Umlweli odumile we-RAF Supermarine Spitfire, ingxenye 2
Ikhophi egciniwe njengamanje ye-Spitfire XVIIE endizeni. Indiza ingeye-Battle of Britain Memorial Flight futhi inegama elithi No. 74 Squadron RAF.
Ngenkathi i-prototype, eqokwe i-K5, indiza ngoMashi 1936, 5054, lapho igama le-Spitfire lalingaziwa, futhi ngenkathi umklami u-Reginald Mitchell eqala ukubulala kancane umdlavuza wamaphaphu, kwase kwaziwa ukuthi kuzovela indiza enamandla amakhulu. Nokho, okwenzeka ngokulandelayo, ukuthi le ndiza yandizela phakathi neMpi Yezwe Yesibili, ngaphandle kokulahlekelwa okuningi kwenani layo, kwakungalindelwe muntu.
I-prototype ayizange yenze indiza yayo yesibili ngokushesha. I-fixed-pitch propeller yashintshwa kwafakwa elungiselelwe isivinini esikhulu, kwafakwa amagiya okuhlala phansi, futhi igiya lokumisa ngokwalo lavulwa. Indiza yafakwa emakheshini futhi kwahlolwa nendlela yokuhlanza amasondo. I-prototype kanye ne-Spitfire I yokuqala yochungechunge lwe-174 yayine-undercarriage ehlehliswa ngamanzi enepompo yokucindezela okwenziwa ngesandla ukuze igoqe futhi inwebe i-undercarriage. Iqale ngamayunithi angu-175, yathathelwa indawo iphampu eqhutshwa injini enomfutho omkhulu ongu-68 atm (1000 psi). Kuphinde kwaba nokukhishwa okuphuthumayo kwegiya lokubeka phansi elivela kusilinda se-carbon dioxide esisendaweni yabashayeli ohlangothini lwe-starboard. Isigaxa esikhethekile esimakwe ngokuthi "isimo esiphuthumayo kuphela" sibangele ukubhoboza okukodwa kwe-valve yesilinda esivalwe ngokukhethekile kanye nokukhululwa kwegiya lokuhlala eline-carbon dioxide ecindezelwe, ngaphandle kokuba nokwenzeka kokuhlehlisa igiya lokuhlala ngemva kokukhululwa okuphuthumayo.
Ekuqaleni, abaklami bethula izimpawu zokukhanya kuphela zokukhululwa nokuvimbela igiya lokufika, kodwa ngesicelo sabashayeli bezindiza, kwavela ukubonakaliswa komshini, okuthiwa. amasosha ezimpikweni (izinti ezincane eziphuma ngaphezu kobuso bephiko). Kuwo wonke ama-Spitfires, i-hydraulic system yasetshenziswa kuphela ukuhoxisa nokwelula igiya lokumisa. Ama-flap, amabhuleki amasondo, ukulayishwa kabusha kwezingalo ezincane, futhi ekulungisweni kwakamuva, i-compressor nayo yashintshelwa egiyeni eliphezulu ngesistimu yomoya. I-compressor yafakwa enjinini, eyakhiqiza u-21 atm (300 psi) womoya ocindezelwe. Ngevalvu ekhethekile, lokhu kwehliswa kwaba ngu-15 atm (220 psi) kuma-flaps, izikhali kanye ne-compressor, kanye no-6 atm (90 psi) kumabhuleki amasondo. Ukuguqulwa kwendiza phansi kwenziwa isenzo sokuhlukanisa i-braking, i.e. ucindezela isiteringi uze ufike kwesokunxele bese ucindezela amabhuleki isondo lesokunxele kuphela.
Ukubuyela ku-chassis, i-K5054 yasebenzisa isihlibhi sangemuva, esathathelwa indawo yisondo ku-Spitfire I ejwayelekile. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, izimpaphe zengwenya ku-prototype ziphambukile ku-57° ukuze nje zifike. Qala ku-Spitfire (zonke izinguquko) zenziwe ngaphandle kwama-flaps. Njengoba indiza inolayini we-aerodynamic ohlanzeke ngendlela emangalisayo kanye nokuphelela okuphezulu kakhulu (isilinganiso sokuphakamisa ukuze udonse i-coefficient), i-K5054 isondele ekufikeni nge-engeli engashoni kakhulu, njengoba indiza yayishesha ekwehleni okungaphezulu. Uma isikhishiwe, ijwayele "ukuntanta" ngokuncipha kancane kwejubane, noma ngabe injini isamile. Ngakho-ke, ezindizeni zokukhiqiza, kwatuswa ukwandisa ukuphambuka kwama-flaps ku-87 °, kuyilapho benza umsebenzi omkhulu wokubhuleka. Izakhiwo zokufika sezithuthukile nakanjani.
Inguqulo yokuqala, iSpitfire IA, yayihlome ngezibhamu ezingu-7,7 mm Browning ezingu-300 ezinezinhlamvu ezingu-1030 ikhilomitha ngalinye futhi yayixhaswe injini engu-XNUMX hp Merlin II noma III.
Ngemva kokuhlola indlela ehlehlisayo nokuhlehlisa igiya lokuhlala, indiza yabe isikulungele futhi ukundiza. NgoMashi 10 no-11, indiza yesibili neyesithathu yenziwa kuyo igiya lokuhlala lihoxisiwe. Ngaleso sikhathi, isikhumulo sezindiza sase-Eastleigh Corporate eduze kwase-Southampton sasivakashelwe u-Air Marshal Hugh Dowding, ngaleso sikhathi owayeyilungu le-Air Board yoMnyango Wezomoya njengelungu le-Air Supply and Research, mhla lu-1 kuNtulikazi we-1936 lapho athatha khona izintambo. iRAF Fighter Command esanda kwakhiwa. Wajabula kakhulu ngendiza, eqaphela amandla ayo aphezulu, nakuba ayegxeka umbono ongemuhle kusukela ku-cockpit wehle. Ku-K5054, umshayeli wendiza wahlala ngezansi, ngaphansi kwe-fairing, ebhalwe kuhlaka lwe-hump ngemuva kwe-cockpit, i-fairing yayingakakabi nayo isici "esiphaphathekile" se-Spitfire.
Ngokushesha, kusukela ngo-March 24, ezinye izindiza ezihamba nge-K5054 zenziwa ngu-C. Resident (Lieutenant) George Pickering, owaziwa ngokwenza izihibe esikebheni esindizayo sakwa-Walrus, ngezinye izikhathi esiyethula, kwaze kwadumala uMitchell, esuka ebangeni elingamamitha ayi-100. umshayeli omuhle kakhulu, futhi i-prototype ye-fighter entsha yayingenzima kuye. Ngo-April 2, 1936, i-K5054 yanikezwa isitifiketi sezindiza zokuhlola, ngakho-ke indiza ngayinye yayingasenasivivinyo. Lokhu kwenza abanye abashayeli bezindiza bakwazi ukuyindiza.
Phakathi nokuhlolwa, izinkinga zembulwa ngenjini eseduze-prototype engafuni ukuqala, ngakho ngemva kwezindiza eziningana yashintshwa enye. I-Merlin C yasekuqaleni empeleni ikhiqize i-990 hp. Ngemva kokushintsha injini, ukuhlolwa kwe-prototype, ikakhulukazi mayelana nokusebenza kwendiza, kwaqhubeka ngamandla amabili. Ngesikhathi sokuhlolwa, azikho iziphambeko ezinkulu ezitholakele, ngaphandle kokuthi iphini lalinxeshezelwe ngokweqile futhi lihanjiswe kalula kakhulu kuzo zonke izivinini. Ijubane le-prototype lalingaba ngu-550 km / h, nakuba kwakulindelwe okwengeziwe, kodwa uMitchell wayekholelwa ukuthi ijubane lizokhula ngokuthuthukiswa okuhleliwe. Ekuqaleni kuka-Ephreli, i-K5054 yayiswa eFarborough ukuze kuhlolwe i-wing resonance. Kwavela ukuthi i-flutter nayo yenzeke ngaphambi kwesikhathi kunalokho obekulindelwe, ngakho-ke isivinini sokudonsa sinqunyelwe ku-610 km / h.
I-K9 yabuyela e-Eastleigh ngo-5054 April futhi yayiswa endaweni yokulungisa izimoto ngosuku olulandelayo ukuze ilungiswe ngemva kokuhlolwa kokuqala. Okokuqala, ibhalansi yophondo lwe-rudder incishisiwe, ukwakheka kokuphela kwe-stabilizer eqondile kushintshiwe kancane, indawo yokungenisa umoya ku-carburetor iye yanda, futhi i-casing yenjini iye yaqiniswa. . . Ekuqaleni, indiza yayipendwe ngokuluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka. Ngenxa yokuqashwa kwabadwebi baseDerby, abavela kwaRolls-Royce (izimoto), ukushelela okuphakeme kakhulu kwatholakala.
Ngo-May 11, 1936, ngemva kokulungiswa, indiza yaphinde yayiswa emoyeni nguGeoffrey K. Quill. Kuvele ukuthi indiza, ngemuva kokulinganisa kangcono isondo lokuqondisa, manje sekumnandi kakhulu ukundiza. Amandla kumaphedali manje ayesemakhulu kancane kunesibambo, esiza ekugcineni ukusebenzisana okufanele. I-lever yokulawula yaba lukhuni kokubili eziqondisweni eziphambene (ama-ailerons) kanye ne-longitudinal (ikheshi) ngesivinini esikhulu, okwakuvamile.
Ngesikhathi sokuhlolwa ngoMeyi 14 ngesivinini esingama-615 km / h ekujuleni, ngenxa yokudlidliza okuvela ngaphansi kwephiko lesobunxele, igiya lokufika laphuma, elishaya ingemuva le-fuselage. Nokho, umonakalo wawumncane futhi walungiswa ngokushesha. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, i-RAF yaqala ukucindezela ukuba i-prototype ithunyelwe ukuyohlolwa ngokushesha ngangokunokwenzeka e-Martlesham Heath, ngaleso sikhathi okwakuyindawo Yesikhungo Sokuhlolwa Kwezindiza Nezikhali (A&AEE; eduze ne-Ipswich, cishe amakhilomitha ayi-120 enyakatho-mpumalanga yeLondon). okwathi ngoSepthemba 9, 1939 wadluliselwa eBoscombe Down.
Ngisho nangemva kokudweba nokulungisa, i-K5054 yafinyelela isivinini esiphezulu esingu-540 km/h ekundizeni kwezinga. Nokho, kwavela ukuthi uphephela kwakuyicala, amathiphu awo ayedlula isivinini somsindo, alahlekelwa ukusebenza kahle. Nokho, ngaleso sikhathi, kwaklanywa ezintsha, nge iphrofayili ngcono futhi ububanzi kancane encane, ngenxa yalokho, May 15, indiza enezingqimba isivinini 560 km / h kwafinyelelwa. Lokhu kube ukuthuthuka okuqinisekile futhi ngokusobala ngaphezu kuka-530 km/h okuzuzwe yisiphepho esiqhudelanayo i-Hawker Hurricane, okwakulula kakhulu ukukhiqiza ngobuningi. Nokho, uMitchell manje unqume ukuthi indiza ingadluliselwa ku-A&AEE e-Martlesham Heath ukuze ihlolwe. Ngo-May 15, indiza yafinyelela ukuphakama kwe-9150 m, ngemva kwalokho yabuyiselwa ku-hangar ukuze ilungiselele ukudluliselwa.
Njengoba zazingekho izibhamu zomshini ze-Browning ezanele, esikhundleni salokho zazine-ballast emaphikweni endiza ezilingisa, kodwa lokhu kwenza kube nzima ukuhlola izikhali. Kepha uMnyango Wezokundiza NgoMeyi 22 wavuma ukulethwa kwe-prototype kuleli fomu. Ekugcineni, ngoMeyi 26, uJoseph "Mutt" Summers waletha i-K5054 eMartlesham Heath.
Ukuhlolwa kwe-RAF
Kwakuwumkhuba ovamile lapho umshayeli wefekthri eletha indiza entsha ku-A&AEE, yaqale yakalwa futhi yahlolwa ngesikhathi umshayeli we-RAF elungiselela ukundiza, efunda ukusebenza kwayo. Ngokuvamile, indiza yokuqala yenzeke cishe izinsuku ezingu-10 ngemva kokulethwa. Kodwa-ke, endabeni ye-K5054, uMnyango Wezokundiza wathola umyalo wokuwuyisa emoyeni ngokushesha. Yingakho, ngemva kokufika, indiza yafakwa uphethiloli, futhi i-"Mutt" Summers yabonisa ukapteni. J. Humphrey Edwards-Jones uthole indawo yokushintshashintsha okuhlukahlukene endlini futhi wamnika iziyalezo.
Indiza yokuqala yendiza entsha yenziwa ngomhlaka-26 Meyi 1936, ngalo lolo suku i-prototype yalethwa eMartlesham Heath. Ube ngumshayeli wendiza wokuqala we-RAF endizeni i-prototype fighter. Lapho efika, wayalwa ukuba ashayele uMnyango Wezomoya ngokushesha. UMajor General (Air Vice-Marshal) uSir Wilfrid Freeman wabuza: Angifuni ukukubuza yonke into, futhi vele awukakakwazi konke okwamanje. Kodwa ngifuna ukubuza, ucabangani, ingabe umshayeli wendiza osemusha uyakwazi ukusebenzisa umshini othuthuke kangaka kwezobuchwepheshe? Lokhu bekuwukukhathazeka okukhulu kweRoyal Air Force - ingabe indiza isithuthuke kakhulu? U-Edward-Jones uphendule ngokuvuma. Inqobo nje uma umshayeli efundiswa ngendlela efanele ukusetshenziswa kwemishini yokumisa ehlehliswayo kanye nama-flap. Nokho, bekuyinto entsha, abashayeli bezindiza bekufanele bajwayele ukwelula igiya lokuhlala ngaphambi kokufika, kanye nama-flap ukuze bahambe kalula ngesivinini esiphansi.
Umbiko osemthethweni ukuqinisekisile lokhu okuphawuliwe. Ithi i-K5054 ithi: ilula futhi kulula ukuyishayela, ayinawo amaphutha amakhulu. Ama-rudders abhalansi kahle ukuze anikeze ukuvumelana okuphelele phakathi kokuhamba kahle nokuzinza kweplathifomu yokudubula. Ukusuka nokufika kulungile futhi kulula. Izindiza zokuqala ze-K5054 e-A&AEE zanquma isiphetho sendiza - ngoJuni 3, 1936, uMnyango Wezomoya wayala uchungechunge lwama-fighters angama-310 alolu hlobo kuVickers Supermarine, i-oda elikhulu kunawo wonke lohlobo olulodwa lwendiza olubekwe kuma-30s. imboni yezindiza yaseBrithani. Nokho, ngemva kwezinsuku ezintathu, ngo-June 6, 1936, leli rekhodi laphulwa ngesihluku - ama-Hurricane fighters angu-600 ayalwa embonini ye-Hawker. Ngoku-oda izinhlobo ezimbili zezindiza ezinenhloso efanayo, iRoyal Air Force yagwema ingozi yokwehluleka kwesinye sazo. I-Spitfire yayinokusebenza okungcono kancane, kodwa futhi kwakunzima kakhulu ukuyikhiqiza, ngakho-ke iSiphepho esincane esidinga abasebenzi abaningi singalethwa kumayunithi amakhulu ngesikhathi esifanayo, ukusheshisa ushintsho lokukhiqiza.
NgoJuni 4 no-6, isivinini se-K5054 salinganiswa, safinyelela ku-562 km / h endaweni ephakeme ngamamitha angu-5100. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, nokho, amaphutha amaningana amancane abonwa ngesikhathi sokuhlolwa, okufanele aqedwe ukuze athole isilwi esigcwele. Okokuqala, ukunakwa kwakhokhelwa isembozo se-cockpit, ukubonakala okwakuzothuthukiswa ukuze kulandelwe ukulandelela okungcono kwesitha ngesikhathi sokulwa emoyeni, ukubonakala kwamanje kwakwanele ekushayeleni "okuvamile" kwendiza. Kuphinde kwaqashelwa ukuthi i-elevator ngesivinini esiphansi isebenza kahle kakhulu, okwathi phakathi kokunye kokufika kwacishe kwaholela enhlekeleleni - omunye wabashayeli bezindiza bokuhlola washaya indawo enotshani yesikhumulo sezindiza nomsila ushibilika ngekhala nge-engeli engu-45 ° phezulu. . Kwahlongozwa ukuba kukhawulwe ububanzi bokuchezuka kwephini, futhi ngesikhathi esifanayo kugcinwe ububanzi bohambo lwenduku ukuze ukunyakaza kwenduku kuhumushele ekunyakazeni okuncane kwephini. Enye into ukunyakaza okunzima kwe-shutter ye-radiator ngesivinini esikhulu, "ukuqina" kwesondo lokuqondisa ngesikhathi sokuhamba ngesivinini esikhulu, ukufinyelela okunzima kusevisi yobuchwepheshe bomsakazo, njll.
Ukuhlolwa eMartlesham Heath kwaqhubeka kwaze kwaba nguJuni 16, 1936, lapho uGeoffrey Quill efika ezothatha i-K5054 ebuyela e-Eastleigh, efemini. Ngesikhathi ifika, kwavela ukuthi indiza isebenzise uwoyela omningi impela. Kwakubonakala ukuthi kukhona lapho kuvuza khona. Futhi ezinsukwini ezimbili kamuva, ngo-June 18, 1936, kwahlelwa umbukiso omncane wabezindaba nomphakathi eVickers Supermarine. Le nkampani ibifuna ukukhangisa ngemikhiqizo yayo yakamuva, okuhlanganisa i-Wellesley bomber prototypes kanye ne-Wellesley prototype esanda kwethulwa, i-Walrus amphibious prototype, izikebhe ezindizayo ze-Straner kanye ne-Scapa eseziqalile ukukhiqizwa. Ingabe le nkampani iphuthelwe yi-Type 300, i-Spitfire yesikhathi esizayo? UGeoffrey Quill wacabanga ukuthi njengoba i-Type 300 inethangi likawoyela elingamalitha angama-32 futhi indiza kufanele ithathe imizuzu emi-5 kuphela, kungani kungenjalo? Okuningi kakhulu ngeke kuvuze… Okhulumela iRolls-Royce uWilloughby "Bill" Lappin ukhulume ngokumelene nalokhu. Kwavela ukuthi wayeqinisile...
Ngokushesha nje lapho uGeoffrey Quill esukile ku-K5054 umfutho kawoyela wehla waba nguziro. Injini ingama noma nini. Umshayeli wendiza wenza indilinga ngesivinini esincane esidingekayo ukuze ahlale emoyeni, futhi wehla ngokuphepha. Ngenhlanhla, akwenzekanga lutho, nakuba kwase kuseduze. Ngemva kokuhlola injini, kwavela ukuthi yayingalimalanga kakhulu, kodwa yayidinga ukushintshwa. Ngemva kokushintshwa, i-K5054 yaqala ukusebenza futhi ngoJuni 23, 1936.
