Supermarine Spitfire

Speed and altitude records

Due to the high altitudes necessary for these dives, a fully feathering Rotol propeller was fitted to prevent overspeeding.

Related Topics:
Rotol - Overspeeding

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During the spring of 1944, high-speed diving trials were being performed at Farnborough to investigate the handling of aircraft near the sound barrier. Because it had the highest limiting Mach number of any aircraft at that time, a Spitfire XI was chosen to take part in these trials. It was during these trials that EN 409, flown by Squadron Leader Martindale, reached 606 mph (975 km/h) in a 45-degree dive. Unfortunately the aircraft could not cope with this speed and the propeller and reduction gear broke off. Martindale successfully glided the 20 miles (30 km) back to the airfield and landed safely.

Related Topics:
Farnborough - Sound barrier - Squadron Leader

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

From: Spitfire - A Test Pilot?s Story - Arrow Books

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"That any operational aircraft off the production line, cannons sprouting from its wings and warts and all, could readily be controlled at this speed when the early jet aircraft such as Meteors, Vampires, P-80s, etc could not, was certainly extraordinary" —Jeffrey Quill

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On 5 February 1952 a Spitfire Mk. 19 of No. 81 Squadron RAF based in Hong Kong achieved probably the highest altitude ever achieved by a Spitfire. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Ted Powles, was on a routine flight to survey outside air temperature and report on other meteorological conditions at various altitudes in preparation for a proposed new air service through the area. He climbed to 50,000 feet (15,240 m) indicated altitude, with a true altitude of 51,550 feet (15,712 m), which was the highest height ever recorded for a Spitfire. However, the cabin pressure fell below a safe level, and in trying to reduce altitude, he entered an uncontrollable dive which shook the aircraft violently. He eventually regained control somewhere below 3,000 feet (900 m). He landed safely and there was no discernible damage to his aircraft. Evaluation of the recorded flight data suggested that in the dive, he achieved a speed of 690 mph (1,110 km/h) or Mach 0.94, which would have been the highest speed ever reached by a propeller-driven aircraft. Today it is generally believed that this speed figure is the result of inherent instrument errors and has to be considered unrealistic.

Related Topics:
5 February - 1952 - No. 81 Squadron RAF - Hong Kong - Flight Lieutenant - Ted Powles - Meteorological

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~