Science Museum Spitfire exhibition

I couldn’t resist this little shot across the atrium at the Science Museum reception this evening.

IxusV3, no flash – just resting on the opposite balcony rail.

Mark

Boom Boom

Why’s that then? Costing too much to do the solid booms?

In short – I do not know why.

Having committed to the design and production on the Mk XVIII, it is more likely that the reversion was made for engineering rather than economic reasons.

Putting the ‘dihedral set’ in the booms, a couple of feet outboard of the mounting point, is the clever bit. Controlling this operation on a solid boom, through the heat treatment process whilst maintaining the grain flow within the spring recovery tolerance is most likely in my view to be the issue

I was able to look at the dismantled Viscount at Tim Moore’s Rotary Farm a few years back. Interesting to see the familiar mounting solution to attaching the wings, solid spar booms in this case. I would therefore imagine both the Swift and the Attacker were similar.

Mark

Only the Mk XVIII has/had solid booms.

Post Mk XVIII, Vickers/Supermarine reverted to the laminated booms with reinforcements on both the Spitfire and Seafire.

Mark

Why’s that then? Costing too much to do the solid booms?

Remember these?

PK664 V6-B last but one in the echelon.

Mark

Only the Mk XVIII has/had solid booms.

Post Mk XVIII, Vickers/Supermarine reverted to the laminated booms with reinforcements on both the Spitfire and Seafire.

Mark

Thats the correct wings alright.

I guess that they reverted to an RHS within RHS design for the 22, with the addition of the steel doublers noted.

Where are the Spitfire experts when you need them eh? :rolleyes:

Andy G

This is the best overall shot of the wing I could get and the placard that was with the airframe.

Brian

XVIII rings a bell too, though can’t find my reference book.

This example is of a 20 series isn’t it?

Are these the correct wings?

I always thought that the spar booms were laminated pre-Griffon & solid from XIV onwards?

Did they revert to laminated for 20 series?

I think the spars were “solid” from the XVIII onwards. Happy to be corrected, of course.

I always thought that the spar booms were laminated pre-Griffon & solid from XIV onwards?

Did they revert to laminated for 20 series?

A developing situation.

Interesting to see clearly here how as the aircraft was developed into the ’20’ series, the laminated square tube booms were strengthened by the addition of .25 inch steel plates either side of each boom, with the corresponding location on the fuselage spars suitably widened by .5 inch.

Mark

Seafuryfan

Is this what you are after?

Brian

Geoff, have you any shots that show the main spar area in a little more detail? Its amazing how the aircraft actually resembles a giant kit (of parts, which is what it is I suppose

This is the only other image I have of the Spitfire, I don’t know if it’s what you’re looking for.

Geoff.

– Mark 12, are you going to visit? Or were you the consultant?

There is an official reception in September.

Not a consultant but I have loaned a number of Spitfire Fund related items.

Mark

Great stuff, Geoff. Interesting exhibit, that hammer. Would that be the only piece of K5054 in existence??

Geoff, have you any shots that show the main spar area in a little more detail? Its amazing how the aircraft actually resembles a giant kit (of parts, which is what it is I suppose – Mark 12, are you going to visit? Or were you the consultant? lol

And well done Geoff for your contribution – you must be really pleased that your work is reaching such a wide audience.

That Griffon Engine looks like a counter-rotating unit from a Shackleton.

It has the heavy weight cam covers with the lifting lugs to mount the ‘Power plant’.

A damn fine exhibition. Well done the Science Museum.

Mark

Ahah cheers, interesting souvenir! Bit like those bits of wrecked Hurricanes and Spitfires made into keyrings – anyone know where you can get these from? I hope no one died in the crashes

Here you are

Geoff.