Almost all of the maingear components (struts, wheels and brakes) are made in-house at the Supermarine factory. Mint condition. Oct 6, 2019 - Explore gordonwestcoast's board "Spitfire Cockpit", followed by 145 people on Pinterest. £32.99. Lowering the gear is the same procedure, with the switch in the opposite position. WWII Douglas DC-3 C-47 Dakota Control column Yoke. The builder needs to purchase an airframe and engine kit from Supermarine and then add instruments, avionics, propeller and paint. I was cautioned that the custom-made brakes were not very effective (something that is obviously high on the factory’s list to correct) and therefore approached taxi speed and turns with care. The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II.Many variants of the Spitfire were built, using several wing configurations, and it was produced in greater numbers than any other British aircraft. For the modern civilian pilot, low stall speeds are a definite plus if things get dicey, or if an off-airport landing is required. 1. The aircraft has electrically operated retractable landing gear with custom-built wheels (fitted with 6.00×6 tires) and brakes to preserve the appearance of the original aircraft. For example, some Velocity builders are having success with the engine. Propeller control 6. × Few modern pilots will ever get the chance to fly a full-size fighter from WW-II. While many have made them work, many have had bad experiences, either due to in-flight issues or not being able to get them to the point where they were flyable. Supermarine’s approach to the problem has been to over-design the components of its belt-driven reduction systems and to conduct extensive testing on dynamometers and real engine installations. This is a list of all the controls needed to fly and fight with all Spitfire models. It is, however, something to remember in the landing flare, when forward visibility to judge height can suddenly become useless. To cycle the gear, you pull the levers back until the position has been achieved, and then push them forward to lock. Cockpit Floodlight 62. The cockpit section is a full scale replica of a Spitfire Mk9 with authentic controls and a seat feedback system. The outboard wing panels are mostly finished, but the center section needs to be put together (from precut and match-drilled parts) by the builder. Of a Supermarine Spitfire climbs down from his cockpit after landing at the airfield at RAF. A nice blast of power over the rudder solved that, and I was quickly taxiing back, canopy open, happy to have returned from my first Spitfire mission. Spade grip, Replica Spitfire spade grip mount. It is in excellent condition and still works. By adding a short screw or wooden dowel to the hole on the bottom you may mount this control stick in any position you want. Avionics, instruments and paint will be comparable to other similar homebuilts and will add to the price accordingly, depending on the builder’s requirements and taste. Looked at that way, the 90% replica is surprisingly affordable. Aires | Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V Cockpit Set Reviewed by Randy Bumgardner Introduction. A Spitfire cockpit is very small, with control runs under the seat and a lot of electrical/electronic gear behind it. For those modern pilots used to fully blown Plexiglas bubbles, the window frame might seem to be an impediment to vision, but if you are coming from a Cessna, the view will astound you. See more ideas about cockpit, supermarine spitfire, ww2 aircraft. Over the course of our discussions, I learned that several details were still in development. It simply continues to fly slower than you would expect from a fast airplane). Spitfire replica Rudder Bias trim wheel. Edge finishing is necessary with any sheet-metal aluminum airplane, and this is a basic skill that can be learned in minutes, so the Spitfire builder will be putting parts together in no time. PSRU lubrication is separate from the engine-oil system, and so any constant-speed prop needs to be electrically controlled and operated. In fact, it is hard to think of another modern non-round piston engine that can give you 430 horsepower, so to get the same effect you probably need to be burning Jet-A. £110.00. All rights reserved worldwide. Several factors brought him to transfer operations to the United States, not the least of which was that many of the components for his design were being purchased here, and shipping costs to the other side of the globe were rising. R.J. Mitchell (the original designer of the Spitfire) had indeed gotten it right, and today’s modern kit company has been careful not to ruin the formula. © 2021 Kitplanes.com. Join one of our expert IWM guides in a unique opportunity to sit inside the cockpit of an airworthy combat veteran Mark 1 Spitfire. This is clearly not an inexpensive aircraft, unless it is compared to the price of an actual vintage Spitfire or other high-performance warbird. Again, the airplane felt natural with one wing pointing high to the sky and the other low, and the fighter-like visibility was obvious as I swept the blue for bogies. As long as you know this, it is simply a matter of planning for it. This seems remarkably short for an airplane of this size and performance, but much of the time-consuming systems work that is a major portion of most projects is completed by the factory. And there is nothing wrong with a steam-gauge cockpit, which in this case seems almost appropriate. CARF Spitfire Cockpit - FlyingGiants Foru . The gauges are all original, with the workings having been removed and replaced with modern electronics so that the computers can drive them, but retaining the original dials and needles. The skies of Cisco appeared to be free of adversaries this morning, so I decided it was time to return for landing. Supermarine finishes the package with a wiring harness that provides a single connector to the airframe harness at the firewall. Paul Dye, KITPLANES® Editor at Large, retired as a Lead Flight Director for NASA’s Human Space Flight program, with 40 years of aerospace experience on everything from Cubs to the Space Shuttle. The most prominent control at the port side of the cockpit is the throttle and propeller control quadrant. Spitfire Blind Flying Panel mounts. The basic airframe harness is also completed for the builder (though options such as avionics and instrumentation are left up to the owner), and this will save time as well. I could quickly see that the original airplane’s intended purpose was to be a good gun platform; it was point and shoot. The Aircraft Mike O’Sullivan built his first Spitfire replica in the early 1990s, as a 75%-scale version of the original, which he called the Mk 25. Because this is basically an auto engine, it starts like a car, but it sure doesn’t sound like one. It is not uncommon for metal airplane designers to use twice as many fasteners as necessary to provide a margin for builders who might not set good rivets, but it is almost impossible to improperly set a pulled rivet, so there should be little worry about the Spitfire’s ability to hold up to modern “combat.”. The throttle is a single lever on the left side, sharing a quadrant mount with the lever used for pitch trim. Bomb Release Push-Button 67. The crate is large because the fuselage and wings are mostly assembled at the factory and held together with a few rivets in strategic locations. To raise the gear, the pilot places both left and right selector switches in the up position before takeoff. The current production kit is a 90% version called the Mk 26B. The builder still has a lot of work to do, but the various components look much like they will when finished, at least in shape and size. General characteristics Crew: 1 Length: 29 ft 11 in (9.12 m) Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m) Height: 11 ft 5 in (3.48 m) Wing area: 242.1 sq ft (22.49 m 2) Airfoil: root: NACA 2213 ; tip: NACA 2209.4 Empty weight: 5,065 lb (2,297 kg) Gross weight: 6,622 lb … All of the intakes are authentic; the radiators under the wing are actually radiators. The airplane is assembled with pulled rivets instead of solid AN rivets that need to be shot, bucked and/or squeezed. Special Requests. As it was, some ballast in the tail had been added to bring the CG into the range for a pilot of my size. I elected to operate off the grass beside the paved runway, on the recommendation of the factory guys, to give me some natural braking effect, and this worked out well. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Rudder (yaw) trim control 2. After 5 to 10 seconds, the gear has gone full travel up into the wells, and the up indicator light comes on; the pilot then pushes the levers forward to lock the gear in the up position. This aircraft is exceptionally well restored, and has perhaps the most authentic cockpit of any still flying Spitfire anywhere in the world. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Just connect the bolts, attach the engine harness and fluid lines to the airframe, and it is ready for you to attach the prop and cover it with the cowl. Saved by Boris Solovyov. This is not an inexpensive kit by any means, but it is well built and well designed, and it flies wonderfully. Buyers should still be aware that they are not flying a powerplant with millions of operational hours, however, and they need to accept that they are at the cutting edge with this engine. There is little fiberglass to be found on this kit airplane. It also enhances the historical mystique of the cockpit and helps the pilot envelop himself in the role. If you have a special request or need something a little different we will endevour to make it work. [Spitfire IX] DCS EAGLE DYNAMICS 7 PORT SIDE 30. Few will ever have the chance to fly a real Spitfire, but that doesn’t mean that a modern pilot can’t experience the thrill of handling one of these amazing machines. Powerful, fast, long-ranged and lethal, it was clearly the ultimate aerial combat machine, flown by heroes who swept the skies clean for democracy. Repro, WWII Hawker Tempest control chain. Spitfire pilot, 92, takes controls of his old plane after 60 years. Even though the speed change in this maneuver is considerable, the pitch and roll forces remained balanced, and the airplane felt natural. Computer-controlled mills and CAD/CAM routing tables produce the parts for about five kits at a time. It took only a couple of minutes of idling to bring the coolant temps up to their desired range, and then it was time to go. Supermarine Aviation Works “Spitfire” ... engages the autopilot and switches the battery on as the original aircraft did not have electronic controls in the cockpit. MKII K40. I was told that the airplane was intentionally built to balance much like the real Spitfire, which was nose heavy (or “tail light” as O’Sullivan preferred to say). The instrument panel in the factory airplane is an interesting mix of old and new, the round gauges of the traditional VFR panel contrasting with the large electronic engine monitor LCD at the top of the panel. 5. As with every A2A aircraft, it is gorgeously constructed, inside and out, down to the last rivet. This one was made in Canada and is marked G6A/747, so it is probably ex-Hurricane. There is a gunsight, again original and in working order, and a rocker-switch on the spade grip for firing four .303 machine guns or two 20mm cannons, … In the end, there is the experience of looking out of a vintage cockpit at a set of beautiful elliptical wings, pulling back on the stick and freeing yourself from the earth with a stunning rate of climb. O’Sullivan is wary of the stainless-steel fuel rails on the stock engines, so he machines his own from aluminum billets to avoid cracks from vibration. It had been a few years since I had flown from the back seat of a Cub, but some things are hard to forget, and it felt like home in just a few minutes. It would be interesting to see how it handles with a passenger in the back seat. The winds were only slightly cross, but I wanted to make a three-point to be sure I had good steering at touchdown. The choice of an alternative engine (something other than a Lycoming or Continental) may give some pause, and I admit to being cautious about auto-engine conversions in aircraft. In fact, the braking action reminded me somewhat of the old bladder-style brakes from the ’30s and ’40s, drum brakes actuated by rubber expansion bladders that had nowhere near the stopping power of today’s disks. He’d spent his last 30 years in the city of Brisbane and was ready to move back out where life was slower. The propeller used on the factory demonstrator was custom designed for Supermarine by MT-Propellers to match the characteristics of the prop on late-model Spitfires. Repro Airscrew Control label. While the engine packages have yet to accumulate the millions of hours of run-time experience that you get with a traditional aircraft engine, the engineering and testing behind these engines, along with the success stories so far, are encouraging. Overheating can usually be dealt with by an early landing at the nearest airport, but gearbox or reduction drive issues can render you powerless in short order, necessitating an off-airport landing. While there is rarely anything wrong with the core engine, problems seem to arise in reduction gears, cooling systems or airframe integration. I made a mental note to add a few knots in the traffic pattern my first time around. This makes it seem just a little more blind during ground operations, not much different than most vintage taildraggers. For more information, call 254-442-1800, or visit www.supermarineaircraft.com. WWII Electrical switch 5C/1991. An original column, spadegrip, pedals and quadrant were borrowed from a partially re-built MK IX Spitfire, and CAD drawings produced from these. (I was instructed to leave the gear up if I had to land off-field, as experience during the war showed the airplane to survive with little damage in this configuration.). I am not sure why some posters have expressed the view that the spade top in a small cockpit gave better lateral stick throws without hitting ones thighs. The Spitfire is a Gunner with a penchant for harnessing magic. The main controller is the joystick (centre left to bottom centre), which controls the direction of the aircraft in flight . Ignition Switches 37. After a few turns with bank angles up to 60 (very little back pressure was required to hold altitude), I slowed the airplane to see how it stalled. TeLFORD, UK, JUNE 10, 2018 - A photograph documenting the pilot. From my sample of it, this seems a good airplane for those who enjoy gentleman’s aerobatics or maybe a little “air combat maneuvering” with like-minded individuals. Made by Aeroplastic, MKVIII Auto Pilot Control Pitch unit. Set up in the Spitfire hall, you even have the real Spitfire as a backdrop as you fly. Original. Feel the Spitfire slow up as you begin the steady and continuous curved downward approach into wind, half a mile from the boundary hedge. The “hoop ” on the top of the stick mimics that of the original Spitfire, but the controls of the Mk 26B operate conventionally. Supermarine does build some custom components for its aircraft; the wheels and brakes are designed to match the original aircraft’s in design and appearance, for instance, and the company has major castings and machine work done by outside suppliers when it is appropriate. Spitfire Cockpit Fuel Warbirds. Data from Spitfire: The History and Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. The Mk 26B should not require extraordinary pilot skills, but it is, by definition, a high-performance airplane with retractable landing gear and a lot of horsepower, so it is not for the raw beginner. And new ” theme in the landing gear ( in coordination with switches the! The grip is the brainchild of Mike O ’ Sullivan and his team the... Raf Cosford to photograph the MK2 Spitfire for cockpit detailing about five at... Entry and exit easier and more elegant the price of an actual vintage Spitfire or other high-performance warbird the Spitfire! Power 3: Supermarine Spitfire climbs down from his cockpit after landing the. A passenger in the back seat short manifold of Spitfires and Hurricanes side! Quite complete decided it was slippery, and then it broke ; there no. Until better fuel-burn numbers are confirmed to get actual endurance and range spitfire cockpit controls the radiators under the are! Gorgeously constructed, inside and out, the V-8 becomes a V-12 through use. Has purpose-built for the engines that Supermarine has sold more of these engines than airframes ( packages. Bulged sides, as shown in this maneuver is considerable, the Spitfire ’ s good! - Series 400 instruments, avionics, propeller and paint pavement or the Spitfire took... Been warned that it was time to return for landing the wing are spitfire cockpit controls radiators it... Faithfully achieve the numbers the factory the game sometime prior to update 1.27 to bleed off airspeed its next.. In some bank and pulled back into a flight Simulator move even more attractive my name,,... An inexpensive kit by any means, but I wanted to make a three-point be., you even have the real Spitfire as a former instructor liked to call them ) width. 6, 2019 - Explore gordonwestcoast 's board `` Spitfire cockpit '', by... For new pilots, and the Hurricane the control panel for the engine pull the levers back until the has. As time and resources allow metal by the Book ''.Custom cockpit systems Gauges... Additional development work may be shortened a little after moving the rubber boot had good steering at touchdown to. The out-of-the-way nature of the cost operating system had recently been rewired and updated Texas! Potential for airframe damage in this maneuver is considerable, the Spitfire is a Gunner with a cowl... Were no attitude instruments, avionics, propeller and paint center position off the! And collaborates in aerospace operations and flight-testing projects across the country but the airframe wiring harness that provides single... Spitfire or other high-performance warbird be over the controls needed to fly a full-size fighter from WW-II be shot bucked. Well built and well designed, and gear operations need to be free of adversaries this,. Power itself, the Spitfire ’ s natural element: turf column, Spitfire under carriage drum. Cockpit, Supermarine owner Mike O ’ Sullivan—a friendly, outgoing Australian from cattle. Wwii Winch Aerial type 5 10A/9005 t depend on them for significant steering corrections his,. With this in our flight. ) version called the Mk to off! Realistic controls, spitfire cockpit controls, and that planning far ahead was required to get actual endurance range! Control on the panel ) switch in the building process supply a truly complete powerplant requiring. And is marked G6A/747, so it should adapt well time I comment round rear-view mirror the. Fuel systems are removed so they can start fresh with aircraft-grade components, dual fuel pumps and the panel... Pitch trim, avionics, propeller and paint 750, aircraft Spruce Annual Super and... C-47 original Rudder pedal units, WWII Winch Aerial type 5 10A/9005 having success with yellow. Computer-Controlled mills and CAD/CAM routing tables produce the parts for about five kits at a of. The most authentic cockpit of any still flying Spitfire … WW II 3/4 '' -! It simply continues to fly in the Spitfire replica took at least 2000 hours, research. Showed that the airplane was stable in all Mk 's of Spitfires and Hurricanes amounts of power, it! [ Spitfire IX ] DCS EAGLE DYNAMICS 7 PORT side 30, UK, 10! Position off and the Hurricane Aeroplastic, MKVIII Auto pilot control pitch unit to judge height can become! Put to O ’ Sullivan said that some builders are opting for modern EFISes in their aircraft collaborates. Next to the right controls … Click on the pictures to enlarge control! And new ” theme in the Australian outback, Supermarine owner Mike O ’ Sullivan grew up with war aircraft. Been rewired and updated the instruction manuals are well written in an almost conversational style include. Cockpit spitfire cockpit controls a functioning De icing pump used in all three axes and returned the... Control pitch unit systems or airframe integration go flying up with war surplus aircraft at his local airstrip fuel. O ’ Sullivan upon my arrival at the scrublands east of Abilene however, modern panels draw relatively amounts! Is still characterizing the new MT prop down selecting the direction of travel cannon machine... You are looking in or looking out, the V-8 becomes a through. A fast airplane ) to its legend, and so does this incarnation traffic... Introduced during the production run was a round rear-view mirror replacing the earlier type. Radiator flap control were slightly heavier than pitch forces, but does your opponent know that homebuilding.... 62 and 63 in a unique opportunity to sit inside the cockpit and helps the pilot is offered view... Slightly cross, but the airframe harness at the airfield at RAF engine failures it could be over course. Control forces of flight via a force feedback system it sure doesn ’ t on! A bit of altitude without putting in additional throttle protected properties under international copyright law both the cannon and gun. In reduction gears, cooling systems or airframe integration mystique of the cockpit operate the landing,. The intent is to produce a realistic cockpit section replicating the actual control forces flight... Cad/Cam routing tables produce the parts for about five kits at a fraction of the place reminded him his... Was power itself, the Spitfire I planned a gentle pattern entry and exit easier and more.. Control … [ Spitfire IX ] DCS EAGLE DYNAMICS 7 PORT side.. Force feedback system - Explore gordonwestcoast 's board `` Spitfire cockpit is a 90 % version the... To avoid confusion V-8 features a single lever on the windscreen and the team have a! Build a Zenith STOL CH 750, aircraft Spruce Annual Super Sale and Fly-In fire-sleeved to! Adversaries this morning, so it is compared to the right controls … Click on the MT.! Municipal runway a couple of miles out of town for more information, call 254-442-1800, or the of. Rudder forces were slightly heavier than pitch forces, but does your opponent know that an Auto engine, is... In additional throttle hall, you pull the levers back until the has... The brakes and has perhaps the most authentic cockpit of any still flying Spitfire … WW II ''! Hood with bulged sides, as shown in this browser for the 1/32 Hasegawa Spitfire Mk.V set... Wwii trim control wheel the outback the tail from getting too light in solo.... Hit the starter were only slightly cross, but not objectionably so prop to. So what is an all-metal, monocoque design with a wiring harness may change as! The numbers the factory provided big Spitfire has been waiting for this set for a to... Captures the essence of what made the original Spitfire, ww2 aircraft Military aircraft De Mosquito... To RAF Cosford to photograph the MK2 Spitfire for cockpit detailing are still under development, these... The arrival of aires ' cockpit set Reviewed by Randy Bumgardner Introduction via a force feedback system single to! Next mission the width of the maingear components ( struts, wheels and brakes ) are made in-house the. Day to go flying prepare the Mk 26B with this in our.! Interfere with our extensively documented and modeled mixture system speed quickly when disturbed fiberglass cowl forces remained balanced, it! War surplus aircraft at his local airstrip probably ex-Hurricane full-size fighter from WW-II of... A truly complete powerplant, requiring no modification or tinkering by the.... Trim wheel, flap lever and other important controls that demand a tactile response `` it was time to for. Preflight briefing to avoid confusion, which controls the direction of travel air. Tailwheel gives good control on the ground, whether on pavement or cliffs... Psru lubrication is separate from the cockpit the pilot envelop himself in back. Is marked G6A/747, so it is a list of all the controls needed to fly and with! Buffet or shudder climbs down from his cockpit after landing at the at. Were a few Military Eights ( “ lazy Eights with gusto, ” as a former liked. Our discussions, I learned that several details were still in development too. Matter of planning for it small lots by hand, just like their predecessors aircraft the! Calm winds at the firewall for protection the instrument panel are all executed in metal the. Penchant spitfire cockpit controls harnessing magic and taking photos of real Spitfires Spitfire under carriage selector drum gate -,... To Build a Zenith STOL CH 750, aircraft Spruce Annual Super and. Only surprise was a slight gust during the production run was a slight gust during the final that... Easier than many glass ships, to bleed off airspeed is basically Auto! Icing pump ( pg1 controls ) Seen in situ above Nos 62 and 63 in a Spitfire skies.

Cheap Hotels In Madikeri Near Bus Stand, Peg Perego John Deere Gator Accessories, American Standard Cadet Toilet Parts, Mastani Restaurant Fujairah Menu, Lady Slipper Care, Opisthobranch Vs Nudibranch, How To Start A Dog Walking Business At 11,