b29flteng wrote:
Another story, they would sit in the cockpit on a windy day moving the ailerons back and forth causing the aircraft to rock back and forth (dance) on the main landing gear. He's still with us at 88 years old.
I'd not heard that before, great story, thanks.
As regarding the
undercarriage (not 'gear' on a Spitfire - that's what the pilot wears -
flying gear...
) the Spitfire was a 1930s design intended for point defence from all over grass fields where they would be able to take off and land directly into wind. Outward retracting undercarriages had certain load / position advantages, but Messerschmitt attached the legs to the fuselage, unlike the Spitfire, gaining the extra that the aircraft fuselage could be roaded on its own wheels - at the cost of some not nice and later downright nasty landing characteristics. The Hurricane, and following Hawkers had inweard retracting undercarriages - much more sensible, like the Mustang.
A lot of the Spitfire and 109s ground handling is to do with the toe-in and ground angles of the wheels, as well as the track if the undercarriage (or gear).
Regards,
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