Good day to one and all, first post on the forum from a middle-aged Scale Modeller with a query regarding an unusual (to me anyway) instrument fit on a Spitfire PRXI of the USAAF.
In the well known colour film “Spitfire 944”, available on YouTube- at the 6 Minutes and 17 Seconds mark- what appears to be a Sperry type Venturi tube can be seen on the Starboard side of a Spitfire PRXI operated by the USAAF PR wing from Mount Farm, Oxfordshire.
As I understand it, these Venturi were generally used to provide a vacuum for various “Blind Flying” instruments, a task normally performed on the Spitfire by an engine driven pump.
I am only aware of one further Spitfire pictured with such a fit is the Prototype, K5054 whilst in its Temperate Land camouflage scheme.
Is anyone able to provide any information on this fit on the USAAF PRXI in question?
Here (Hopefully!) is a still from the Video for the purposes of this discussion:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]254531[/ATTACH]
Thanks for looking in,
Mark (Troffa) Wilson
By: Spiteful - 6th July 2017 at 20:24
In that location, would it be something to do with the camera installation?
By: Troffa - 6th July 2017 at 18:44
Thanks for the responses chaps, it’s certainly a bit of a conundrum. As stated above, I haven’t seen this fit on any other spitfire. (apart from one shot of K5054, in camouflage, which I cant find at the moment, but it’s in “Spitfire the History” by Price.)
I don’t think this was a common modification, and It may even have been a one off. More digging required!
Cheers again,
Mark
By: Trolly Aux - 6th July 2017 at 14:01
Also in that position I would be thinking it does not matter that exhaust gasses will be ingested ?
I wonder if its powering a small generator or some kind of gimbal / servo for the camera
By: Archer - 6th July 2017 at 08:52
Mark
It might be there to provide suction to draw ducted hot air from the oil/air radiators to keep the camera’s at working temperature and free of ice and condensation, possibly simpler than pushing the air.
Richard
Looking at where the Venturi is mounted, it makes sense that it is related to whatever’s in that corner of the airframe. If it had anything to do with the instruments, I would expect the Venturi to be mounted further forward.
By: Sopwith - 6th July 2017 at 08:16
Welcome to the forum, sorry I can’t help you with an answer but it’s a good question. I hadn’t noticed that before so it will be interesting to know the answer.
By: pogno - 6th July 2017 at 07:40
Mark
It might be there to provide suction to draw ducted hot air from the oil/air radiators to keep the camera’s at working temperature and free of ice and condensation, possibly simpler than pushing the air.
Richard
By: ZRX61 - 6th July 2017 at 00:23
News to me, & I was one of the guys who restored PA908/MB950 for Wright-Patt. It wasn’t shown in any of the manuals etc we had to work from.
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July 5, 2017 at 4:29 pm