Spitfire Engine Test

[philip1958]

I always thought the props turned anticlockwise, which was why they always turned to port (left) as the centripetal forced helped with roll rate!

[Graham Boak]

The Merlin's props went the "wrong way around" compared to most, and indeed what shortly afterwards became the RAE standard, but the days of turning to port (or was it starboard) rather went out with the rotary engines.  Apparently there was a habit of turning to port when attacked, but this was because with the right hand on the stick when startled (i.e. "There's a 109 on your tail!") it is the natural reaction to push rather than pull.  It is said that some aces allowed for this and aimed slightly to port, but this may be a bar rtory.