In many air to air photographs that I have seen of Spitfires, presumably in straight and level flight, the elevators appear to be in an aircraft nose down position. The elevator horns are slightly above the leading edge of the tailplane. Can anyone provide an explanation for this?
Usually flight controls are rigged to a neutral position.
By: slicer - 9th February 2013 at 12:28
A question I’ve always wondered about…2 pics of single seat Spitfires at OW in fast flypasts both with down elevator trim applied..surely at high speeds this will produce a small amount of unwanted drag?
By: bazv - 9th February 2013 at 10:54
You can see what I mean about the 2 seat spitfire in this vid clip,any of the aft looking footage clearly shows the elevator horn position
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHrdCJLLVXU
edit…clear view of the elevator horns at 5.40 and 6.10
By: TonyT - 9th February 2013 at 10:34
Don’t forget as the aircraft is flying it is burning field, therefore the fwd part of the aircraft is getting lighter as the tanks empty, which will shift the C of G aft so the pilot adjusts the elevator trim which deflects the elevator position to maintain a level flight.
By: AndyY - 9th February 2013 at 07:54
With the aircraft flying in straight and level flight the elevators will be in the trimmed position dependant on flight conditions, aircraft CG position etc to maintain level flight, not in a rigged position.
Andy
By: bazv - 9th February 2013 at 06:28
Hi Atlas…do you mean with a 2 seater ?
The elevator position on a 2 seat spitfire usually looks to be biased (a/c) nose down (ie elev trailing edge down),single seaters usually seem to be at approx neutral !
A 2 seater will have a more Aft C of G than a single seater and that would explain the difference.
rgds baz
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February 9, 2013 at 2:43 am