|
|
Conceived as a successor to the Spitfire, the Type 371 was projected from November 1942, initially mating a laminar flow wing with a Griffon-engined Spitfire XIV and progressively embracing a new fuselage. Three prototypes were ordered to Specification F.1/43, which was written around the project, and the first of these flew on 30 June 1944. This prototype comprised a Spitfire XIV fuselage with the new wing, a 2,035hp Rolls-Royce Griffon 61 engine and an armament of four 20mm cannon. Named Spiteful, the second prototype flew on 8 January 1945 with the new fuselage, an all-round vision cockpit canopy and a 2,375hp Griffon 69 driving a five-bladed propeller. Production orders were placed for 188 Spitefuls, but only 16 were flown of 19 built or partially-completed (from April 1945) as the end of World War II and the advent of the jet fighter terminated plans for RAF use of the Spiteful. The designation F Mk 14 was applied to the Griffon 69-powered Spiteful; the proposed F Mk 15 had either the Griffon 89 or 90 with a six-bladed contraprop, and a single F Mk 16 had a Griffon 101 with a three-speed supercharger and five-bladed propeller.
| MODEL | Spiteful F Mk 14 |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 4513 kg | 9950 lb |
| Empty weight | 3334 kg | 7350 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 10.67 m | 35 ft 0 in |
| Length | 10.03 m | 33 ft 11 in |
| Height | 4.08 m | 13 ft 5 in |
| Wing area | 19.51 m2 | 210.00 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 777 km/h | 483 mph |
| Ceiling | 12800 m | 42000 ft |
| Range | 908 km | 564 miles |
 | A three-view drawing (1647 x 1273) |
| Phillip, philpow=hotmail.co.uk, 21.12.2011 As is usual for us brits it took us a while but we got there just a bit late. Bill Schultz I think has a picture of an MB5 a Martin Baker aircraft the air ministry chose to ignore. | | Booger, booger=hotmail.com, 23.09.2011 An even more extremely late reply to Bill Schultz's question. Have you checked out the Martin Baker MB5 ? | | Reg Barlow, regbarlow=me.com, 21.09.2010 An extremely late reply to Bill Schultz's question. Did you look up the Supermarine Seafang - a navalised version of the Spitful with counter-rotating props and a chin air intake, much as you described. Google images and the Imperial War Museum website has a picture that may either confirm or deny any suspicion. | | Phil Brooks, phil.brooks35=tiscali.co.uk, 23.10.2009 Late reply to Bill Schultz. Your description could fit the Commonwealth Aircraft CA 15 Kangaroo, except I can't find any reference to it's being fitted with contra rotating props! Have a look here:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAC_CA-15. | | Paul Scott, psmiddx=yahoo.com, 15.10.2009 Nice design, even though it's the spit really - yeah, amazing it reached 494 mph! | | Luke, 12.10.2009 any idea what the Supermarine 371-I wing wing was like? I'm trying to model the wing on a java aerofoil program but don't have a clue what teh 371-I designation is for | | Stuart Willard, stuart=screenworx.net, 06.08.2009 I am intending to produce an illustration of this aircraft and would be grateful for any imagery and/or information about it and its development. Have done a few contra rotating prop spits (Mk21 variant and Mk47) so would in particular love to illustrate this particular version too. | | d.jay, 30.01.2009 Bill: the photo you have seems to be of a Martin Baker MB5 a prototype fighter of 1944. | | Bill Schultz, sbill=wans.net, 25.01.2009 Problem: I have a photo of what appears to be Spiteful F M15...but...the oil/coolant cooler intake is ala Mustang...located on the underside of the fuselage aft of the cockpit.
Do you have any ideas on what the configuration is designated or where I might find details of such a configuration..
Good chance it is a one-off but I really want to properly identify this photo.There are no cannons installed so it might be a test article.
I have tried searching most of the websites re Spitfires and none show both the contra-rotating props and the large aft mounted oil/coolant cooler.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Bill Schultz
Williamsburg, VA, USA | | bmcclen45, jmcclendon3=cfl.rr.com, 23.01.2009 What a beatiful airplane. Along with CA-15 two of the greatest piston prop aircraft ever conceived. Although P-51H and proposed xp-72(variant of P-47) which was exspected to top 540mph! and F8F Bearcat(legendary climbing ability) should be considered. | | calum morris, calum_94=hotmail.com, 09.02.2008 its soooo nice
i want one! | | Sam, samp=ntlworld.com, 02.12.2007 Mark XVI - The two conversions from the Mark XIV, RB516 and RB518 were fitted with the Griffon 101 engine producing 2,420 hp and a top speed of 494 mph :QUOTE from this site http://www.supermarine-spitfire.co.uk/the_spiteful.htm | | dave russ, dav249=aol.com, 04.07.2007 This airplane is simply georgeous. Where are the remaining airframes. The Griffons have probably been used up. |
|
Do you have any comments about this aircraft ?
|
| |
