Spitfire V Mustang

[Data-Lynx]

Fit for Purpose

Blame 'Jim' as I wasn't going to bite. R J Mitchell started with small flying boats with the Supermarine Baby in 1917. This was the forerunner, with a better engine and name, of the Sea Lion MkII which won the Schneider Trophy in 1922 as a single-seat biplane. While the move to float planes, with the S-6b in 1931, lead to the development of the Spitfire, 'RJ' also explored larger wooden-hulled flying boats. His Seal was renamed the Seagull and the MkIII was taken up by the Australian Fleet Air Arm in 1925. In the MkV, he added a one-step metal-hull, a pusher engine, retractable main wheels and the capacity to be catapulted from a ship. When the Aussies took 24 MkVs in 1934, even the Air Ministry took notice and the MkV became the Walrus.

The Seagull V, appearance notwithstanding, was outstandingly manoeuvrable. "Mutt" Summers, Vickers' Chief Test Pilot, performed a full aerobatic routine including a loop at the 1933 Hendon display. It was discovered that the Seagull V had better water performance than any other flying boat, and could be operated in open ocean and rough seas one might not think such a small airplane could handle.

Add impressive low speed handling and it explains how Walrus crews explored and developed the 'controlled crash technique' for SAR. This required the pilot to stall the seaplane onto a wave-top as close as possible to a survivor in the water, thus keeping the survivor in sight.

The 'Shagbat' was never pretty but I have met a Fulmar pilot who remained eternally grateful to one Walrus and its team that picked him out of the oggin, when no other ship was in sight. I believe that 'RJ' explored the edges of what was possible at the time and in the environment and I agree with Blacksheep. I suggest that it was this trait that he then applied to the Spitfire.