Why was the plane called a Spitfire?

Why was the plane called a Spitfire?

It was Robert McLean, head of Vickers Aviation, who preferred the name Spitfire because it was a name he used for his daughter Annie, describing her as “a little spitfire”. The name was confirmed by the Air Ministry in 1936, much to Mitchell’s irritation.

Was the hurricane better than the Spitfire?

The slightly larger Hurricane was regarded as an easier aircraft to fly and was effective against Luftwaffe bombers. The Hurricane had a higher seating position, which gave the pilot a better view over the nose than the Spitfire.

What was so special about the Spitfire?

The Spitfire’s famous elliptical wing with sunken rivets to have the thinnest possible cross-section gave the aircraft a higher top speed than most other fighters of the time. These wings also made the Spitfire one of the most agile fighters in the sky, giving them the advantage with one-on-one battles.

What was the most feared plane in WW2?

The 10 Deadliest Planes of World War II

  • Nakajima B5N.
  • Vought F4U Corsair.
  • Supermarine Spitfire.
  • Messerschmitt Bf 109.
  • Lockheed P-38 Lightning. Plane Type: Fighter-Bomber.
  • P-51 Mustang. Plane Type: Fighter, Ground Attack Fighter-Bomber.
  • Republic P-47D Thunderbolt. Plane Type: Fighter.
  • Junkers Ju 87 Stuka. Plane Type: Dive Bomber.

Which British plane shot down the most planes in WW2?

Spitfires
Spitfires shot down a total of 529 enemy aircraft, for a loss of 230 of their own. The Hurricane was the most numerous of RAF Fighter Command’s aircraft during the Battle of Britain, equipping 33 squadrons by September 1940.

Are German planes better than Spitfires?

Battle of Britain Britain stepped up the production of fighter planes, building them faster than Germany. The Mark I Spitfires, with their superior speed and agility, were sent up to shoot down German fighters. By the end of the battle the better organised RAF had defeated the Luftwaffe and downed 1,887 German planes.

Who was the greatest pilot of all time?

Top 10 All-Time Great Pilots In History

  • Wilbur and Orville Wright. Perhaps the most famous of all pilots, Orville and Wilbur Wright are known as flight pioneers.
  • General Charles A. Lindbergh.
  • Amelia Earhart.
  • Baron Manfred Von Richthoven.
  • General James H.
  • Noel Wien.
  • Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger.
  • General Charles E.

Was the Spitfire the best fighter of WW2?

The Spitfire is most likely the most famous aircraft from the World War II era. It was the king of low-altitudes, it will be known forever as the plane that turned the tide in the Battle of Britain. In the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire gained fame by having the highest victory-to-loss ratio among British aircraft.

What is the deadliest plane in the world?

F-22 Raptor
Meet the F-22 Raptor. It’s the most dangerous combat plane in the world, designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground conflict. 20 years later, the jet fighter’s prowess is unmatched. F-22 is renowned for its radar-evading technology, and superior maneuverability.

What is the most feared aircraft in the world?

8 Most Feared Fighter Jets

  1. F-22 Raptor-United States.
  2. F-35 Lightning II-United States.
  3. F/A -18 E/F Super Hornet-United States.
  4. Sukhoi Su-27-Russia.
  5. MiG-31-Russia.
  6. Chengdu J-10-China.
  7. F-15 Eagle-United States.
  8. Dassault Rafale-France. This French beauty can lock onto 40 targets and face slap up to four targets simultaneously.

What plane shot down the most planes in WW2?

While serving in Germany’s Luftwaffe in World War II, Erich Hartmann flew more than 1,400 missions in the Messerschmitt Bf 109, enabling him to score an astonishing 352 kills. How did Hartmann get so good at dominating the skies over the Eastern Front?

Who has the best fighter planes in WW2?

These Were The 10 Best Planes Of WW2

  1. 1 De Havilland Mosquito – Ultimate Multi-Role Aircraft.
  2. 2 North American P51 Mustang – Best Allied Fighter.
  3. 3 Avro Lancaster – Best Heavy Bomber.
  4. 4 Supermarine Spitfire – Best British Fighter.
  5. 5 Boeing B29 Superfortress – Best Long-Range Bomber.
  6. 6 Focke-Wulf FW-190 – Best Fighter.

Why was the RAF Spitfire called the Shrew?

But Spitfire was suggested by his boss – who called his daughter ‘little spitfire’ for her fiery personality Its iconic name has become synonymous with the RAF’s victory during the Battle of Britain – but it’s been claimed that the Spitfire was almost called the Shrew.

What was the name of the plane that shot down the Fw 190?

Spitfire LF Mk IX, MH434 being flown by Ray Hanna in 2005: This aircraft shot down a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in 1943 while serving with No. 222 Squadron RAF . The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II.

Which is the most famous fighter plane of World War 1?

Fokker DR I The most famous war plane of World War I, this helped German ace pilot Manfred von Richthofen (also known as the ‘Red Baron’) earn 19 of his air combat victories, the last of his kills. It’s a capable aircraft and featured exceptional maneuverability with light and powerful rudder and elevator controls.

What was the name of the Albatros fighter plane?

There were some modifications to the design as compared to the D.I and D.II series. B ecause the parallel struts have been replaced with V-shaped interplane struts, the aircraft was often called the ‘V-Strutter.’ At the time, Albatros received the biggest production contract in Germany with orders of 400 D.IIIs.