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Well, Wayne, we don't happen to have a spitfire just now, but I can get a Douglas Dauntless next weekend, and perhaps a P-51 and the F4U-1a. Depends on what is happening next week. I am not supposed show the panels (not supposed to show things a visitor cannot see), but looking out without showing the panels may prove to be not objectionable to the museum.
I'll see what I can do.
British wartime data I have on aircraft 'fighting views' (the number of degrees from the sight line to the obstruction line):
Bf 109F - 3.0 degrees
Spitfire (merlin) - 3.5 degrees
Mustang (merlin) - 4.5 degrees
Hurricane - 8.5 degrees
The figures all seem to be rounded to the nearest basic fraction (1/2, 2/3, etc.). For example, they listed 4.5 degrees for the Typhoon, and measuring the view in this photo I get 4.40 degrees.
How do the F4F and F6F compare?
I seem to remember a thread here discussing how conducive the F4F was to deflection shooting.
Thank you.
7.0 degrees listed for the Martlet. No information for the Hellcat unfortunately.