Spitfire brake failure at Dx Sunday – a question

I understand that the cable in the front seat at some point broke/came off. I am led to believe the Major then took it home from the rear office.

making the point Led to belive as info recieved in Beer tent !!!!!!!!!

I think it would be easier to just celebrate the seventy fifth anniversary of the first flight and leave it at that!

Hi

MJ627 rolled to a halt with its engine off after the remaining Spitfires had all landed at the end of yesterdays show. Apparently his brakes had failed, so he landed last so as not be in anyone elses way. This was planned, so he must have known the brakes had failed – what would have informed him of this? Is there a hydraulic line pressure guage, or could he tell any another way?

Well done to all the pilots and ground staff for putting on the show in such wind! It was a shame not everything went up – and also that not all the airworthy UK Spitfires could be gathered in one place for a historic show. Maybe for the 80th anniversary!

DS (badly sunburnt – it might have been windy, but the sun still shone
😡 <- just the colour of my face – not angry – just sore!

Do not forget that 2008 will be the 70th anniversary of 19 Squadron re-equipping with Spitfires at Duxford, surely IMW will not pass that one up!

hi was at the airshow to did anyone notice the seafire when it was in the flypast one of the undercart legs was half down. and what would cause this problem?

It was the port leg, just sticking out slightly, not an uncommon occurance as Bruce and Y11F have said, easily rectified by re-cycling the gear. ATC had informed the pilot as soon as it was noticed.

Yes, if you pull ‘G’ on take off after selecting gear up, it can trip out the system. The result is gear half out. Reselecting ‘Up’ usually corrects it.

Bruce

Thanks Bruce, I never knew that.

Yes, if you pull ‘G’ on take off after selecting gear up, it can trip out the system. The result is gear half out. Reselecting ‘Up’ usually corrects it.

Bruce

hi was at the airshow to did anyone notice the seafire when it was in the flypast one of the undercart legs was half down. and what would cause this problem?

Yes my son noticed that; keen eyed little b*gger that he is !!

Being too quick with the selector usually.

seafire

hi was at the airshow to did anyone notice the seafire when it was in the flypast one of the undercart legs was half down. and what would cause this problem?

[QUOTE=Mark12] Snipped…

Indication is therefore a totally slack brake lever.
…

Mark

[QUOTE]

Thank you.

I also saw the returning 4-ship formation as I was on the road home. Must stay later next time (and bring sun-oil 😡 )!

DS

Just after I got home said Spitfire flew over St Ives. The one in Cambs that is.

Brian

The 4-ship formation was returning from Goodwood and consisted of Spitfires EP120, MH434, TA805 and OFMC P-51 “Ferocious Frankie”.

Note also that MJ627 departed shortly after the show, so as suggested it was probably a quick fix.

JG891 hasn’t flown yet.

Maybe under the bulb holder for the spare gunsight bulbs, they should have a “nipple” box containing solderless nipples and a screwdriver ,so the pilot can effect an in flight repair!

Thanks Bruce, an easy-to-fix problem is always nicer to hear about than a severe one.

Just want to agree with Doc Stirling’s comments. Sunday was a good show and it was great to see the Spits get up. But, as said, it was a shame that the show organisers couldn’t muster more than 12 or so, when they were expecting around 17, and there are so many airworthy in the UK. What happened to the newly-restored Mk V, JG891? They unsubtly towed it to the M11 end of the field with a couple of others during part of the display and it stayed there!

Wanted to also ask just out of interest, as I was driving away from the airfield, a 4-ship formation flew across and went into a break, I guess to land. Couldn’t give anything more than a quick glance, but it looked like 3 Spits and a Mustang returning from somewhere. Am I right in this or just creating a wishful finale to a super display, lol?

Reading too much into it!

A common fault, and easily fixed!

Bruce

Not I believe brake system pneumatic failure as such, but failure of the brake cable. It was probably ‘nipple pull through’, it’s a technical term that cyclists will know. The cable runs from the hand lever on the spade grip down to the differential valve that apportions varying pressure side to side by rudder input.

Indication is therefore a totally slack brake lever.

Here is a shot of the landing, flaps down. The engine was switched off the second it touched and settled as a preplanned precautionary. If you are going to ground loop as rudder authority diminishes, it reduces the risk to the engine and some of the blades

Mark

An unusual problem if it was known about.

If the air bottle indication went to zero in flight, it indicates a fracture or break in the air system within the fuselage. The brake system is typically protected from failure of the other pneumatic components, such as radiator flap, or supercharger gear change. A failure of the compressor in the air should leave enough pressure in the air bottle to operate the brakes and flaps on landing, unless the aircraft has a very leaky system.

I presume the aircraft also made a flap-less landing?

Bruce

IIRC the Spitfire is fitted with a brake pressure guage.