Aviones Supermarine: libros - historia y modelos

Supermarine 1913-63

It may be hard to imagine in 2012, but Great Britain was once filled with a plethora of aircraft manufacturers. One hundred years ago, the seeds of many of them were being sown, as the demand for aircraft gained pace following the outbreak of the First World War. Not all survived following the armistice and the subject of this book, Supermarine, only kept going by the skin of its teeth and certainly did not settle into a profitable aircraft manufacturing business until the mid to late 1920s.
However, with the genius mind of Reginald Joseph Mitchell on board, the company could do no wrong and without doubt, the company's most famous and well-known product was the Spitfire.

The colossal orders received for the fighter set the company on a steady post-war course which, once again, was a period that saw other companies fall by the wayside. Following Mitchell's demise, we must not forget the man who carried the baton, Joe Smith, who developed the Spitfire and Seafire into a machine that remained in production for ten years, ultimately ending its service career in Korea. Smith did not just ride on that back of Mitchell's designs and was responsible for the Spiteful, Seafang and the Attacker to name but a few.

This book gives readers an insight into the aircraft produced by Supermarine, and those that did not quite make it, as well as a history of the aircraft company itself.

Detalle del libro

Fleet Air Arm Legends: Supermarine Seafire

Renowned naval aviation author Matthew Willis tells the story of the Supermarine Seafire - a navalised version of the famous Spitfire adapted for use on aircraft carriers.
Some 2646 examples were built and saw action with the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm from November 1942 until after the Korean War in the early 1950s. It was involved in combat during the Allied landings in North Africa (Operation Torch), the Allied invasions of Sicily and Italy, the D-Day landings, and Operation Dragoon in southern France.
With the Pacific fleet, the Seafire proved capable of intercepting and destroying the feared Japanese kamikaze attack aircraft.

Detalle del libro

Supermarine Southampton - The Flying Boat that Made R.J. Mitchell

The Supermarine Southampton was the first in a series of successful flying boats designed by Supermarine's R.J. Mitchell and was the first one to be designed for the RAF after the First World War. Produced between 1924 and 1934 it entered into RAF service in 1925 and became the second longest serving (behind the Short Sunderland) and one of the most successful of the inter-war flying boats.

In an unusual move for the times, the Air Ministry ordered six Southamptons straight from the drawing board as the design had been based on the success of the experimental Supermarine Swan amphibious aircraft. So successful was the aircraft that a further twelve were ordered in July 1925.

The Southampton was a hugely successful aircraft for the RAF, the aircraft's main sponsor, and was used for reconnaissance duties and as a patrol aircraft. It became best known for a series of publicly lauded long-distance flights, the intention of which was partly 'flag waving' and partly for gaining valuable experience of flying boats in remote waters. The 1927 Far East Flight became known for the Southampton's display of its prodigious range and reliability.

The Southampton was a very successful series of flying boats with sales also being made to Argentina, Turkey and Japan almost doubling Supermarine's business in just a few years. A total of eighty-three of all types were built, all of which are revealed in this unrivalled collection of archive images, the majority of which, having been drawn from private collections, have not been published before.

Detalle del libro

Supermarine Rolls-Royce S6B Manual (1931) - Record-breaking racing seaplane, winner of the Schneider Trophy (Haynes Aircraft Manual)

El 13 de septiembre de 1931, el Trofeo Schneider fue ganado en solitario para Gran Bretaña en Southampton Water por el teniente de vuelo John Boothman, pilotando un Supermarine S6B, S1595, con una velocidad media récord de 379.08 mph.

Páginas del libro "Supermarine Rolls-Royce S6B Manual (1931) - Record-breaking racing seaplane, winner of the Schneider Trophy"

Ralph Pegram relata la historia de las competiciones del Trofeo Schneider y describe el desarrollo de los diseños británicos de hidroaviones de alta velocidad.
Examina la anatomía del S6B (incluido el motor Rolls-Royce R), además de ofrecer información poco común sobre sus características de vuelo y cómo se mantuvo, operó y, por supuesto, compitió en la final.

Más información sobre los manuales de aviones Haynes

Detalle del libro

Beyond the Spitfire : The Unseen Designs of R.J. Mitchell

La historia popular tiende a simplificar, y los relatos sobre la vida y la carrera del ingeniero aeronáutico RJ Mitchell no son una excepción. Recordado con especial cariño por su revolucionario diseño del Spitfire, sus otros diseños - muchos de ellos fracasos y decepciones - han sido prácticamente ignorados.

Como diseñador de Supermarine, Mitchell creó una gran cantidad de conceptos, proyectos e ideas que nunca pasaron de la fase de diseño. En "Beyond the Spitfire Ralph Pegram" se saca a la luz el trabajo inédito de Mitchell con el fin de evaluar la totalidad de la obra de uno de los diseñadores aeronáuticos más talentosos de Gran Bretaña.

Ilustrado con una combinación de planos de diseño e impresionantes representaciones CGI de los diseños de Mitchell, este libro es una valiosa e indispensable aportación para comprender la obra de un hombre al que a menudo se le llama genio.

Detalle del libro

Supermarine - An Illustrated History

En 1904, un inventor excéntrico, Noel Pemberton-Billing, se interesó por las máquinas voladoras. Siguiendo el ejemplo de los pioneros anteriores a los hermanos Wright, se lanzó desde el tejado de su casa en un vuelo que terminó a 9 metros directamente debajo.
De estos humildes comienzos surgió una compañía que llegó a producir el avión de combate más famoso y reconocible al instante del mundo: el Supermarine Spitfire.

RJ Mitchell, el genio de la ingeniería de Supermarine, diseñó la asombrosa cantidad de veinticuatro aeronaves diferentes durante sus veinte años en la compañía. El Spitfire, su mayor creación, alcanzó un estatus legendario que rara vez se concede a simples máquinas.
Tras la prematura muerte de Mitchell y la destrucción de la fábrica a manos de la Luftwaffe, Supermarine siguió adelante con diseños radicalmente nuevos para la era de los reactores.

La trayectoria del Spitfire y sus sucesores a reacción es una de las más extraordinarias de la historia de la aviación. Desde la fundación del primer aeropuerto hasta los hidroaviones de carreras que batieron récords y las expediciones de un año en hidroavión más allá de las fronteras de la civilización, la historia de Supermarine ha influido en el curso de la historia mundial.

Este libro recoge la historia que hay detrás de las icónicas fotografías que capturaron el espíritu de esta época dorada de experimentación y de las fronteras en constante evolución de la tecnología y los logros humanos.

Detalle del libro

From Nighthawk to Spitfire : The Aircraft of R.J. Mitchell

RJ Mitchell era prácticamente autodidacta y casi todos sus aviones eran hidroaviones de vuelo lento. La historia de cómo este hombre de la región central de Inglaterra, sin salida al mar y aprendiz en una fábrica de locomotoras, llegó a ser responsable del Spitfire, es fascinante en sí misma.

Este libro detallado nos cuenta cómo Mitchell aprendió su oficio, contribuyendo a la producción del aparatoso Nighthawk (diseñado para combatir la amenaza de los zepelines alemanes) y llegando gradualmente a producir hidroaviones de carreras que batieron récords y ganaron el prestigioso Trofeo Schneider internacional.
Mitchell se encontraba, por tanto, en una posición privilegiada para diseñar un avión de alta velocidad cuando la guerra era inminente. Sin embargo, como revela John K. Shelton, la producción del famoso caza no era en absoluto una certeza y su contribución vital a la victoria en la Batalla de Inglaterra fue "una cuestión de suerte".

Detalle del libro

Spitfire People - The Men and Women Who Made the Spitfire the Aviation Icon

Published to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, this book presents a fresh angle on the Spitfire by examining the contribution to its development and achievements by over 65 people, some famous, others not. Without the courage and tenacity of some leading political and military figures and the hard work of lesser-known mortals, there would have been no Spitfire, no Battle of Britain and no ultimate victory in 1945.

Many people in positions of power played their part in the ultimate success of the Spitfire, but a few staked their reputations on a radical design that brought together the best in British design, technology and ingenuity.

This book tells many significant individual stories.

Political people: Sir Winston Churchill (voice in the wilderness and wartime leader), Air Marshal Sir Wilfred Freeman (senior champion of the Spitfire in the Air Ministry), Lord Beaverbrook (Minister for Aircraft Production);

Design and development people: Reginald Mitchell (chief designer 1934a 36), Joe Smith (chief designer 1936a 47), Jeffrey Quill (test pilot), Ernest Hives (Rolls-Royce experimental head and key player in the design of the Merlin engine), Sir Stanley Hooker (mathematician and Merlin engine developer), the ladies of Vickers Supermarine at Trowbridge (factory workers);

Operational people: James 'Johnny' Johnson (highest-scoring Spitfire ace), Henry Cozens (first squadron commander), Geoffrey Wellum (youngest Battle of Britain pilot), Douglas Bader (Spitfire wing leader and inspirational disabled pilot).

Experimental people: Tony Martindale (RAE Farnborough test pilot), Eric 'Winkle' Brown (chief naval test pilot and the first man to land a Seafire on an aircraft carrier);

Heritage people: Ray Hanna (Old Flying Machine company), Carolyn Grace (the only female owner/pilot in the world), Phill O'Dell (chief test pilot at Rolls-Royce and Spitfire display pilot).

Detalle del libro

Spitfire's Forgotten Designer - The Career of Supermarine's Joe Smith

Whenever the Spitfire is mentioned the name of its famous designer R.J. Mitchell comes to mind. However, Mitchell died in June 1937 and never saw his prototype design progress into becoming one of the most famous fighter aircraft of the Second World War.

Working under Mitchell as chief draughtsman was Joe Smith who was greatly involved with the early design of the Spitfire. After Mitchell's death, Smith first became manager of the design department, and then chief designer.

This illustrated book celebrates the inspirational and innovative work of Mitchell, Smith and their successful design team. Including first-hand accounts of members of the design team and apprentices, it reveals a little-known but pivotal figure. Smith's dedication, leadership and the part he played in the development of the Spitfire and post-war jet aircraft have largely been forgotten.

Detalle del libro

Scimitar - Supermarine's Last Fighter

Renowned aviation author Richard A. Franks presents a detailed and fully illustrated account of the Supermarine Scimitar in service, from the precursors and prototypes to the three surviving examples.
It includes 40 specially commissioned and highly accurate colour illustrations, as well as more than 120 black and white and colour photographs. A listing of airframes and histories is also included.

Detalle del libro

Seafire F III vs A6M Zero - Pacific Theatre (Osprey)

Products of vastly different design philosophies, the Seafire F III and the A6M Zero were never intended to meet in combat, and never should have.
The Zero, extremely nimble at low speeds was purpose-built as a shipboard fighter. In contrast, the Spitfire was intended to operate from established airfields, and needed to be adapted as a carrier fighter.

The book examines these two iconic fighters and their two very different histories, using fantastic artwork and first hand accounts to illustrate the last aerial duel of World War II, as the British Seafire overcame its critics to emerge victorious over the Japanese Zero.

Contents: Introduction - Chronology - Design and Development - The Strategic Situation - Technical Specifications - The Combatants - Combat - Statistics and analysis - Aftermath - conclusion - Bibliography - Further Reading - Glossary.

Detalle del libro