evansb
I stand corrected.As you say the true Seafang prototypes it appears did fly in 1946.
According to C F Andrews and E B Morgan's book Supermarine Aircraft since 1914 published by Putnam.
"As early as October 1943, Supermarine were envisaging applying the laminer flow wing to the Seafire XV and wrote their own specification 474 under Type 382 for such a development using the Merlin 61. This was their own initiative but it evinced no response in official places. Later on, however, naval interest was aroused and official specification N.5/45 was issued for a laminer flow fighter for the Fleet Air Arm. Spiteful F.14 RB520 was fitted with a sting-type hook early in 1945 as the interim prototype Seafang."
The two proper prototypes flew in the following year. One of these represented the production Seafang F Mk 31 (VB893) with Griffon 61 engine and a long-stroke undercarriage, but non-folding wings. The other represented the Seafang F Mk 32 (VB895) with a Griffon 89 engine with contraprop, and upward-folding wings.
I am not sure if the Seafang Cockpit was similar to the Spiteful, however oncemorealoft has earned the next go
Last edited by MReyn24050; 12th Oct 2006 at 15:13.