Post by Diarist on Oct 16, 2020 10:02:27 GMT 1
Yesterday afternoon I spent a lot of time on the telephone. One call was to Supermarine to arrange today's visit. Erich and I left Saffron Waldon early this morning. We arrived in Southampton around 09:30 with no traffic problems. During the journey I'd told him that he'd being seeing our most advanced fighter aircraft today. There is a permanent detachment from Rolls-Royce at Supermarine so I'm hoping for an update on that front too.
I introduced Erich, "Don't worry. Germany and England are friends now and he's Army not Luftwaffe."
There were so many things to discuss I didn't know where to start but the Rolls-Royce engineers helped by reminding me that they are producing Merlin Is now and it has a maximum rating of 1,045 hp.
"What's its constant rating?" I asked.
"That is still at 950 hp. To be honest we aren't happy with the "ramp" heads currently being used so we are working on an improved version."
"How many are you producing?"
"Faster than these guy can produce Spitfires but we are waiting for the premises at Castle Bromwich to be available then hopefully producing Merlin IIs."
"We are waiting for Castle Bromwich too. We want to concentrate the production of our seaplanes here," Joseph Smith added. Joseph is the Chief designer in the Spitfire programme.
"I'm glad you are here, Joseph, because I have a couple of questions. Are you using the de Havilland propellers and what's this crazy idea about a twin-engine Spitfire? We already have two models in that category and a third is not required. Stick to the Spitfire and seaplanes, please."
"The answer is 'Yes' to the first question. The second question concerns experimental designs and that's how we arrived at the Spitfire."
"I realize that but you are not receiving public funds for experiments. Prepare for orders for 1,000s of Spitfires and please concentrate on the development of the Spitfire. A maritime version would be good for our light aircraft carriers."
"Sea Spitfires?"
"Complete with arrester hook, a strengthened fuselage and landing gear so they can survive carrier landings. Seafires sounds much better."
"Thousands?" It just dawned on him.
"Yes. We are hoping for a competition between our models plus those of France and Germany, maybe Italy too, but from what I've seen and read about so far, the Spitfire is the clear winner. It also means that France and Germany must be allowed to license-build Merlins. We now have to ensure that the Soviets don't capture the factories. Hopefully we shall have the trials in the fall which means production at the earliest this time next year."
"The Hawker Hurricane too?"
"Of course. We already have orders for over 200 aircraft. It's more suitable for ground support than air superiority. There will be a meeting at the Air Ministry next week and designers, like you Joseph, will need to be there."
"Do you know what it's all about?"
"A good guess is weapon configuration. They are pushing for 8 x .303 MG's. I'm against it so I'm hoping for some support from you guys."
"20mm cannon, for example?"
"That or preferably a mix. Anyway I'm formulating a proposal to satisfy all so please take your medicine before you arrive. Enough said. Erich would love to see one of our Spitfires."
"No problem. Let's start with the assembly line then the finished product for 19th Squadron at Duxford."
"I knew about Duxford but there is more than one squadron there."
"Production is slow at the moment with only one per week."
"Can we try for one per day?"
"Work in progress."
"Ein pro Woche, Erich."
Assembly line was an overstatement. There were 4 Spitfires from a bare frame to almost finished but only about a dozen workers.
"Where are the rest of the workers?"
"Most of them are still training. Aircraft are much more complicated than cars."
"Shouldn't they be here getting "hands-on" training."
"Theory first then practice, Sir Robert."
"May I suggest doing both parallel to each other? Theory in the morning then practice in the afternoon?"
"We'll make changes."
"I expect an update at next week's meeting."
Then in the next hall a finished product - the first one. It hasn't been delivered yet! Then it clicked.
"The maiden flight was only last month?"
"They were so impressed that they said build it. The test pilot was said it was perfect and that was enough for the others. King Edward was here, Secretary Churchill and Sir Philip were here too."
"Can I see your contract, please."
"We haven't received it yet."
"That's why nobody told me that we're producing Spitfires. You don't have a contract. Call them pre-production models and build only a dozen. I'll get you a real contract. But for more than one per week, please. They cost about £12,000 each. Is that correct?"
"Slightly more."
"OK, I'll arrange for a contract for 120 aircraft with the Merlin Is. I hope Rolls-Royce has a contract."
"We do for 200. It can be extended if the Merlin II isn't available."
"Then make it available."
I'm seeing the finished product for the first time. A real beauty. Complete with 19th Squadron's insignia. We can make them the RAF evaluation squadron. Things don't move this fast in the MoD.
"Great work, gentlemen. I love this aircraft. I have to get back to London and find out what's happening here. There appears to be a misunderstanding. I don't believe that anybody in the MoD knows you are building Spitfires. You get a gold star for enthusiasm though. Change that to 6 aircraft and use them as test beds for last minute updates and couple for the RAE. They will have suggestions"
Before leaving I called London to arrange for a meeting at around 15:00. I took a lot of photos then we departed for London.
I introduced Erich, "Don't worry. Germany and England are friends now and he's Army not Luftwaffe."
There were so many things to discuss I didn't know where to start but the Rolls-Royce engineers helped by reminding me that they are producing Merlin Is now and it has a maximum rating of 1,045 hp.
"What's its constant rating?" I asked.
"That is still at 950 hp. To be honest we aren't happy with the "ramp" heads currently being used so we are working on an improved version."
"How many are you producing?"
"Faster than these guy can produce Spitfires but we are waiting for the premises at Castle Bromwich to be available then hopefully producing Merlin IIs."
"We are waiting for Castle Bromwich too. We want to concentrate the production of our seaplanes here," Joseph Smith added. Joseph is the Chief designer in the Spitfire programme.
"I'm glad you are here, Joseph, because I have a couple of questions. Are you using the de Havilland propellers and what's this crazy idea about a twin-engine Spitfire? We already have two models in that category and a third is not required. Stick to the Spitfire and seaplanes, please."
"The answer is 'Yes' to the first question. The second question concerns experimental designs and that's how we arrived at the Spitfire."
"I realize that but you are not receiving public funds for experiments. Prepare for orders for 1,000s of Spitfires and please concentrate on the development of the Spitfire. A maritime version would be good for our light aircraft carriers."
"Sea Spitfires?"
"Complete with arrester hook, a strengthened fuselage and landing gear so they can survive carrier landings. Seafires sounds much better."
"Thousands?" It just dawned on him.
"Yes. We are hoping for a competition between our models plus those of France and Germany, maybe Italy too, but from what I've seen and read about so far, the Spitfire is the clear winner. It also means that France and Germany must be allowed to license-build Merlins. We now have to ensure that the Soviets don't capture the factories. Hopefully we shall have the trials in the fall which means production at the earliest this time next year."
"The Hawker Hurricane too?"
"Of course. We already have orders for over 200 aircraft. It's more suitable for ground support than air superiority. There will be a meeting at the Air Ministry next week and designers, like you Joseph, will need to be there."
"Do you know what it's all about?"
"A good guess is weapon configuration. They are pushing for 8 x .303 MG's. I'm against it so I'm hoping for some support from you guys."
"20mm cannon, for example?"
"That or preferably a mix. Anyway I'm formulating a proposal to satisfy all so please take your medicine before you arrive. Enough said. Erich would love to see one of our Spitfires."
"No problem. Let's start with the assembly line then the finished product for 19th Squadron at Duxford."
"I knew about Duxford but there is more than one squadron there."
"Production is slow at the moment with only one per week."
"Can we try for one per day?"
"Work in progress."
"Ein pro Woche, Erich."
Assembly line was an overstatement. There were 4 Spitfires from a bare frame to almost finished but only about a dozen workers.
"Where are the rest of the workers?"
"Most of them are still training. Aircraft are much more complicated than cars."
"Shouldn't they be here getting "hands-on" training."
"Theory first then practice, Sir Robert."
"May I suggest doing both parallel to each other? Theory in the morning then practice in the afternoon?"
"We'll make changes."
"I expect an update at next week's meeting."
Then in the next hall a finished product - the first one. It hasn't been delivered yet! Then it clicked.
"The maiden flight was only last month?"
"They were so impressed that they said build it. The test pilot was said it was perfect and that was enough for the others. King Edward was here, Secretary Churchill and Sir Philip were here too."
"Can I see your contract, please."
"We haven't received it yet."
"That's why nobody told me that we're producing Spitfires. You don't have a contract. Call them pre-production models and build only a dozen. I'll get you a real contract. But for more than one per week, please. They cost about £12,000 each. Is that correct?"
"Slightly more."
"OK, I'll arrange for a contract for 120 aircraft with the Merlin Is. I hope Rolls-Royce has a contract."
"We do for 200. It can be extended if the Merlin II isn't available."
"Then make it available."
I'm seeing the finished product for the first time. A real beauty. Complete with 19th Squadron's insignia. We can make them the RAF evaluation squadron. Things don't move this fast in the MoD.
"Great work, gentlemen. I love this aircraft. I have to get back to London and find out what's happening here. There appears to be a misunderstanding. I don't believe that anybody in the MoD knows you are building Spitfires. You get a gold star for enthusiasm though. Change that to 6 aircraft and use them as test beds for last minute updates and couple for the RAE. They will have suggestions"
Before leaving I called London to arrange for a meeting at around 15:00. I took a lot of photos then we departed for London.