Spitfire Mk Vb EP120 - Duxford June 2023 - Nick Smith pilot
One of very few Spitfires flying today with 'clipped' wings. Removing the wing tips allows increased manoeuvrability at lower levels, albeit at the expense of performance at higher altitudes.
This Spitfire is an 'LF' model meaning that the engine supercharger is optimised for performance at lower altitudes (by having shortened or 'cropped' compressor blades), so it makes sense that the wings are also clipped. However, not all LF models flew with clipped wings, and not all clipped wing Spitfires are LF models. Another source of confusion is the letter after the Mk number, in this case 'Vb'. The 'b' refers to the armament the wing can accommodate ( b = 2 x 20mm cannon and 4 x 0.303 machine guns). There were also Vc models (which could take a different armament load) and the 'c' is often mistakenly thought to indicate either clipped wings or cropped supercharger blades, which it doesn't.
As far as I can establish, Spitfires were delivered from the factory either with or without wingtips, it doesn't seem that these items were routinely removed or attached in operations. Later in WW2, as the air war was conducted at lower levels, I have seen it written that most Spitfires flew with clipped wings. I hope you read right to the end - there's a test next week!
Spitfire Mk Vb EP120 - Duxford June 2023 - Nick Smith pilot
One of very few Spitfires flying today with 'clipped' wings. Removing the wing tips allows increased manoeuvrability at lower levels, albeit at the expense of performance at higher altitudes.
This Spitfire is an 'LF' model meaning that the engine supercharger is optimised for performance at lower altitudes (by having shortened or 'cropped' compressor blades), so it makes sense that the wings are also clipped. However, not all LF models flew with clipped wings, and not all clipped wing Spitfires are LF models. Another source of confusion is the letter after the Mk number, in this case 'Vb'. The 'b' refers to the armament the wing can accommodate ( b = 2 x 20mm cannon and 4 x 0.303 machine guns). There were also Vc models (which could take a different armament load) and the 'c' is often mistakenly thought to indicate either clipped wings or cropped supercharger blades, which it doesn't.
As far as I can establish, Spitfires were delivered from the factory either with or without wingtips, it doesn't seem that these items were routinely removed or attached in operations. Later in WW2, as the air war was conducted at lower levels, I have seen it written that most Spitfires flew with clipped wings. I hope you read right to the end - there's a test next week!