the battle of britain fighters: a flight test perspective vintage wings of canada © robert...

The Battle of Britain Fighters:The Battle of Britain Fighters:A Flight Test PerspectiveA Flight Test Perspective

Vintage Wings of CanadaVintage Wings of Canada

© © Robert ErdosRobert Erdos SETP FTSW Nov 2009SETP FTSW Nov 2009

How On Earth…How On Earth………did you get to fly all did you get to fly all threethree Battle of Britain Battle of Britain

fighters!?fighters!?

Putting Things in ContextPutting Things in Context

1.1. I’m not a fighter pilot.I’m not a fighter pilot. Experience is limited to air Experience is limited to air

demonstration (formation, demonstration (formation, aerobatics, etc.)aerobatics, etc.)

2.2. These fighters are not all These fighters are not all of the same of the same developmental era.developmental era.

3.3. Experience limited to five Experience limited to five airframes:airframes:

1.1. Two SpitfiresTwo Spitfires2.2. Two HurricanesTwo Hurricanes3.3. One Me-109 One Me-109

The Scenario…The Scenario… Let’s imagine that all three fighters were serviced Let’s imagine that all three fighters were serviced

and ready for flight.and ready for flight. We will go through a flight chronologically, We will go through a flight chronologically,

addressing each fighter in turn:addressing each fighter in turn:– Similarities and differences;Similarities and differences;– Strengths and weaknesses.Strengths and weaknesses.

Hop in.Let’s go flying!

Cockpit…Cockpit…

Spitfire Spitfire Spade grip: cockpit too tight to Spade grip: cockpit too tight to

hinge stick at floorhinge stick at floor Cockpit layout: put things Cockpit layout: put things

where they fitwhere they fit Lever-differential brakesLever-differential brakes Brakes, flaps, etc. are Brakes, flaps, etc. are

pneumaticpneumatic A few novel “appliances”…A few novel “appliances”…


Hurricane Hurricane Retractable stirrup to Retractable stirrup to

climb onto trailing edgeclimb onto trailing edge Tall canopy railsTall canopy rails Steel tube structure in Steel tube structure in

evidenceevidence Many common features Many common features

to Spitfireto Spitfire Confounded “H-gate” Confounded “H-gate”

hydraulic selector leverhydraulic selector lever


Me-109 Me-109 Semi-recliningSemi-reclining

– Good ‘g’ toleranceGood ‘g’ tolerance

ClaustrophobicClaustrophobic Conventional stickConventional stick Wheels for trim and Wheels for trim and

flapsflaps Propeller control via Propeller control via

toggle switchtoggle switch– Propeller pitch shown on Propeller pitch shown on

“clock”“clock”

German labelsGerman labels– Oil pressure = kg/cm^2Oil pressure = kg/cm^2

Ground HandlingGround Handling

All WWII taildraggers are all challenging All WWII taildraggers are all challenging by modern standardsby modern standards– Continuous S-turning a necessityContinuous S-turning a necessity– Positive angle of attack on the groundPositive angle of attack on the ground– British aeroplanes used lever-differential British aeroplanes used lever-differential

brakingbraking Spitfire: hot, nose heavy and blindSpitfire: hot, nose heavy and blind Me-109: tail heavy, claustrophobic and Me-109: tail heavy, claustrophobic and

blindblind Hurricane: field of view is so good Hurricane: field of view is so good “you “you

can almost see where you are going”can almost see where you are going”

HurricaneHurricane Mercifully Mercifully

conventionalconventional A bit abrupt due to A bit abrupt due to

low undercarriage low undercarriage retraction speedretraction speed

Take-OffTake-Off SpitfireSpitfire BlindBlind 3-point attitude 3-point attitude

mandatory due to mandatory due to prop clearanceprop clearance

Beware of Beware of “leftness”“leftness”

Me-109Me-109 Compromised by Compromised by

undercarriage undercarriage geometrygeometry

Tailwheel MUST Tailwheel MUST be lockedbe locked

Flying Qualities SummaryFlying Qualities Summary

SpitfireSpitfire Negligible control Negligible control

friction or freeplayfriction or freeplay Odd “reversed” Odd “reversed”

control harmonycontrol harmony Ailerons become Ailerons become

very heavy at high very heavy at high speedspeed– Roll rate is Roll rate is

limited by strengthlimited by strength


HurricaneHurricane Very high control Very high control

system frictionsystem friction– Bushings instead of Bushings instead of

bearingsbearings

Weak-negative static Weak-negative static longitudinal stabilitylongitudinal stability

Negative maneuver Negative maneuver stabilitystability

Strange pedal-pitch Strange pedal-pitch couplingcoupling

Good roll rate – faster Good roll rate – faster than Spitfire than Spitfire


Me-109Me-109 Very low directional Very low directional

stabilitystability No rudder trimNo rudder trim Instances of aileron Instances of aileron

stallstall Elevator extremely Elevator extremely

heavy at high speedsheavy at high speeds No propeller governor!No propeller governor!

The Dogfight: The Dogfight:

SpeedSpeed History books record History books record

that the Spitfire and that the Spitfire and Me-109E speeds Me-109E speeds were well matchedwere well matched

www.spitfireperformance.com

Equivalent speed on Equivalent speed on less power means less power means that the Me-109E that the Me-109E has a lower drag has a lower drag coefficientcoefficient


Turn PerformanceTurn Performance Factor: Wing loadingFactor: Wing loading

– Spitfire = 22 lb/sq ftSpitfire = 22 lb/sq ft– Hurricane = 24 lb/sq ftHurricane = 24 lb/sq ft– Me-109 = 32 lb/sq ftMe-109 = 32 lb/sq ft

Factor: Wing shapeFactor: Wing shape– Spitfire’s elliptical wing retained turn Spitfire’s elliptical wing retained turn

energy bestenergy best


GunneryGunnery Factors:Factors:

1.1. Field of viewField of view

2.2. ““Stability”Stability”

3.3. Fire powerFire power

LandingLanding SpitfireSpitfire BlindBlind

– Turning approach Turning approach to touchdownto touchdown

3-point landings 3-point landings ONLYONLY

Brakes are best Brakes are best avoidedavoided

HurricaneHurricane May 3-point or wheel May 3-point or wheel

landland Insufficient trim Insufficient trim

authorityauthority Maintain some Maintain some

power until power until touchdowntouchdown

Terrible elevator Terrible elevator responseresponse

Me-109Me-109 Slow flap extensionSlow flap extension BlindBlind Compromised by Compromised by

undercarriage undercarriage geometrygeometry

Tailwheel MUST be Tailwheel MUST be lockedlocked

Braking satisfactoryBraking satisfactory

So? Which is Your Favourite?So? Which is Your Favourite? All three aeroplanes have strengthsAll three aeroplanes have strengths The best pilot will win in either machineThe best pilot will win in either machine The successful pilot will fight to his own strengthsThe successful pilot will fight to his own strengths

But seriously…

How Do You Learn To Fly It?How Do You Learn To Fly It?

1.1. Learn to fly like Learn to fly like they did in “the old they did in “the old days”days”


1.1. Learn to fly like Learn to fly like they did in “the old they did in “the old days”;days”;

2.2. Talk to people Talk to people who have been who have been there before you; there before you;


1.1. Learn to fly like Learn to fly like they did in “the old they did in “the old days”days”

2.2. Talk to people Talk to people who have been who have been there before you; there before you; andand

3.3. Kill the problem Kill the problem with homework.with homework.

Thank YouThank You

Introduction:Introduction:

Spitfire Mk XVI SL721Spitfire Mk XVI SL721 Spitfire prototype first flight on 06 Spitfire prototype first flight on 06

November 1935November 1935 Became operational with RAF in Became operational with RAF in

1937.1937. Mk XVI Spitfire entered service in Mk XVI Spitfire entered service in

October 1944.October 1944.– Low level attack versionLow level attack version– Fitted with two 20mm cannons Fitted with two 20mm cannons

and two 50 caliber machine gunsand two 50 caliber machine guns SL721 was flown by ACM Sir was flown by ACM Sir

James Robb, coded JM-R.James Robb, coded JM-R. Imported to the US and restored Imported to the US and restored

in 1967. in 1967. Flown by Jerry Billing at the Reno Flown by Jerry Billing at the Reno

Air Races in 1981.Air Races in 1981. SL721 was acquired by VWC in SL721 was acquired by VWC in

2001.2001.


Hurricane Mk IV KZ321Hurricane Mk IV KZ321 Hurricane prototype first flight Hurricane prototype first flight

on 06 November 1935on 06 November 1935 Became operational with RAF in Became operational with RAF in

1937.1937. Mk IV Hurricane entered service Mk IV Hurricane entered service

in March 1943in March 1943– Low level attack versionLow level attack version– Fitted with four 20mm cannons Fitted with four 20mm cannons

and wing hard pointsand wing hard points KZ321 served with RAF 6 served with RAF 6

Squadron in Grottaglie, Italy.Squadron in Grottaglie, Italy. Recovered from Israel in 1983. Recovered from Israel in 1983. Restored by Hawker Restored by Hawker

Restorations in 2001.Restorations in 2001. KZ321 is the world’s last Mk IV.KZ321 is the world’s last Mk IV.


Messerschmitt Me-109E4 3579Messerschmitt Me-109E4 3579 Me-109 prototype first flight in Me-109 prototype first flight in

September 1935.September 1935. Became operational with RAF in Became operational with RAF in

1937.1937. License-built in 1940 by Arado License-built in 1940 by Arado

for Messerschmittfor Messerschmitt Assigned to fighter squadron I.Assigned to fighter squadron I.

(J)/LG2 in France(J)/LG2 in France Flown by Luftwaffe ace Hans Flown by Luftwaffe ace Hans

Joachim MarseilleJoachim Marseille Belly landed in France, Aug Belly landed in France, Aug

1940. Rebuilt and assigned to 1940. Rebuilt and assigned to the Russian front.the Russian front.

Restored in the UK from 1991-Restored in the UK from 1991-1999 by Craig Charleston (UK) 1999 by Craig Charleston (UK) for David Price (USA)for David Price (USA)

Owned by Ed Russell, Niagara Owned by Ed Russell, Niagara Falls, ONFalls, ON

Operational Procedures:Operational Procedures:

Approach & LandingApproach & Landing

Initial+4 lb boost2650 RPM~220 KIAS

Break>Idle +60° bank

Downwind130 KIASCanopy fully openPre-Landing Checks

UndercarriageExtend2 Green lights

Base Turn95 KIASAbeam landing pt:Extend flaps

Turning Final85 KIASPre-Landing Check

x

Spare picsSpare pics

Questions?Questions?

What does“fluggeschwindigkeit”

mean?!

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