid cooled line engines featured retractable fully enclosed low drag metal wings introduced civil years slow adopted military favoured simplicity mitchell design aims create balanced high performance bomber fighter aircraft capable fully exploiting power engine relatively easy fly time france ally germany thought likely future opponent enemy fighters expected appear great_britain enemy bombers required fly north_sea single engined fighter time range accompany bombers successfully return friendly airfields carry mission home defence design intended climb quickly meet enemy bombers airframe complex streamlined semi fuselage featured large number compound curves built skeleton known frames starting frame number immediately propeller unit tail unit attachment frame frames supported tank engine frame engine secured supported weight engine accessories loads imposed engine strengthened double frame incorporated bulkhead later versions oil tank frame tied main fuselage rest airframe bulkhead shaped half frames accommodated fuel tanks cockpit rear fuselage started eleventh frame pilot seat later armour plating attached ended nineteenth mounted slight forward angle forward fin frames oval reducing size tail incorporated holes reduce weight possible weakening shaped frame frame fuselage proper frame tail unit attached frames formed fin frame incorporated opening frame rudder post attached main fuselage tail unit frames held horizontal tail combination longitudinal main attached frames helped form light rigid structure sheets stressed attached fuselage plating gauge order thickness tail fin structure completed short frames covered gauge plating skins fuselage wings secured critical areas wing forward main required flush fuselage standard dome headed february flush fuselage affecting variants areas rear wing lower skins fixed brass screws tapped strips spruce lower ribs wing tips skinned spruce elevators rudder fabric covered combat experience showed fabric covered impossible use high speeds light replaced fabric enhancing control speed range elliptical wing design mitchell design staff decided use semi elliptical wing shape solve conflicting requirements wing needed thin avoid creating drag able house retractable plus armament ammunition elliptical efficient aerodynamic shape wing leading lowest induced drag centre pressure occurs quarter chord position aligned main preventing wings twisting mitchell accused copying wing shape flew mitchell team explained wing thinner different section case simply asking trouble copied wing shape aircraft designed entirely different purpose wing section series adapted create thickness chord ratio root reducing tip degrees adopted increased lateral stability feature wing contributed greatly success innovative boom design square tubes fitted wing span tubes progressively cut away similar fashion leaf spring linked web creating lightweight strong main legs attached pivot points built inner rear section main retracted slightly backwards wells non load carrying wing structure resultant narrow track considered acceptable compromise reduced bending loads main landing ahead thick skinned leading edge wing formed strong rigid shaped box took wing loads time wing designed shaped leading edge intended house steam cooling system intended constant problems system led adoption cooling system housed new designed cooling air generate thrust greatly reducing net drag produced turn leading edge structure lost function later adapted house integral fuel tanks sizes feature patented feature wing trailing edge wing twisted slightly upward span angle decreasing root tip caused wing roots stall tips reducing tip stall resulted wing drop leading spin wing roots started stall separating air stream started aircraft warning pilot allowing relatively inexperienced pilots fly aircraft limits performance featured wing type consistent feature subsequent designs leading complexity wing design especially precision required manufacture vital leading edge structures caused major hold ups production problems increased work dealt metal structured high speed aircraft june problems resolved production longer held lack wings main flight controls originally metal structures fabric covering designers pilots felt having heavy terms effort mass high speed avoid possible reversal stopping pilots throwing aircraft pulling wings felt air combat place relatively low speed high speed physically impossible pilots found far heavy high speeds severely restricting lateral manoeuvres rolls high speed turns feature air air combat flight tests showed fabric covering high speeds adversely affecting replacing fabric covering light dramatically improved high speed wing tips secured mounting points end main wing assembly took role high altitude fighter vii early standard wing tips replaced extended pointed tips increased wingspan wing tip variation variants wing standard wing tips replaced wooden reduced span wing tips spruce internal structure light skin attached brass screws main controlled exit flaps early marks single operated manually left pilot seat stage introduced split room starboard wing size housed alongside port wing new housed square oil cooler alongside half unit flaps operated automatically light split flaps trailing edge wing operated finger instrument panel positions available fully fully flaps normally lowered final approach landing pilot served design basis fin assembly exploiting shape favourable aerodynamic characteristics elevators rudder shaped centre mass shifted forward reducing control surface longer greater propeller wash resulting larger engines later models necessitated increasingly larger vertical later horizontal tail surfaces compensate altered culminating series larger area improved late wing designs gained power able manoeuvre higher speeds possibility pilots encounter reversal increased design team set wings counter original wing design theoretical reversal speed mph somewhat lower contemporary fighters noted mph roughly effectiveness lost wing twist new wing successors designed help alleviate problem wing increased new design piano geared trim meant theoretical reversal speed increased mph alongside redesigned wing experimented original wing raising leading edge inch hope improving pilot view reducing drag wing tested modified called referred increase performance minimal experiment abandoned developed new flow wing based new profiles developed united_states objective reducing drag improving performance flow root tip estimated new wing increase speed mph new wing initially fitted later new fuselage designed new fighter somewhat surprisingly new wing lower critical number old bringing test pilots flew jet attacker remark original wing retained jet versus fuel injection early development engine lack fuel injection meant hurricanes unlike unable simply nose steep dive meant luftwaffe fighter simply high power dive escape attack leaving fuel forced negative raf fighter pilots soon learned half roll aircraft diving pursue opponents adopted sir explained increased performance increased power engine march metal disc hole fitted fuel line restricting fuel flow maximum engine consume cure problem initial fuel starvation dive reduce problem flooded fuel fuel pumps negative known miss invented improvements introduced series manufactured pressure designed allow fuel flow flight attitudes introduced armament shortage selected new standard rifle calibre machine gun raf early fitted guns fitted later early tests showed guns worked perfectly ground low altitudes tended freeze high altitude especially outer wing guns raf modified fire open bolt prevented british ammunition allowed cold air flow barrel fix problem october added hot air rear wing mounted guns bulkheads trap hot air wing red fabric patches gun ports protect guns cold dirt moisture fired worked perfectly pilots soon discovered sufficient destroy larger aircraft combat reports showed average rounds needed shoot enemy aircraft november tests armoured targets indicated introduction weapon calibre needed variant design cannon specification order prototypes gone january june fitted drum fed wing installation required large wing cover round drum cannon suffered frequent guns mounted sides fit magazine possible wing january flew prototype combat starboard gun stopped firing single round port gun fired rounds seizing cannon seized threw aircraft aim cannon armed ordered operational trials soon known distinguish armed delivered squadron beginning june found unreliable squadron requested exchange aircraft older armed aircraft operational training unit august perfected reliable installation improved feed mechanism outer wing panels modified fighters delivered squadron operational history service operations operational history raf started entered service squadron august achieved legendary status reputation aided famous fund organised run lord minister aircraft production fact hurricane outnumbered battle burden defence luftwaffe higher performance overall attrition rate squadrons lower hurricane units units higher victory loss ratio key aim stop luftwaffe bombers practice tactic possible use counter german escort fighters based northern france particularly hurricane squadrons attacked bombers known pilots included johnson enemy aircraft shot flew right operational career late bob flew hurricanes major air battles shot prisoners war flying france scored successes fighter disappearing july notable commonwealth pilots canada sailor south_africa new gray australian continued play increasingly diverse roles second world war air forces raf example high speed photo reconnaissance aircraft operated raf unarmed flew high medium low altitudes ranging far enemy territory closely observe axis powers provide continual flow valuable intelligence information war provided photographs radar systems helped confirm germans building vengeance weapons baltic_sea coast germany mediterranean heavy attacks malta luftwaffe early helped way allied invasions sicily italy march carrying fuel tanks took coast algeria mile flight malta service outside britain served eastern approximately thousand supplied saw service english anti air served malaya campaign defense singapore met match japanese zero raf pilots trained methods excellent german italian equipment suicide notice fast zero turn ease sustain climb steep angle stay air times long counter zero pilots adopt slash run policy use superior speed diving superiority fight avoiding classic help southeast_asia lower priority area allocated modern fighters compared europe allowed japanese easily achieve air superiority australia raaf helped defend port town darwin air attack took battle involving western allies burma ground attack role helping defeat japanese break attempt second world war replaced march listed appendix novel known regularly flown german secret operations unit tested evaluated operated captured enemy aircraft second world war speed altitude records beginning late high speed diving trials undertaken investigate handling characteristics aircraft travelling speeds near sound barrier onset effects highest limiting number aircraft time chosen trials high altitudes necessary fully propeller fitted prevent trials flown squadron leader reached mph dive april aircraft suffered engine failure dive flown squadron leader propeller reduction gear broke dive aircraft fastest recorded engined aircraft propeller came tail heavy climbed altitude loading resumed consciousness found aircraft feet originally straight wings slightly swept successfully airfield landed safely awarded exploits modified high speed testing known flying tail miles research aircraft test pilot stated tested successfully october november attaining dive february squadron based hong_kong reached probably highest altitude achieved pilot flight lieutenant routine flight survey outside air temperature report meteorological conditions altitudes preparation proposed new air service area climbed indicated altitude true altitude cabin pressure fell safe level trying reduce altitude entered dive shook aircraft violently eventually regained control landed safely damage aircraft evaluation recorded flight data suggested dive achieved speed mph highest speed reached propeller driven aircraft speculated figure resulted inherent instrument errors critical number original elliptical wing higher subsequently flow section straight tapering wing follow attacker illustrating practical engineering approach problems high speed flight paid variants overview known engineer designed premature death meant development date undertaken team led chief chief designer mitchell death noted mitchell born design born defend develop marks sub variants covered development engines high speed photo reconnaissance variants different wing configurations built type built followed different wings featuring variety weapons fitted marks wing machine guns wing machine guns cannon universal wing mount cannon machine guns war progressed wing common armament variation wing housed cannon machine guns continued improve speed armament limited fuel capacity range endurance limited remained short legged life dedicated photo reconnaissance role guns replaced extra fuel tanks developed seat variant known viii training ordered example constructed identified absence official variant number converted field included squadron north_africa second seat fitted instead upper fuel tank cockpit dual control aircraft thought squadron run unofficial seat conversions fitted dual controls small number russian lend lease aircraft referred differed proposals greenhouse style double canopy raised bubble type viii postwar era idea revived number seat built converting old second raised cockpit featuring bubble canopy variants sold currently trainers known exist including viii based veteran flown operationally squadron derived sea naval version specially adapted operation aircraft carriers designed rough carrier deck operations considered best available fighter time basic design impose limitations use aircraft carrier based fighter poor visibility nose example meant pilots trained land heads cockpit looking alongside port like relatively narrow track meant suited deck operations early marks relatively modifications standard airframe cumulative line experience meant later versions strengthened folding wings hooks modifications culminating purpose built able zero low altitudes types tested wartime mock combat exercises contemporary allied carrier fighters considerably robust practical carrier operations performance greatly increased later versions fitted engines late service second world war engined variants rolls engined flew august flew operationally squadron april mark mph level flight climb altitude minutes american fighters took long range escorting daylight bombing raids engined progressively took tactical air superiority role played major role flying bombs engined variants mainly engined adapted fighter bomber role later engined marks lost favourable handling characteristics powered predecessors main german foes later american british designed fighters final version flew april february years prototype flight production left production line regular raf unit squadron replacing planes squadron continued patrol reconnaissance duties germany occupation forces relocated hong_kong july chinese civil war squadron main duty defend hong_kong perceived communist threats operation emergency saw fly operational sorties malaysian communists operational sortie flown april flying singapore non operational flight raf service took place june temperature humidity flight known flight engined fighter raf nation middle_east operate syria kept late sir instigated trial flew custody memorial flight english electric lightning jet engined mock combat time forces involved possible action indonesia malaya decided develop tactics fight fighter similar performance airframe developed mechanical issues removed trial owned gate guard duties having retired year maintained running condition ground crews short time participating trials end trials raf pilots found red guided missiles trouble acquiring low exhaust temperature decided twin cannons weapons suited task complicated tight turning circle lightning running concluded effective way modern jet engined fighter attack engined fighter engage altitude lower perform hit run attack contrary established fighter fighter doctrine time operators surviving aircraft approximately condition worldwide air museums examples static display example chicago paired static static dive bomber oldest surviving mark serial number preserved aircraft built flew april flew operationally squadron raf june damaged wheels landing repair training august battle britain aircraft veterans allocated air historical branch future museum preservation originally restored world maintained condition florida year period 1990s aircraft slowly restored england original aircraft skins owner insisted aircraft restored original condition closely possible machine guns cannon gun sight original working radios installed originally restored remain flying condition england restored american donated second auctioned july london flying world aircraft record million auction july beating previous record million set surviving burma hostilities ceased asia number reportedly buried prepared long term storage burma excavations carried early failed locate rumoured aircraft widely reported numerous sources aircraft raf bases burma actually shipped reuse memorials replica flown test pilot brief period active service squadron display battle britain memorial near replica hurricane representing shot august sentinel sculpture depicting flight roundabout junction popularly known commemorating main factory island sits adjoining southern corners housing estate hurricane nearby sculpture prototype stands roundabout entrance southampton international airport saw flight aircraft march test pilot initiated project build exact replica prototype permanent public display memorial team original designers worked years create unveiled public april currently loan replica colours polish squadron leader based station second world war display sector station raf operational service replica display roundabout near school named sir flew second world war memorial memory old raf base residential estate replica mounted hamilton new_zealand tribute new_zealand fighter pilots flew second world war second world war command centre hurricane seen fixed position attack built memorial worked war replica colours city edinburgh squadron edinburgh airport control tower model replaced original gate guardian painted represent serial number code blue peter personal aircraft squadron commander squadron leader replica mounted alongside hurricane memorial pilots display replaces bomber previously display currently undergoing restoration remaining wartime record display alongside near kent international airport lodge hill garage size replica rooftop monument owner bought replica campaign build national memorial honour women flew aircraft factories operational died ferry flights replica mounted roof shop ontario replica hurricane entrance memorial pilots served size replica display memorial men women served raf small manufacturers produced replica complete aircraft kits self building range scale scale size use wooden construction original metal design restored built scratch significant proportion air worthy examples include spit france manufactured canada sac california usa silence germany originally brisbane australia based texas manufacture scale scale supplied kit form aluminium reproduction production scale replica notable appearances media symbol british resistance example lord fund campaign drew widespread public attention continues highly popular airfields museums worldwide continues hold important place memories people especially living flew combat numerous films documentaries featuring produced listed section known canada british film produced directed howard starring role playing composite character based trophy pilots test pilot footage includes film shot operational pilots squadron code letters howard spent long time researching history development film mitchell son gordon set production flying sequences featured minutes film early november flying mocked represent prototype starring black white war film telling story defence malta island main defence air attacks reach sky starring kenneth tells story contemporary aircraft production directed starring set film features sequences involving total flying versions number flying examples second world war era british german aircraft eagles london wholly fictional italian film features recreation piece cake starring aired itv network based novel miniseries covered era september series depicted air combat skies france britain early stages second world war flying examples late model place novel early model hurricanes shots taking landing grass starring tale czech pilots escape nazi occupied europe fly filmed new aerial scenes reused aerial footage hamilton film james starring james series featured episode children constructed scale model style scale model released doctor victory episode popular series modified aid defending london alien blitz debut album alternative british band band features single design construction plane described samples backing song channel documentary covering year restoration mark coded buried beneath sand years crash landing french beach evacuation tells boy style story pilot squadron leader helps restoration aircraft specifications performance improved greatly progressed information variants specifications performance armament data history jane fighting aircraft world war general characteristics crew pilot length wingspan height wing area root tip weight loaded weight max takeoff weight powerplant rolls engine performance maximum speed mph combat radius nmi ferry range nmi service ceiling rate climb min wing loading power mass armament guns wing machine guns rounds gun wing rounds gun machine guns rounds gun wing cannon rounds gun wing rounds gun machine guns rounds gun wing cannon rounds gun machine guns rounds gun
Supermarine Spitfire