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Re: Late Mk Griffon Spitfire Nose-over on Take-off
From, Handling Qualities of WW2 Fighters, given in March 2004, by Dave Southwood to the Flight Test Group of the Royal Aeronautical Society:
"The engine torque and propeller slipstream produce considerable effects and tailwheel aircraft are inherently unstable on the ground. Probably the greatest vice of the Spitfire is that it is very 'tail light' due to a short longitudinal moment arm of the CG from the mainwheels …. sharp brake inputs or large power increases without full aft stick inevitably cause the tail to leave the ground …
A particular problem can occur during engine checks at high power. The thrust line is above the mainwheels and produces a powerful nose down pitching moment that is opposed by the moment of the CG about the mainwheels and the aerodynamic down force on the tailplane and elevator due to propwash and any headwind component. If the tail should rise, closing the throttle will reduce the problematic nose down moment due to the thrust. However, it will also reduce the propwash over the tailplane and elevators, thus reducing the aerodynamic tail down moment and often making the tail rise even further.
Unfortunately, once the tail has started to rise in this situation there is often no recovery."
The pilot at the controls was Cédric Ruet, and rumor is, this was his very first "flight" in that aircraft.
Bronc
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