Spitfire control columns

Doughnut, non-standard layouts are actually quite, erm, standard even in GA aeroplanes. No two PA28’s I’ve flown have had everything in the same place. On one you’ll find the elevator trim wheel between the seats, on another it’s in the roof like a sunroof handle. ‘Minor’ guages tend to wander too; ammeter and suction are notoriously good at mysteriously hiding themselves. Or is it just me? :confused:

Interesting point Doughnut. I think that’s a sensible suggestion on the face of it, but part of the attraction and reason for experienced pilots to fly these machines is because they are different. If we all ended up with a standard (Cessna 172?) panel it WOULD be a good idea, but rather innacurate.

I was told that a non Mustang replica in the US has a Mustang panel – logical, but taking it away from authenticity even further.

Restoration is all about acceptable compromise – the owner chooses what they think is best / safest. A museum should chose most original…

Cheers

OK, I’m with you now.

I wonder if the one on 434 is the ‘Tit’ – for +18 boost in combat.

On 597, it is on the throttle box – red lever at the front, but the Mk 9 etc doesnt have one in this position.

To further confuse the issue, aircraft that have Coffmann starters have a pull ring to activate the starter. This would have originally been on 14-18, and presumably Mk2 as well!

Cheers

Bruce

Such minor differences in instruments and control layout between each aircraft, even of the same type, must be a nightmare for the pilot. The hours of experiance on an idividual aircraft would count for nought if an emergency occured whilst flying somebody elses aircraft. I guess that the core of expreiance pilots that regularly fly aircraft from different ownes can handled this sort of thing, I was just thinking could things not the made easier by standardising things, especially on the new build projects.

DOUGHNUT

If you look just behind the throttle lever in your pic you can see a ring.

As Bruce says, on later aircraft the ICO was a lever on the Throttle quadrant.

You can see it more clearly on this picture posted in the Breitling Cockpit thread by Steve Young.

I’ll Have to dig it out but I have a Quicktime 360 motion picture of 434’s cockpit and I recall seeing both.

The 1977 Documentry “Spitfire” features 434 being flown by Neil Williams at the end.

During the cockpit check you can see it has the later style lever installed.

Cheers

Paul

597’s is adjacent to the KiGas pump on the RHS – I know, cos I put it there!!

434 doesnt appear to have one in the cockpit shot posted above, so I assume it will have the lever on the throttle box.

Incidentally, EP120 has a Mk9 throttle box, so it has the ICO on the box. BM597 and AR614 have the ring pull on Frame 8.

Bruce

434 cockpit

Where’s the ICO control?

Oh and another thing that puzzles me with 434’s cockpit.

According to the PN’s for the Spit IX, it says that early LFIX’s have a ring for the idle cut off control (Slow Running cut out on early Merlin installations) and that later versions had the Lever.

But unless I’am mistaken, 434 seems to have both! :confused:

Anyone throw any light on this?

Cheers

Paul

Yeah you’re right! I can just remember seeing it in the “Spitfire – The Pilot’s View” video. Never even noticed at the time…!

Daz, I noticed that too in a photo of 434’s cockpit a while back.

Strangely enough, AR213 had the later cannon button.

I don’t know if they are replacing it during the rebuild but maybe they could do a swap! 😉

Cheers

Paul

Yes, the MH434 one is for the A wing with eight machine guns. It should have the rectangular rocker type as you say. They will have to add that one to the list along with the roundels 😀 .