|
Title: Late-war high-back Mk XVIe: fabric or metal elevators? Post by: JCote on January 06, 2009, 05:31:42 PM Would anyone be able to help me out with the above question? Conclusive answers being pretty hard to come by, I'll gladly settle for a balance-of-probability indication. The specific aircraft I've got in mind is Wing Commander "Stocky" Edwards' MkXVI, serial TD 147. Thanks
Jean Title: Re: Late-war high-back Mk XVIe: fabric or metal elevators? Post by: Editor on January 06, 2009, 11:11:06 PM Although I don't have a positive proof, it is my belief that fabric-covered ailerons were effectively out of production for all marks Spitfire staring with the Mk. IX. Thus I would be surprised to learn that any Mk. XVI had them installed, at least in the factory.
Monforton's Spitfire Mk. IX/XVI Engineered show only metal ailerons on all depicted aircraft. Title: Re: Late-war high-back Mk XVIe: fabric or metal elevators? Post by: Antoni on January 07, 2009, 09:51:35 PM Ailerons (wing) are not elevators (tail).
Title: Re: Late-war high-back Mk XVIe: fabric or metal elevators? Post by: Editor on January 08, 2009, 02:20:41 PM Ailerons (wing) are not elevators (tail). How silly of me. Somehow I had my mind set on the fabric-metal AILERON issue. I'll check how the things were with the elevators. Apologies for the confusion. /M. Title: Re: Late-war high-back Mk XVIe: fabric or metal elevators? Post by: JCote on January 08, 2009, 10:56:32 PM No problem, an easy mistake to make. I also put the question to Edgar Brooks, who had already been of considerable assistance to me on yet another issue (three- vs. four-spoke hubs). Here's his answer:
Quote Metal elevators were introduced, as mod 1598, for the 21 only (initially,) from 15-1-47, and could, presumably, have been retrofitted to some post-war "fliers," as well. Wartime Spitfires didn't have them, though all Seafires did, so, eventually, they would have been easy to get hold of Good enough for me! Jean Title: Re: Late-war high-back Mk XVIe: fabric or metal elevators? Post by: Antoni on January 10, 2009, 01:14:53 AM The earliest reference to metal elevators on a Mk IX, that I know of, is ML186, "Boscombe Down Jan 1945. Handling with rear fuselage tank and metal elevators. ....... Metal elevators (hand made) improved performance. "
Title: Almost certainly fabric Post by: gingerbob on February 19, 2009, 12:22:11 PM The metal elevator came about in the process of the rear fuel installation (though I think the idea had been floating around, if not actually tested, before), but it was stolen to fix a handling problem with the Mk.21, in early '45- after 91 Sqn had begun to equip but before No.1 Sqn did. The mod referred to above seems more likely to be dated 15/1/45, not '47, but I don't think it was adopted as a definite fix until March. It is unlikely that there were any metal ones available for the IX/XVI in service until after the war.
bob Title: Re: Late-war high-back Mk XVIe: fabric or metal elevators? Post by: JCote on February 22, 2009, 08:34:31 AM Cheers Bob, I'd gone ahead with fabric elevators already so your confirmation (and amendment) of Edgar's info is very welcome.
Jean |