Shortround6
Major General
Hmmm
Spiteject
Spitpop
Spitflame
Spitsalvo
Expectoratefire
Hawkfire
Gobfire
Spittlefire
Phlemfire
I vote we keep the Mark numbers
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HmmmIs that a MkXIV potato or a Mk14? With only 24 variants of Spitfire plus 4 PR versions and then 8 versions of Seafire Some of them need a new name.
The PR versions could be the Supermarine Selfie?Hmmm
Spiteject
Spitpop
Spitflame
Spitsalvo
Expectoratefire
Hawkfire
Gobfire
Spittlefire
Phlemfire
I vote we keep the Mark numbers
Years ago I read of the FM2 being called "The Wilder Wildcat". Could have been from a contemporary General Motors brochure.Could you build a MK XII using MK I or II tooling, or good parts of it. Were major assemblies interchangeable?
I can understand the MK XXs an up perhaps not being "Spitfires" (different wing) but some of the others dis use at least some parts.
In some cases it is "Marketing" in other cases it is because the design has really changed.
Greg mentioned the WIldcat earlier. Early Wildcats/Martlets used Wright Cyclone engine, early Wildcats/Martlets had four guns. A late Wildcat/Martlet using a Wright Cyclone engine and four guns and having a taller tail should be called what? Not a Wildcat?
Could you build a MK XII using MK I or II tooling, or good parts of it. Were major assemblies interchangeable?
I can understand the MK XXs an up perhaps not being "Spitfires" (different wing) but some of the others dis use at least some parts.
In some cases it is "Marketing" in other cases it is because the design has really changed.
I've collected some data for my thread but i can post here some on the Spitfire, probably miss some experimentals/trials only and only to 1944
the Spitfires had 3 wings or maybe better a wings with 3 different wingspan
the following Merlin engines:
II, III, XII, 45, 45M, 46, 47, 50, 50A, 50M, 55, 55M, 56, 61, 63, 63A, 64, 66, 70, 71; counting also the Seafire we need add 32
the following Griffon engines:
III, IV, 61, 65
Are we talking about the European Swallow or the African Swal...er... East African Swal...er...South Afr...er...??
"Monty Python and the Holy Grail: Airspeed Velocity of an Unladen Swallow"
European Swallow
View attachment 580879
East African (Cliff) Swallow
View attachment 580880
South African (Cliff) Swallow
View attachment 580878
Wasn't the Blackburn Spud a floatplane cargo/passenger version of the Skua?Somehow, Supermarine Potato Mk.21 doesn't sound quite right ................
Bingo !When the dataplate sez it's a Spitfire, it's a Spitfire.
This is a full-scale reproduction of a Spitfire Mk.I. It was almost entirely built from scratch and retains very little of its wartime self, but its dataplate states that it is Spitfire Mk.I N3200, so who are we to argue?
View attachment 5809100707 Duxford Spitfire I
As a child the Spitfire was frequently called the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire. I seem to remember that being on some Airfix "art work" but cant find any now, I did find this, so maybe marketing with an eye on post war did play a part. Surpermarine had been part of Vickers since 1928.Originally the 21-24 were to be called the Victor. Maybe marketing did get a say in retaining the name Spitfire.
If you look at long lived designs like the Bf 109 or Spitfire, the early aircraft have little in common with the last versions so should we still lump all aircraft as Spitfires?
Should we think of them as new designs?
R.J. Mitchell probably would have liked the idea of renaming subsequent Spitfire variants: ""Spitfire was just the sort of bloody silly name they would choose. "
As for Germans, they have never bothered about fancy names. (Think of Audi/Mercedes/BMW -cars, numbers and letters only)
owned by Porsche would me more on targetExcept VW (owned by Audi) Golf, Passat, Tiguan etc.
Is this a Spitfire? I vote yes, well in truth an enjoyable project to watch building a tribute to the Spitfire.When the dataplate sez it's a Spitfire, it's a Spitfire.
This is a full-scale reproduction of a Spitfire Mk.I. It was almost entirely built from scratch and retains very little of its wartime self, but its dataplate states that it is Spitfire Mk.I N3200, so who are we to argue?
View attachment 5809100707 Duxford Spitfire I
The fuselage was changed as well. The cockpit is higher to improve vision changing the profile. The fuel tanks are a completely different arrangement.Spitefull had a brand new wing.
View attachment 580843
Not only a different planeform but it was laminar flow (or they were trying for it) so the the airfoil was completely different. You also had the change in landing gear and the different radiator set up.
Tempest likewise got a new wing with a different airfoil.