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Clipped-wing Spitfire navigation lights?


warhawk

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Hello,

Looking at some Clipped-wing Spitfire photos, I have noticed an oddity:

 

Mk.V (both "b" and "c" wing) photos clearly show small nav lights at wingtip ends:

Spitfire_LF_Mk.Vc.jpg

img source: Britmodeller "Spitfire Questions" topic

 

spitifre-lf-mk-vb.jpg

img source: Spitfire Site "Supermarine Spitfire Variants"

 

So do the Mk.IX/XVI examples with the "e" type clipped wing:

580723b88ce8e_SpitfireIXLFfromLendLeasep

img source: DCG Forum

 

But in photos of Mk.XII version, the lights are clearly missing

Spitfire_Mk_XII_41sqn.jpg

Img source: World war photos

 

Does this mean they were over-painted on Mk.XIIs, or they just straight-up flew without them (which I thought was not allowed by the regulations)?

Edited by warhawk
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Some did, some didn't. There are at least two and possibly three different types of "clipped" wingtips on Spitfires and some were simple wooden fairings with no frills and extras.

Regulation-wise you're not required to have lights at all on aircraft not flown at night. You're not even required to have an electrical system. How many lights do you see on Tiger Moths?

Edited by Work In Progress
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34 minutes ago, Work In Progress said:

How many lights do you see on Tiger Moths?

Usually none, but rarely two - although it's hard to see them both at once.

(Some RAAF EFTS units taught night flying and their TM's were modified appropriately, with a nav light above and below the cabin)

IMG_3975

 

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4 hours ago, warhawk said:

Hello,

Looking at some Clipped-wing Spitfire photos, I have noticed an oddity:

 

Mk.V (both "b" and "c" wing) photos clearly show small nav lights at wingtip ends:

Spitfire_LF_Mk.Vc.jpg

img source: Britmodeller "Spitfire Questions" topic

 

spitifre-lf-mk-vb.jpg

img source: Spitfire Site "Supermarine Spitfire Variants"

 

So do the Mk.IX/XVI examples with the "e" type clipped wing:

580723b88ce8e_SpitfireIXLFfromLendLeasep

img source: DCG Forum

 

But in photos of Mk.XII vesrion, the lights are clearly missing

Spitfire_Mk_XII_41sqn.jpg

Img source: World war photos

 

Does this mean they were over-painted on Mk.XIIs, or they just straight-up flew without them (which I thought was not allowed by the regulations)?

To the best of my knowledge, and Graham or ToT can confirm or correct, but Mk XII's were not fitted with navigation lights on the wingtips. Don't ask me why!

Mike

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6 hours ago, Fernando said:

Hi, everyone,

 

It is my understanding (along to 72modeller) that Mk XIIs didn't have the wingtip light.

 

Fernando

Mine as well. When I did my Airfix XII (okay, okay! we all know about its fatal flaws), I put on nav lights and was informed that they shouldn't be there.

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