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The Spitfire Forums » Historic Aviation » Spitfire » Late-war high-back Mk XVIe: fabric or metal elevators?
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Author Topic: Late-war high-back Mk XVIe: fabric or metal elevators?  (Read 6175 times)
JCote
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« 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
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Editor
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« Reply #1 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.
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Antoni
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« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2009, 09:51:35 PM »
Ailerons (wing) are not elevators (tail).
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Editor
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« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2009, 02:20:41 PM »
Quote from: Antoni on January 07, 2009, 09:51:35 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.
« Last Edit: January 08, 2009, 02:51:02 PM by Editor » Logged
JCote
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« Reply #4 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:

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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
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Antoni
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« Reply #5 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. "
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gingerbob
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« Reply #6 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
« Last Edit: February 20, 2009, 01:25:20 AM by gingerbob » Logged
JCote
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« Reply #7 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
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