Spiteful
The 494 mph Spiteful XVI, RB518 ImageMetadata File history File links Spiteful_XVI_RB518. ...
Type	Fighter
Manufacturer	Supermarine
Designed by	Joe Smith
Maiden flight	30 June 1944
Status	Out of service
Primary user	Royal Air Force
Number built	183
Developed from	Supermarine Spitfire
Variants	Supermarine Seafang Supermarine Attacker

The Supermarine Spiteful was a British Rolls-Royce Griffon-engined fighter aircraft designed by Supermarine to Air Ministry specification F.1/43 during the Second World War as a successor to the Spitfire. An A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-86 Sabre, P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang fly in formation during an air show at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. ... An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing, building, testing, selling, and maintaining aircraft, aircraft parts, missiles, rockets, and/or spacecraft. ... Supermarine was a British aircraft manufacturer that become famous for producing a range of sea planes and the legendary Supermarine Spitfire fighter. ... Joseph Smith was a British aircraft designer who took over as Chief Designer for Supermarines upon the death of R. J. Mitchell and led the team responsible for the subsequent development of the Supermarine Spitfire. ... The Maiden flight of an aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord. ... is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1944: Events January January 11 - in one of the largest air raids to date, 570 USAAF bombers strike Brunswick, Halberstadt, and Oschersleben. ... RAF redirects here. ... The Supermarine Spitfire was a British single-seat fighter, which was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries during the Second World War, and into the 1950s. ... The Supermarine Seafang was a British Rolls-Royce Griffon-engined fighter aircraft designed by Supermarine to Air Ministry specification N.5/45. ... The Supermarine Attacker was a single-seat jet fighter of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA), built by the Supermarine company, and was the first jet fighter of the FAA. The Attacker developed from a Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter jet project, the E10//44. ... Rolls-Royce Griffon The Rolls-Royce Griffon was a 2,240 in³ (36. ... An A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-86 Sabre, P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang fly in formation during an air show at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. ... Supermarine was a British aircraft manufacturer that become famous for producing a range of sea planes and the legendary Supermarine Spitfire fighter. ... The Air Ministry was formerly a department of the United Kingdom Government, established in 1918 with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the (then newly formed) Royal Air Force. ... This is a partial list of the British Air Ministry specifications for aircraft. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The Supermarine Spitfire was a British single-seat fighter, which was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries during the Second World War, and into the 1950s. ...

Design and development

In late 1942, Supermarine designers feared the drag characteristics of the Spitfire's wing at high Mach numbers (nearing the speed of sound) might become a limiting factor in increasing the aircraft's high-speed performance. To overcome this, it was decided to produce a new laminar-flow wing, much like that already used on the North American P-51 Mustang, for the Spitfire, mirroring the latest thought on high-speed aerodynamics. At the same time, to make production easier, it was decided to design the wing with a simple straight-tapered planform, as opposed to the Spitfire's elliptical one. Another change, to improve the ground-handling, was replacing the Spitfire's narrow-track, outward-retracting undercarriage with a wider-track, inward-retracting system. An F/A-18 Hornet at transonic speed and displaying the Prandtl-Glauert singularity just before reaching the speed of sound Mach number (Ma) (generally pronounced , sometimes or ) is the speed of an object moving through air, or any fluid substance, divided by the speed of sound through that substance... Laminar flow (bottom) and turbulent flow (top) over a submarine hull. ... The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range single-seat fighter aircraft that entered service with Allied air forces in the middle years of World War II. The P-51 became one of the conflicts most successful and recognizable aircraft. ... For the Daft Punk song, see Aerodynamic (song). ... A planform or plan view is a vertical orthographic projection of an object on a horizontal plane, like a map. ... For other uses, see Ellipse (disambiguation). ... Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 87s, with fixed conventional landing gear. ...

The new wing was fitted to a modified Spitfire XIV NN660, in order to make a direct comparison with the earlier elliptical wing, and was first flown on 30 June 1944 by Jeffrey Quill. Although the new Spitfire's speed performance was comfortably in excess of an unmodified Spitfire XIV, the new wing displayed some undesirable behaviour at the stall which, although not unacceptable, did not come up to the high standards of Mitchell's earlier elliptical wing. The British Supermarine Spitfire was one of the finest fighter aircraft of its time. ... is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Reginald Joseph Mitchell CBE (20 May 1895-11 June 1937) was an aeronautical engineer, most notable for his design of the Supermarine Spitfire. ...

In the meantime, the opportunity had been taken to redesign the Spitfire's fuselage, to improve the pilot's view over the nose and to eliminate a slight directional instability by using a larger fin and rudder. This instability had been apparent since the introduction of the more powerful Griffon engine. The instability was exacerbated by the increase in propeller blade area due to the introduction of the four-bladed and subsequent five-bladed Rotol airscrews for the next aircraft, NN664 (for which Specification F.1/43 had been issued). The updated design incorporated the new fuselage (although lacking the enlarged fin/rudder) and, as it was now substantially different from a Spitfire, the aircraft was named Spiteful (although "Victor" had been originally proposed). ^[1] For other uses, see Propeller (disambiguation). ... Rotol was a British company set up jointly by Rolls-Royce and the Bristol Aeroplane Company during World War Two for the manufacture of aircraft propellers. ...

Production and service use

The Spiteful was ordered into production as the Spiteful XIV (having no preceding Mark Nos of its own, the above stated numerals were carried over from the original Spitfire XIV conversion), and 150 of the planes were ordered. With the advent of jet propulsion, however, the future of high-performance fighters was clearly with the jet fighter, and so the order was later cancelled with only a handful of Spitefuls built. At the time however, there was some uncertainty over whether jet aircraft would be able to be operated from the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers so it was decided to develop a naval version of the Spiteful, to specification N.5/45,^[2] subsequently named Seafang. Jet aircraft are aircrafts with jet engines. ... This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ... Two aircraft carriers, USS (left), and HMS Illustrious (right), showing the difference in size between a supercarrier and a light V/STOL aircraft carrier. ... The Supermarine Seafang was a British Rolls-Royce Griffon-engined fighter aircraft designed by Supermarine to Air Ministry specification N.5/45. ...

The Seafang featured folding wingtips, a "sting"-type arrester hook and a Griffon 89 or 90 engine, fed from an extended carburetor air intake driving a new Rotol six-bladed contra-rotating propeller. The first one produced was a converted Spiteful XV (RB520) but with the successful operation of the de Havilland Sea Vampire from the carrier HMS Ocean in 1945, the need for the Seafang disappeared. Bendix-Technico (Stromberg) 1-barrel downdraft carburetor model BXUV-3, with nomenclature A carburetor (North American spelling) or carburettor (Commonwealth spelling), is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. ... Categories: Aircraft stubs ... The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was the second jet-engined aircraft commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War (the first being the Gloster Meteor), although it did not see combat in that conflict. ... The fifth HMS Ocean was a Royal Navy Colossus-class light fleet aircraft carrier of 13,190 tons built in Glasgow. ...

With the end of the Second World War, Supermarine entered into discussions with Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Nord (SNCAN) about licence production of the Spiteful in France however, again the introduction of jet fighters overshadowed the piston-engined fighter and the talks came to nothing. SNCAC, the Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Centre, sometimes known as Aérocentre, was a French aircraft manufacturer created by the forced nationalisation of the Farman Aviation Works and Hanriot firms in 1936. ...

Variants

• Spiteful F Mk 14 - 19 built

Engine: Griffon 85 - 2,375 HP

Weight: 9,950 lb

Max Speed: 476 mph

• Spiteful F Mk 15 - 1 built - converted to Seafang prototype

Engine: Griffon 89 - 2,350 HP

Weight: 10,200 lb

Max Speed: 483 mph

• Spiteful F Mk 16 - 2 built - simple, three-speed Griffon conversions from Mark XIV's

Engine: Griffon 101 - 2,420 HP

Weight: 9,950 lb

Max Speed: 494 mph

• Seafang F.Mk 31 - 8 built

Engine: Griffon 61

• Seafang F.Mk 32 - 10 built

Engine: Giffon 89 - 2,350 HP

Jet Spiteful

Main article: Supermarine Attacker

In late 1943 or early 1944, Joe Smith suggested Supermarine develop a simple jet fighter based around the Spiteful's wing, and use a new jet engine being proposed by Rolls-Royce (later the Nene). This proposal was accepted and a new specification, E.10/44, was issued by the Air Ministry for an experimental aircraft which was initially referred to as the Jet Spiteful; the prototype TS409 first flew on 27 July 1946. The E.10/44 was not ordered by the RAF, as its performance was not substantially better than the Meteor and Vampire, but the Admiralty expressed an interest in the aircraft for use as a naval fighter and issued specification E.1/45 around it. The aircraft was subsequently named Attacker and had a successful (if short) career with the FAA and the PAF. The Supermarine Attacker was a single-seat jet fighter of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA), built by the Supermarine company, and was the first jet fighter of the FAA. The Attacker developed from a Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter jet project, the E10//44. ... Joseph Smith was a British aircraft designer who took over as Chief Designer for Supermarines upon the death of R. J. Mitchell and led the team responsible for the subsequent development of the Supermarine Spitfire. ... The Nene or RB.41, was Rolls-Royces third jet engine to enter production, designed and built in an astonishingly short five month period in 1944, first running on October 27th, 1944. ... This is a partial list of the British Air Ministry specifications for aircraft. ... is the 208th day of the year (209th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... RAF redirects here. ... The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies first operational jet. ... The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was the second jet-engined aircraft commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War (the first being the Gloster Meteor), although it did not see combat in that conflict. ... Flag of the Lord High Admiral The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. ... This is a partial list of the British Air Ministry specifications for aircraft. ... The Supermarine Attacker was a single-seat jet fighter of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA), built by the Supermarine company, and was the first jet fighter of the FAA. The Attacker developed from a Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter jet project, the E10//44. ... The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the Royal Navy responsible for the operation of the aircraft on board their ships. ... Pakistan Air Force (Urdu: پاک فضائیہ, Pak Fazaya) (PAF) is the Aviation branch of the Pakistan armed forces and is responsible for defending Pakistani air-space from intrusions. ...

Spiteful tail

The enlarged fin/rudder of the Spiteful was also used on the Spitfire Mark 22 and 24s and Seafire Mark 46 and 47s and was usually referred to as the "Spiteful type" tail. The British Supermarine Spitfire was one of the finest fighter aircraft of its time. ... The British Supermarine Spitfire was one of the finest fighter aircraft of its time. ...

Operators

 United Kingdom

• Royal Air Force

Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... RAF redirects here. ...

Specifications (Spiteful XIV)

Orthographic projection of the Spiteful Mk.XIV. Observe that it possesses the eliptical horizontal stabiliser of the Spitfire, but lacks such a wing.

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Length: 32 ft 11 in (10.03 m)
• Wingspan: 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m)
• Height: 13 ft 5 in (4.08 m)
• Wing area: 210 ft² (19.5 m²)
• Empty weight: 7,350 lb (3,334 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 9,949 lb (4,513 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce Griffon 69 V-12 engine, 2,375 hp (1,772 kW)

Performance The distance AB is the wing span of this Aer Lingus Airbus A320. ... In aviation, the Maximum Take-Off Weight (or MTOW) is the maximum weight with which an aircraft can achieve flight. ... Rolls-Royce Griffon The Rolls-Royce Griffon was a 2,240 in³ (36. ... A V engine is a common configuration for an internal combustion engine. ...

• Maximum speed: 475 mph (760 km/h)
• Range: 566 miles (908 km)
• Service ceiling 42,000 ft (12,800 m)
• Rate of climb: 3,880 ft/min (14.7 m/s)

Armament V speeds are speeds that define certain performance and limiting characteristics of an aircraft. ... The maximal total range is the distance an aircraft can fly between takeoff and landing, as limited by fuel capacity in powered aircraft, or cross-country speed and environmental conditions in unpowered aircraft. ... In aeronautics, a ceiling is the maximum density altitude an aircraft can reach under a set of conditons The service ceiling attempts to capture the maximum usable altitude of an aircraft. ... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ...

• 4× 20 mm Hispano Mk V cannons

The Hispano-Suiza HS.404 20 mm autocannon was one of the most widely used aircraft weapons of the 20th century, used by British, American, French, and many other military services. ...

See also

Related development

• Supermarine Spitfire – Seafang – Attacker
  

Comparable aircraft The Supermarine Spitfire was a British single-seat fighter, which was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries during the Second World War, and into the 1950s. ... The Supermarine Seafang was a British Rolls-Royce Griffon-engined fighter aircraft designed by Supermarine to Air Ministry specification N.5/45. ... The Supermarine Attacker was a single-seat jet fighter of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA), built by the Supermarine company, and was the first jet fighter of the FAA. The Attacker developed from a Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter jet project, the E10//44. ...

• CAC CA-15 · Hawker Sea Fury · Martin-Baker MB 5 · Messerschmitt Me 309 · P-51 Mustang
  

The CAC CA-15, also known unofficially as the CAC Kangaroo, was an Australian propellor-driven fighter plane designed by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) during World War II. During 1943, following the success of CAC in rapidly designing and mass-producing the small, makeshift Boomerang fighter, development began on... The Sea Fury was a British fighter aircraft developed for the Fleet Air Arm by Hawker during the Second World War. ... The Martin-Baker MB 5 was the ultimate development of a series of prototype fighter aircraft built during the Second World War by Martin-Baker Aircraft. ... The Messerschmitt Me 309 was a prototype German fighter designed in the early years of World War II to replace the Messerschmitt Bf 109. ... The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range single-seat fighter aircraft that entered service with Allied air forces in the middle years of World War II. The P-51 became one of the conflicts most successful and recognizable aircraft. ...

References

Notes

Bibliography

Quill, Jeffrey Kindersley (1913–1996), Jeffrey Quill was the second man to fly the Supermarine Spitfire (after Vickers chief test pilot, Mutt Summers), who took over as chief test pilot and later test-flew every mark of Spitfire, and whose name will for ever be linked with R.J. Mitchell...

External links

• Spiteful Marks
• Spiteful
• Spiteful & E.10/44