The Spitfire Mk XIVe, my all time favourite aircraft. Thanks to the superb new Real Air add-on I can now beat up southern England in the finest piston engine fighter of them all.
I have always had a thing for the clipped wing models so no surprise about my choice for this test flight. This is RM653 wearing 41 Squadron markings circa January 1945
Line up for takeoff the mighty Griffon has massive amounts of torque so care is needed. I find about 75% throttle applied gently gets you airborne without too much drama.
In the words of Sdr. Ldr Charlie Brown, the takeoff is to be believed. It soon becomes apparent that the engine is producing more power than the airframe can handle. A whole boot full of left rudder is needed to stay anything like on the centre line.
Once airborne I push the throttle wide open and she climes like a rocket ship.
At 10K I throttle back and do a lazy roll over the top.
I dive down to about 2K before pulling out and heading for home.
After the drama of takeoff its time to try and put the Spit back on the ground in on piece.
Not my best tail dragger landing. A tad fast and nowhere near the centre line but apart from a bit of worn rubber no damage this time.
Taxiing back in.
Back in the shed.
By 1943 was clear that the Merlin engine had reached the limit of its power output. In order to improve performance further the design team at Vickers Supermarine turned to the Rolls Royce Griffon engine. Used in service first in the MkXII in 1943, the Griffon was to power most of the late model Spitfires. In early 1944 the RAF began to receive the MkXIV. Like the MKIX before it, it was meant as a stopgap until the MkXVIII became available but proved a success in its own right and remained in production until the end of the war. Later MkXIVs had a cut down rear and bubble style hood fitted.
Thank you Real Air for the best virtual Spitfire I have ever seen, or flown.
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