Aircraft history
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Just as the Spitfire had been considered being named the Shrew, the Spiteful was at first considered being named the Supermarine Victor. Whether this would have caused Handley Pages later V-bomber to have a different name I cannot say, but Spiteful does seem to link better with the planes Spitfire family lineage.
The Spiteful was a laminar flow wing development of the Spitfire, the prototype Spiteful being based on a Spitfire Mk XIV. Compared to earlier Spitfires, considerable developmental work on aerodynamic behaviour and refinement, much focussed on high speed performance, was invested in the design. The wing was far more angular than the earlier and classic elliptical wing of the Spitfire. The opportunity was also taken to give the plane an inward retracting undercarriage, which being much wider in track than the Spitfires had significant ground handling advantages. A larger tail fin, rudder and horizontal stabiliser was also adopted. The fuselage shape from the windscreen to the spinner was also re-profiled to provide a better view over the nose.
The gains provided by the new wing were worthwhile, but its stall characteristics were quite a bit worse than the Spitfires. Despite a lot of effort to resolve this, with much focus on the ailerons, a full solution was not found. None the less large orders were placed initially presumably because the speed increase approaching 500 mph was enough to justify the new fighter. However, before these production orders came to be fulfilled the war was at an end, and the future of the RAFs fighters clearly lay with jets.
The first Spitefuls were called F. MK 14s as the prototype was developed from a Spitfire Mk XIV airframe, between 17 and 19 were built. One F.MK 15 was used as a development aircraft for a navalised version called Seafang, as the Royal Navy maintained an interest in piston-engined fighter due to the limitations of early jets on aircraft carriers (a further 18 Seafangs would follow). Two Spiteful F MK 16s round out this aircrafts modest production run. The major difference between the versions was the mark of Griffon engine used.
In a sense, some aspects of the Spiteful were to live on. The large tail surfaces were employed on the Spitfires F. Mk 22 & 24, as well as their Seafire derivatives, the F.MK 46 & 47. The laminar flow wing was to find use on Supermarines first jet fighter, the Attacker. This early jet saw service with the Royal Navy and Pakistan Air Force. So, from a developmental point of view, very little was wasted.
Performance
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The following data apply to the Spiteful Mk XIV:
Max Speed: 483 mph (777 km/h) @ 26,000 ft (7925 m)
Time to 20,000 ft (6100 m): 4.9 min
Ceiling: 42,000 ft (12,800 m)
Range (clean): 564 mi (908 km)
Empty Weight: 7,350 lbs (3,334 kg)
Loaded Weight: 9,950 lbs (4,513 kg)
Wingspan: 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m)
Wing Area: 210 ft/sq (19.51 m/sq)
Overall Length: 32 ft 11 in (10.03 m)
Height: 13 ft 5 in (4.08 m)
Armament: Four Hispano Mk II 20mm Cannon, wing mounted
Effects
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-On startup there is automatic engine smoke.
-Then follow the exhaust flames with smoke.
-Wing vortex effect appears by default at 2.5g or quick roll rate.
-Continuous blue flames with smoke if engine is running .
-War Emergency Power is controlled by the WEP.gau (Tick + or 0)
-Wing cannon with flash, smoke and falling cartridges can be triggered with the standard Strobe key (O).
It is much nicer however if you put the FS2004/FSX standard Strobe key (O) to the trigger from your joystick. You can change this in the Key menu.
It is a good idea if you replace the standard (L) key for lights by the L+CTRL, (normaly activating the landing lights only). This avoids you having to have all lights on when pulling the trigger.
Installation:
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-Unzip " Spiteful" into a temporary file and move the "Spiteful" folder into the main Aircraft directory.
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-Read instructions carefully when installing the gauges , say YES...when asked if the gauges sources should be trusted. If you say no....most of the gauges are not going to work !
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-Leave the fighters.cab in your panel folder.
-Paste the WEP.gau into your flightsim\gauges folder.
-Copy the effects into the Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator X\effects folder.
-Add the 20can.wav in your Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator X\sound folder.
ATTENTION :
-For FS2004, change the FS9_Wing_Guns.fx into FX_Wing_Guns.fx
-For FSX change the FSX_Wing_Guns.fx into FX_Wing_Guns.fx
If having trouble with the cockpit transparencies in FSX acceleration, copy the glass.bmp and 5bladeprop. bmp files from the Acceleration.texture into the Spit 21 texture folder.
Flying the model
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This plane is a very powerful aircraft. It is a hot and very demanding flying machine.
-Cockpit door is used with the spoiler key .
-CTRL+E opens the canopy
-Radiator flaps are opened/closed by the close cowl key.They are used together with the flaps for take off/ landing/ approach.
TAKE-OFF :if you have manual rudder enabled, be ready to apply hard LEFT rudder and brake when you hit the throttle !
Better apply throttle proportionaly and slowly at first.
1.Parking brake on, start engine, 1/4 flaps
2.Disengage parking brake
3.Hold enough LEFT rudder, brake to keep the aircraft straight.
4.Take off at about 100 Knots, wheels and flaps up at 130 Knots.
5.To fire guns activate O-key or trigger.
6.Approach at 50% flaps, wheels down at 140 Knots. It is a very clean plane, so you'll have to use a long flat approach to slow down.
7.Touchdown at 85-90 Knots.
Like with the real plane, much use of elevator trim will be needed.
CREDITS
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Special thanks to :
-GMAX for the drawing program and Microsoft for their makmdls.mdk.
LEGAL:
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The project is released as freeware. You may modify it and repaint it. You may upload this file to another website as long as it is not for profit.
You need the written permission of the original authors to use any of these files for commercial purposes, otherwise a simple credit would be nice. Non commercial repaints-remakes are welcome but I would appreciate very much receiving a copy of your model.
This file should not cause any problems with your computer, but I accept no responsibility if you think it does
Happy Landings!
A.F.Scrub
July 2011
Email: af_scrubbypc@hotmail.com
