Back in 1944 a german Daimler Benz engine manufacturer’s test squadron evaluated a captured Spitfire reengined with the german DB605A versus the standard Bf 109G. A faksimile of that original report is online here:
Sounds like the Spit’s performance impressed them.
By: Themightyelf - 3rd January 2011 at 22:34
Archive PDF
Google Translate tool might help you, MightyElf.
Thanks for the tip………..although useful for the website but doesn’t do wonders with the facsimile PDF in question !
😉
By: Olympus - 3rd January 2011 at 22:01
No, they weren’t. The Mk.21 introduced a slightly redesigned wing, which remained the same size throughout the production run.
Fair point forgot about them. Maybe because they dont look like a proper Spitfire :p
By: DazDaMan - 3rd January 2011 at 21:56
By: DazDaMan - 3rd January 2011 at 21:53
I thought all Spitfire wings were the same size, well all bar the wingtips ie clipped or extended High Altitude versions. Were Griffon wings really bigger and if so in what way ?
Regards
No, they weren’t. The Mk.21 introduced a slightly redesigned wing, which remained the same size throughout the production run.
By: EN830 - 3rd January 2011 at 19:36
The Spitfire was captured on British soil, 11 November 1942.
No idea why I remember that fact :rolleyes:
By: Olympus - 3rd January 2011 at 19:27
slightly larger wings.
Anon.
I thought all Spitfire wings were the same size, well all bar the wingtips ie clipped or extended High Altitude versions. Were Griffon wings really bigger and if so in what way ?
Regards
By: Moreorless - 3rd January 2011 at 19:16
Remember there was also an issue with aviation fuel. The Germans had only limited access to high octane fuels, a fact which continually hampered Daimler Benz’s 605 development.
By: Seafuryfan - 3rd January 2011 at 19:01
Google Translate tool might help you, MightyElf.
By: Themightyelf - 3rd January 2011 at 18:30
Report download
Back in 1944 a german Daimler Benz engine manufacturer’s test squadron evaluated a captured Spitfire reengined with the german DB605A versus the standard Bf 109G. A faksimile of that original report is online here:
Sounds like the Spit’s performance impressed them.
Unfortunately slight langauage problem ….not many of us can understand the german text !:confused:
By: Arabella-Cox - 3rd January 2011 at 15:54
DB605 Spitfire
This powerplant/airframe combination would roughly equate to the Griffon/Spitfire marriage.
However, with the later British Griffon-engined Spitfires the airframe was beefed up and altered to suit the latest thinking with the bubble canopy and slightly larger wings. This (arguably) made it a more potent aircraft.
Without the airframe changes but larger engine this DB Spitfire may have been faster but it would have had other, serious, limitations.
I’m sure that the Germans would have realised the limitations of the 37-litre DB605 in such a light weight airframe and this one-off experiment would have been viewed as a “what would happen if we…?” approach.
It would be interesting to know the reactions of the German pilots who flew this Spitfire and their opinion of its maneouverability and visibility against the 109’s with the same engine though.
Anon.
By: Spitzfeuer - 3rd January 2011 at 15:23
Sure. But this was more related to the DB-engine team wanting to see it’s products perform on different airframes. And please remember: Every new test kept some from having to serve as frontline troops.
By: Sky High - 3rd January 2011 at 15:13
I see. BY 1944 it would have been more instructive to compare Spit and Fw 190, wouldn’t it?
By: Spitzfeuer - 3rd January 2011 at 14:08
This way they could compare both airframes. A slight advantage for the Spitfire: Lighter weight with no weapons.
By: Sky High - 3rd January 2011 at 13:59
Yes, but what was the point of the exercise, I wonder? A Spitfire would never be powered by a DB engine unless there were still those apart from Hitler, in May 1944, who thought Germany could win the war. Was the 109 ever engined with this particular power plant?
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January 3, 2011 at 1:36 pm