Spitfire

Planes became faster, and fuel consumption also improved, and they could operate at higher altitudes, reducing risk of aircraft fire.

Rolls Royce Merlin 61 liquid cooled 12 cylinder vee piston engine

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/why-did-spitfires-change-their-guns

20mm Hispano cannon

Browning 7.7mm machine guns

There were four machine guns per plane, each with an ammunition box. The ammunition box held 350 rounds. They could fire 1,600 rounds per minute.

The Battle of Britain

On 1 July 1940, when the Battle of Britain opened, RAF Fighter Command possesed 19 squadrons of Spitfires with 286 aircraft deployed in the front line. In addition, about half that number of Spitfires was held at maintenance units rady for issue to units to replace losses. Thirty-two squadrons of Hurricanes, with 463 aircraft, made up the rest of the modern single-seat fighter force.

Instrument Panel

The instrument panel containined guages to monitor a varieet of important information. Such as: Altimeter- to measure altitude (height) Oil pressure guage - to monitor damage to the engine Artificial horison - to be aware of an anlge of attack Rate of climb and decent indicator -how fast the plane is rising or falling Accelerometer - shows the gravitational force. Most people will pass out ot 3 or 4 Gs. Pilots need to be aware not to turn to tightly to remain conscious.

Wings

The wings generate lift, which is a critical force that allows the aircraft to fly. Attached to the wings were ailerons (the flappy bits at the back) which allowed the aircraft to roll. These played a large part in the aircrafts' ability to turn.

On the tail plane are elevators (the flappy bits at the back), which allow the aircraft to pitch. Pitch is the function of pointing the nose of the aircraft up or down, allowing to climb or descend. It also contributed to the aircrafts ability to turn quickly. By combining roll and pitch, you can turn more quickly, which was an important aspect of combat aerobatics.

Tail plane

The fin is home to the rudder. The rudder turns the aircrafts nose left an right (yaw). Combined with roll and pitch, yaw, adds to the aircrafts ability to manouvre in the air allowing the pilot to perform complext aerobatics, but also allows the aircraft to steer whilst moving on the ground.

The Fin

Fuselage

The fuselage performs two fuctions. 1) to carry the payload (anything the aircraft carries) in this case, just the pilot. 2) to provide a main structural link in the complete assembly that is the aircraft. The structural link is responsible for bearing the load of the wings, tail components and other auxilary components such as landing gear and engines.

The prop is turned by the engine, delivering thrust, which is the force that allows the aircraft to accelerate.

Prop

Haynes. (2010). Supermarine Spitfire - Owners’ Workshop Manual. Haynes Publishing. Wilkinson, R. (2009). Aircraft Structures and Systems. MechAero Publishing.

References