Warplanes of the UK: Supermarine Spiteful
Supermarine Spiteful
(RAF Photo)
Supermarine Spiteful (Serial No. RB515) illustrates the larger Spiteful tail that was later applied to the Spitfire F.22 and F.24. The tail improved the Spiteful’s handling, but the aircraft’s stall was still violent compared to the Spitfire’s.
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. Powered by a Rolls-Royce Griffon engine, it had a radical new wing design to allow safe operations at higher speeds and incorporating inwards-retracting undercarriage. Other changes included a larger fin to improve the marginal stability of Griffon Spitfires. Development of the wing was formalised by Air Ministry specification F.1/43; as well as a new aircraft, there was an expectation the wing could be used as a replacement for the elliptical wing on Spitfire production. The Spiteful was ready for production as the war was ending but in testing had shown only marginal improvements over existing types and was now being overtaken by jet-powered designs. Of the original order for 150 Spitefuls, only 19 were built. The Royal Navy opted for a navalised variation of the Spiteful type, the Supermarine Seafang, but few of those were built either. The wing developed for the Spiteful was used for the Supermarine Attacker jet. (Wikipedia)
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(RAF Photo)
Supermarine Spiteful F Mk. XIV (Serial No. RB523), 9th production aircraft,
(RAF Photo)
Supermarine Spiteful (Serial No. RB515, the first production aircraft, showing the wings’ straight leading and trailing edges. Note the standard, short intake scoop. Outlines of the radiator housing doors are visible.
(IWM Photo, ATP 14408B)
The third Royal Air Force Supermarine Spiteful F Mk. XIV (Serial No. RB517).
(IWM Photo, ATP 14408C)
The third Royal Air Force Supermarine Spiteful F Mk. XIV (Serial No. RB517).
(RAF Photo)
Supermarine Spiteful (Serial No. RB518), powered with a two-stage, three-speed Griffon 101 engine. This aircraft achieved a level-flight speed of 494 mph (795 km/h), the highest recorded by a British piston-powered aircraft. RB518 was the only F.XVI Spiteful and was subsequently written off after its seventh forced landing.
(RAF Photo)
Supermarine Spiteful (Serial No. NN667), third Spiteful prototype.
(RAF Photo)
Supermarine Spiteful (Serial No. RB520) was loaned out for Seafang development and is considered by some as a Seafang prototype. Note the tail hook housed below the rudder and the “Royal Navy” stenciling on the fuselage.
(RN Photo)
Supermarine Spiteful (Serial No. RB520) was loaned out for Seafang development and is considered by some as a Seafang prototype. Note the tail hook housed below the rudder and the “Royal Navy” stenciling on the fuselage.
