R. J. Mitchell: To the SpitfireR. J. Mitchell at Supermarine is the definitive account of the life of Britain’s best-known aeronautical engineer. Shelton calls upon unpublished letters, extensive press accounts, and updated material from his previous publications, concentrating particularly on the harsh conditions of Mitchell’s apprentice years, the precarious state of the aircraft firm he joined, and moments of good fortune of which he took advantage. He was a ‘chancer’ as well as a methodical developer of, mainly, slow flying seaplanes. Mitchell’s progress from draughtsman, with no formal training in aeronautical design, to internationally known chief designer is charted through a chronological study of his designs, revealing a formidable work ethic with a complex personality that combined ‘dreams and common sense’. It will also be shown how the success of his high-speed Schneider Trophy designs propelled him reluctantly into public attention and how his anxiety for his pilots’ safety matched an equal concern that his designs should not let down an expectant nation. Later expectations on him to produce a ‘killer fighter’ were equally daunting, and the outcome was often uncertain, but details of colleagues’ accounts highlight the essential and unique contribution of R.J.’s experience and drive to the eventual appearance of the iconic Spitfire. |
Contents
Early Military Designs and the Schneider Trophy 1919 | |
Multitasking 19231924 | |
A Turning Point 1925 | |
Becoming R J | |
His First Spitfire 1934 | |
The Real Spitfire Emerges 19341936 | |
K5054 | |
Its All Over | |
After Mitchell | |
Mitchell Family Letters | |
Production Versions of the Spitfire | |
Notes on R J Mitchells Wooden Hulls | |
Consolidation and International Successes 19261928 | |
Designer of the Worlds Fastest Plane 1927 | |
Taking a Chance with RollsRoyce 1929 | |
The Air Yacht and the Giant 19301931 | |
Winning the Schneider Trophy Outright 1931 | |
His Last Flying Boats 19321934 | |
Jacques Schneider | |
Kinkeads S 5 Crash | |
Lady Lucy Houston | |
Bibliography | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Aero aeroplane ailerons Air Ministry Air Yacht airframe amphibian aviation Biard biplane bomber British built Calshot chief designer cockpit Commercial Amphibian company’s competition engine entry feet Felixstowe fighter fitted flew floatplane floats flown flying boat flying-boat fuselage Gloster Gloster IV guns high-speed hull Imperial Airways increased Italian Kerr Stuart Kinkead Lady Houston landing landplane later load machine Mark maximum speed Merlin metal Mitchell’s monoplane Napier Lion naval passengers problems produced propeller prototype R. J. Mitchell race racers radiators rear Reginald Reginald Mitchell result retractable Rolls-Royce Royal Royal Aeronautical Society rudder Scapa Schneider trophy Schneider trophy contest Scott-Paine Sea Eagle Sea Lion Seafire Seagull seaplane Southampton speed record Spitfire Squadron Stranraer structure struts surfaces Swan tail tailplane take-off test pilot top speed undercarriage Vickers Walrus Wing area wingspan winning Woolston