****************************************

This booklet will show some of the controls and features of the simulated spitfire.
On a mild day in Florida in 1942, our Spitfire is fueled and ready for flight.

Starting with the picture below of the view of the cold aircraft from the jeep where the pilot is dropped off,

The particular "mission" being simulated is a practice take-off and climb to altitude.

In the snap above, the pilot has opened the unusual port door, cranked back the canopy, and is strapping in.


The snap above shows the 2D cockpit. It is mostly Mr. Scrub's design. No GPS or VOR or other modern equipment is included. My goal is to simulate the plane and environment as it would have been back in 1942. You can see on the panel the gyro compass at the top. Below that, left to right are the drop tank switch, the cowlflap switch (in the open position), the AutoMixture controls vintage 1942, electric switches and 4 icons to select pop-up features as needed. Below that are a row of 4 standard gauges. Below that in the center are the Altimeter, whiskey compass, and attitude ball. On the lower left corner of the panel are the clock, a gauge displaying external tank fuel quantity, a switch for engine controls including magnetos, and the starter, followed by a 3 position switch that controls which internal tank quantity will be displayed by the fuel gauge on the lower right corner. Note that the spitfire draws fuel from all tanks, and this switch only displays the fuel quantity in the 'pilot selected' tank. The bottom row in the lower left corner has the aircraft pitch control (down arrow raises the nose), the landing gear position lights, and the flap position indicator/control. The lower right corner of the cockpit has warning lights for low hydraulic fluid, low fuel, radiator coolant temperature, cylinder head temperature, manifold pressure, and oil temperature. The external fuel gauge is showing no fuel, and the drop tank switch has been "thrown" so there is no empty tank under the belly to contribute to the parasite drag.


The snap above shows the engine controls pop-up on the left which is toggled by the icon that looks like an airplane. There is no harm done by leaving it displayed during flight.


The snapshot above shows the 1940's version autopilot as a popup on the top right. It appearance is controlled by the second from left icon. The third icon from the left controls the popup at the bottom right. It is for the command radio and the ADF radio that points at the direction of the old fashioned, medium frequency "NDB's. In keeping with the time period, you can only tune in "whole" kilocycles, so the ".0" display is inactive.


The snap above shows Mr. Scrub's excellent VC panel. Most of the 2D panel gauges are replicated here. Some re-arrangement of the gauge positions had to be made, due to limitations on the VC panel.

The snap above shows the spitfire taxiing to position for take-off to the east at KFLL.


The snap above shows the aircraft starting its climb. Gear is retracted at 500 ft agl.


The snap above shows the aircraft test firing the wing guns at KDVK. The "gun" switch on the 2D panel must be in the up position and the "O" key must be pressed to fire the guns. The snapshot doesn't do justice to the simulation.


The snap above is another snap of the gunfire, in waning daylight.


There is a realistic simulation of the early Spitfire's flawed carburetor system that causes the engine to "cut out" when the plane nears zero gravity conditions (e.g. entering a dive).
Oh, and the flight dynamics have been altered to include drag when the cowl flaps are open, and drag when the "unseen" external fuel tank is attached. The fuel burn rate has been adjusted to match the specified range, and the engine power has been adjusted for the specified maximum speeds.
Included is an example Combat Flight Radius profile for your use.

Happy Flying!

For questions or comments, contact
dave bitzer
bitzer7@comcast.net
March, 2015