What's a "Pigeon Rest/breast”?

[Sue Vêtements]

Apparently according to this IWM video IWM video I'm watching, one of the distinguishing features of the Mk IX Spitfire was a "longer nose with the pigeon rest beginning to disappear"

Also did the Mk I really have a three bladed prop? I thought they were wooden with two blades

[EXDAC]

https://flyaspitfire.com/what-were-spitfire-propellers-made-from

[Liffy 1M]

I haven't watched the video but is the term "pigeon breast"? The Merlin-engined HA1112 (Spanish Me109) was known as the Buchón, which is a type of pigeon.

[treadigraph]

It's definitely pigeon breast.

[Bergerie1]

treadigraph, And very good they are too when cooked in red wine, garlic and herbes de provence!!!

[meleagertoo]

Shallots, bacon and beer (and some thyme) does it for me! With a lovely crisp pastry top...

[treadigraph]

treadigraph, And very good they are too when cooked in red wine, garlic and herbes de provence!!!

I tend to put off eating pigeon by the mangy looking examples prevalent in the London suburbs! :p

[DH106]

Is it the curved sloping area between the underside of the prop and the wing leading edge?
The longer nosed Spitfires certainly seem to have a less prominent area here.

[Sue Vêtements]

Is it the curved sloping area between the underside of the prop and the wing leading edge?
The longer nosed Spitfires certainly seem to have a less prominent area here.

Thankyou for that - for a moment I thought I was still on JetBlast :}

I guess successive Merlins must have got bigger or at least longer - makes sense

[megan]

Confirming DH106 has the correct answer.


Thread title edited, Senior Pilot 🤔👍

[Sue Vêtements]

thanks everyone - and yes breast makes perfect sense

[FlightlessParrot]

Is it the curved sloping area between the underside of the prop and the wing leading edge?
The longer nosed Spitfires certainly seem to have a less prominent area here.
From the cutaways I've been able to find, there doesn't seem to have been very much actually inside the poitrine of the early marks. Have I missed something, or was it just not important to make that area as close-cowled as possible?

[Less Hair]

I have heard "Schwalbennest" in german language being used for inlet air scoops as well.

[NutLoose]

Apparently according to this IWM video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6i5eMM11G4) IWM video I'm watching, one of the distinguishing features of the Mk IX Spitfire was a "longer nose with the pigeon rest beginning to disappear"

Also did the Mk I really have a three bladed prop? I thought they were wooden with two blades

Very early Mk1’s had the two bladed fixed pitch wooden Watts props, but the later ones had a Variable pitch three blader.

The current airworthy Mk 1’s at Duxford have the three bladers that are correct.

19 Sqn Mk1’s with 2 blade props.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1900x1202/image_ff4cd9ca4302b26b8d275affdb1d92130c7db050.jpeg

19 Sqn Mk1a spitfire 1940, note how the wing Roundels used to be way out nr the tip.


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x1154/image_b7b7c387b3ddc08dd78830528c5475d992aa1db6.jpeg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Supermarine_Spitfire_Mk_1_of_No._19_Squadron_RAF_bein g_re-armed_between_sorties_at_Fowlmere,_near_Duxford,_September_1 940._CH1367.jpg

[NutLoose]

What is squeezed in under the Mk 19’s cowl, though this is an ex Shack Griffon with a modified front end bearing to convert it to a single prop, and various bits shaved down to squeeze it in, such as shaving the lifting eyes off the rocker covers. Photo by me.

https://live.staticflickr.com/5514/30915222196_2f3b4b0819_h.jpg