Jettisoning canopy of Spitfire - possible or not.

Originally Posted by Dominik

According to Pilot Notes, each Spitfire with Malcolm Hood had such red rubber ball, which allowed pilot jettison canopy. A few weeks ago I found one photo in the Aero Detail book about Spitfires. This photo shows a Spitfire in museum and it has such ball. I belive it's the second part - Spitfire IX-XVI but I'm not completely sure.

hi. they did have side panels that could be pushed out when bailin out,on there cockpits,covers, sides "this was to help. with airflow, ,
gary,

[PeterA]

Both the high back and low back canopies can be jettisoned in the true sense.

The rubber ball is attached to two wires that pass through small formed aluminium conduits down to a relay system rod that effectively pins the canopy to the four sliders. Pull the ball, release the pins, push out with the elbows, possibly having released the top catch in the case of the high back, and away it goes.

PeterA

or if all eles fails strighten your back muclces put both feet on the stick then push you wont notice the hood,a well known pilots say,
gary