What are these bits for on a Spitfire?

[FunkyNige]

Went to Duxford yesterday and saw this Spitfire in the restoration hanger bit in US colours and I saw something just behind the prop that I don't think I've seen before. Does anyone know what it is / what it does?


On top, just behind the prop


Zoomed in a bit

[hman]

its not a spitfire - hope that helps.

[Hooli]

hman said:

its not a spitfire - hope that helps.

That for a start!

P-40 Kittyhawk?

Looks like a gun/camera & air intake to me.

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

It's a P40 Warhawk (Kittyhawk was the UK name for the P40D and later models and lacked the nose mounted guns).

The scoop referred to is the carburetor air intake.

[FourWheelDrift]

P-40B on the top (if that's what you mean) are the 2x12.7 mm browning machine guns either side of an air intake for the Allison V12.



Extra bit of googled info - She is the only airworthy P-40B in the world that actually survived the Pearl Harbour attacks in December 1941.

Edited by FourWheelDrift on Thursday 21st June 11:55

[FunkyNige]

hman said:

its not a spitfire - hope that helps.

Well that's embarrassing

[Eric Mc]

Most of the P40 designs were powered by the Allison V12 - which featured this carburettor intake on top of the nose. One version of the P40 was fitted with the Merlin and lacked this intake.

By coincidence, I completed this Airfix kit of a P-40E a few weeks ago. You can see the intake on the top of the nose -

[Eric Mc]

FunkyNige said:

hman said:

its not a spitfire - hope that helps.

Well that's embarrassing

I was at Marlow a couple of weeks ago, walking through the little park there and a P-40 flew over. An elderly man turned to his wife and said "Nice Spitfire". I felt I had to correct him.

[Tyre Smoke]

Eric, did the real thing have radio antennae going from tail plane to each wing tip?

If so, why?

[Eric Mc]

Tyre Smoke said:

Eric, did the real thing have radio antennae going from tail plane to each wing tip?

If so, why?

Depends on the variant. This one did.

Just another way of attaching an aerial wire, I guess.

[Tyre Smoke]

Seems like it would create a lot of unnecessary drag when one from tail plane to behind cockpit is more 'aerodynamic'.

Wonder how that affected performance?

Bearing in mind that sweeping the Spitfire's exhausts backwards added xx mph (can't remember exactly) to top speed.

[Piersman2]

FunkyNige said:

hman said:

its not a spitfire - hope that helps.

Well that's embarrassing

Hman's immediate and succinct answer did make me laugh, at you mainly.

P.S. not that I'd have known it WASN'T a Spitfire from the photos, I just liked the abruptness of the first reply and recognised immediately the embarassment heading towards the OP.

[Eric Mc]

Tyre Smoke said:

Seems like it would create a lot of unnecessary drag when one from tail plane to behind cockpit is more 'aerodynamic'.

Wonder how that affected performance?

Bearing in mind that sweeping the Spitfire's exhausts backwards added xx mph (can't remember exactly) to top speed.

I honestl;y don't think aerrial wires create a massive amount of drag. In reality, they are very fine. I have actually seen them on more "modern" aircraft - such as the Boeing 737.

[jjones]

Piersman2 said:

Hman's immediate and succinct answer did make me laugh, at you mainly.

P.S. not that I'd have known it WASN'T a Spitfire from the photos, I just liked the abruptness of the first reply and recognised immediately the embarassment heading towards the OP.

could have legendary if it was

"it's a P40 you tard"

[Eric Mc]

I fact, the P-40 in the background looks like it be a Merlin powered example as it doesn't feature the intake.

[FourWheelDrift]

Yes, it's a P-40F one of only 2 airworthy.

[spitfire-ian]

FunkyNige said:

hman said:

its not a spitfire - hope that helps.

Well that's embarrassing

And you had an Airfix model of a P40 when you were younger too!!

[mybrainhurts]

FunkyNige said:

hman said:

its not a spitfire - hope that helps.

Well that's embarrassing

Yes it is. Give yourself a bloody good hiding, then rub salt in...

[mybrainhurts]

Eric Mc said:

FunkyNige said:

hman said:

its not a spitfire - hope that helps.

Well that's embarrassing

I was at Marlow a couple of weeks ago, walking through the little park there and a P-40 flew over. An elderly man turned to his wife and said "Nice Spitfire". I felt I had to correct him.

I was driving down the M11 past Duxford a couple of weeks ago. I believe one of these was doing gentle aerobatics, but I couldn't get a close view. It dived out of sight a couple of times, close to the motorway. I wonder how many calls the emergency services get from people who think they've witnessed a crash in such circumstances?

[Simpo Two]

I saw a Spitfire in German colours once. It had odd little brackets under the tailplane too.