Guess the aircraft! special edition!

[Theis]

Guess this remarkable aircraft!

[Woodlouse2002]

Martin Baker MB5?

[Felix/FFDS]

Supermarine Spiteful.

[Woodlouse2002]

I'm with Felix now. Knew I recognised it. Had the Airfix model.

[SilverFox441]

Supermarine Seafang!

OK! It's really a Spiteful...I just thought the Seafang was more obscure.

[Theis]

Silverfox is correct!

The Type 383 Seafang was designed to specification N.5/45 as a navalised Spiteful which itself was based on the Spitfire Mk XIV mated to a new laminar flow wing. The first step was to add a sting-type arrester hook to Spiteful RB520 and the first Seafang prototype flew in 1946. Unlike the Seafire, the Seafang had an inward retracting main undercarriage. In the event the Seafang was not put into production, since the Seafire F Mk 47 was deemed to be adequate until the first generation of jet fighters was available.

The F Mark 31 was fitted with the Griffon 61 driving a five bladed propellor. The first of ten (VG471) was delivered to the RAE on 15 January 1946. Armament comprised four 20mm cannon and provision for two 1,000lb bombs or rockets.


The F Mark 32 had wing folding, increased fuel capacity and a Griffon 89 driving two three-bladed contra-rotating propellors. Of this variant eight were built but only two were completed (VB893 & 895) and there is doubt about whether the type flew.



Specifications and production
Mark      Role               Engine          HP                Weight (lb)    Speed (mph)   Numbers            
F31      Fighter      Griffon 61      2,035       10,574                            470                                                                               10  
F32      Fighter      Griffon 89      2,350       10,694                                       475                                                                            8

[cheesegrater]

Looks very stylish - like a sports car.

[F3Hadlow]

That's pretty cool
Quite like that contra-rotating prop design, wish I'd seen the Spitfire that had that prop configuration when it was here last year

[C]

That's pretty cool
Quite like that contra-rotating prop design, wish I'd seen the Spitfire that had that prop configuration when it was here last year

I'm sure it'll be back at Legends this year, and to be fair, we're going to see a Griffon with a 4 blader this year too. That'll be different...