Beyond the Spitfire - The Unseen Designs of R J Mitchell by Ralph Pegram

[Schneiderman]

Now at the printers and available 2nd May 2016

http://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/Beyond-the-Spitfire/9780750965156/

Chapter 1. Supermarine – origin and the early years
Noel Pemberton Billing
Hubert Scott-Paine
Supermarine Aviation Works Ltd
Reginald Mitchell arrives
The Supermarine Baby
Chapter 2. 1919 - Supermarine meets the challenge of peace
Securing the business
Staff changes
The first Channels
Racing
Speculative designs
Chapter 3. Mitchell’s first flying boats
Olympia - new variations on old themes
Selling the Channel
Commercial Amphibian competition
Military designs
Racing again
Chapter 4. Commercial aircraft and airlines
Diversification and expansion
British Marine Air Navigation
Chapter 5. Production at last
The struggle to survive
Seagulls
Chapter 6. More racing and Scott-Paine departs
Defending the Schneider Trophy
James Bird takes over
Chapter 7. The move to big ‘boats
Multi-engine flying boats
The Southampton
Nanok
Chapter 8. Expanding the design team, light aircraft and more amphibians
The Design Department
Mitchell’s first land aeroplane
The next generation of amphibians
Chapter 9. Racing: a new direction and a dead end
Mitchell’s first monoplane
Chapter 10. Competition and the introduction of fabrication in metal
The rise of the flying boats
The metallurgy department
Chapter 11. A move away from marine aircraft
Mitchell’s first true fighter
Chapter 12. Schneider Trophy racers; a triumph and a distraction
Success in Venice
Chapter 13. 1927 – New ideas
Supermarine relaunched
Dornier
The big ‘boat designs
Mitchell joins the board
Chapter 14. Vickers
Takeover
Reorganisation
New recruits
Chapter 15. Hard Times
Schneider success and the air speed record
Southampton X and the Air Yacht
Small civil flying boats
Chapter 16. The saga of the six-engined flying boats
Dornier again
Concepts for very large flying boats
The Giant awakes
The Giant’s demise
Chapter 17. The Type 178 projects
Random ideas, embryo projects, none of the above
Chapter 18. Transition
Seeking overseas customers
Torpedo Bomber
Civil flying boats
Australian amphibian
Canadian Monoplane
The final Schneider success and another air speed record
Chapter 19. Replacing the Southampton
Scapa
Stranraer
Chapter 20. Small Amphibians & Miscellaneous projects
Small Amphibians
Seagull V
Sea Otter
Transports
Coastal patrol
Un-numbered projects
Chapter 21. Fighters
Late 1920’s biplane fighters
F.7/30 and the quest for innovation
Type 300
Designing the Spitfire
On elliptical wings
The Spitfire in context
Two-seat fighters
Cannon fighters
Chapter 22. Competition and the four-engined flying boats
Coastal Patrol
Imperial Airways
Sikorsky
Mitchell’s views on air transport
Flying Boats for Imperial Airways
Short’s monoplane flying boats
Trans-Atlantic flying boats
Chapter 23. More twin-engined flying boats
Replacing the Stranraer
High-speed monoplane flying boats
Chapter 24. Bombers
Bombers in the 1920s
Single engine bombers for the 1930s
B.1/35 Twin Engined Heavy Bomber
B.12/36 Four Engine Heavy Bomber
Chapter 25. Supermarine after Mitchell
Turmoil and uncertainty in the Works
Pre-war projects
Chapter 26. RJ, the man and the rise of a legend
The legend
R.J.Mitchell; the man
Genius

Appendix 1. Orphan designs
Appendix 2. The Spitfire’s skewed elliptical wing and notes on NACA aerofoils
Appendix 3. The Design Department
Appendix 4. Supermarine Project list and index

 

[GTX]

Looks very interesting.

 

[Antonio]

Absolutely awesome!!!! Many thanks sir!

 

[Hood]

Looks like a very interesting book. I need to make another space ready on the bookshelf I think.

 

[lark]

Striking cover.. interesting contents... one for the collection !

P.S. any idea about the index..?

 

[Schneiderman]

Sorry about the formatting but this should give you an idea about content. Every project/aircraft is illustrated with a 3-view redrawn from the original Supermarine blueprints

Appendix 4 Supermarine Project List and Index

(********See cleaned-up table in the next post***********Thanks Paul)

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Converted using http://theenemy.dk/table/

Appendix 4 Supermarine Project List and Index
Year	Project		Chapter
1917	Baby	N59, 60, 61	1
1919	Single Seat Flying Boat, Type A		2
	2-engined, 3-seater flying boat, Type B		2
	Channel, Type C	Mod. AD Flying Boat	1
	3-engined triplane flying boat, ‘Dolphin’ Type D		2
	Sea Lion	Ex Baby N61	2
	‘Shark’ triplane flying boat		2
1920	Single seat flying boat		3
	Sea King	Ex Baby N60	3
	Channel II, 4-seater		3
	Amphibian (Commercial Amphibian)		3
	Single seat scout and bomber		3
	Single seat ship’s flying boat		3
	Amphibian flying boat for ship work		3
	Seal Mk II		3
1921	Fleet gunnery spotting amphibian		3
	Triplane torpedo carrier flying boat		3
	Swan 7-seater commercial amphibian flying boat		4
	Sea King II	Ex Sea King	3
	Single seat fighter flying boat for ship use		3
	7-seater commercial flying boat		4
	Commercial amphibian flying boat for Instone		4
	School amphibian flying boat		3
	Seagull amphibian flying boat	Seagull II & III	5
	Scylla flying boat torpedo carrier	Hull only	3
1922	8-seat commercial amphibian		4
	Amphibian flying boat, school machine	Mod. Channel	-
	Bomber amphibian flying boat		5
	Twin-engined bomber amphibian		5
	4 seat commercial amphibian flying boat		4
	Twin-engined commercial flying boat	Early Swan	-
	Sea Lion II	Ex Sea King II	3
	Swan twin-engined civil amphibian flying boat		4
	Sea Eagle		4
	Amphibian flying boat for long distance work	‘Round the World’	4
	3-seat amphibian flying boat		4
1923	Amphibian flying boat service bomber type		5
	3-engined flying boat to AM spec 9/23		7
	Sheldrake amphibian flying boat service bomber type		5
	Sea Lion III	Ex Sea Lion II	6
	Sea Urchin high performance flying boat		6
	Commercial and general service amphibian flying boat	Civil Sheldrake	5
1924	Scarab amphibian flying boat service bomber		5
	Twin engine flying boat converted to armed reconnaissance	Based on Swan	7
	Amphibian flying boat fleet spotter	2 designs	8
	Service type twin engine flying boat		7
	Sparrow two-seater aeroplane	biplane	8
	Southampton		7
	Twin engine amphibian flying boat	2 designs	8
1925	Single-seater high performance seaplane		9
	Shark twin-engine flying boat		7
	Swan MkII twin-engine amphibian flying boat		7
	Condor light bomber amphibian		8
	Southampton II		10
	Southampton twin engine flying boat for civil purposes		7
1926	Seamew		8
	S4 seaplane		9
	Southampton development 3-engined flying boat	3 designs	7
	Solent/Nanok FBVII torpedo bomber		7
	S5 seaplane		12
	Sparrow II two-seater aeroplane	monoplane	8
	Twin-engine flying boat for civil purposes	Civil Seamew	8
	Solent 3-engined flying boat for civil purposes		-
	Single seat fleet fighter to AM spec. 21/26	3 designs	11
1927	3-engined flying boat to AM spec 4/27	biplane	13
	3-engined flying boat to AM spec 4/27 & air yacht	monoplane	13
1928	S6 seaplane		15
	Flying boat 6 Napier XI engines	6 designs	16
	Seamew – single Napier Lion or Bristol Jupiter engine		8
	3-engine monoplane Air Yacht		15
	3-engine monoplane flying boat		App 1
	Type 171 Southampton Mark X		15
	Type 171 civil Southampton Mark X		15
1929	Six engined flying boat to AM spec.R.6/28		16
	Type 179 Six engined flying boat to AM spec. 20/28	Contract cancelled	16
	Type 178 00 Sea Hawk 3 engined civil flying boat		15
	Type 180 4 engined civil flying boat		18
1930	Twin engine flying boat – Hispano Suiza engines	3 designs	18
	Type 178 00 Sea Hawk 3 engined amphibian flying boat		17
	Twin engined fleet spotter to AM spec. 9/30		18
	Type 178 00 3-engined civil amphibian flying boat		17
1931	Type 178 01 Civil mail carrier		17
	Type 178 02 Single engined bomber & reconnaissance amphibian		17
	Type 181 Amphibian flying boat for the RAAF & civil		15
	4 engined civil amphibian		App 1
	4 engined monoplane flying boat		App 1
	Type 178 03 Twin-engined air mail boat		17
	Type 182 General purpose commercial high-wing monoplane		18
	Type 183 General purpose commercial low-wing monoplane	No information	-
	Type 184 Southampton II (R-R Kestrels and metal wings)	N253	10
	Type 185 Southampton X (mod. with Bristol Jupiters)		15
	Type 186 S6a (refurbished S6 with new floats)		18
	Type 187 S6b		18
	Type 188 Southampton X modified with cockpit canopy		15
	Type 189 Southampton II modified with Bristol Jupiters	Modified N218	10
	Type 190 Southampton II export versions; Turkey etc		-
	Type 178 04 Twin engine Southampton flying boat		19
	Type 178 05 Twin engine flying boat		19
	Type 178 06 Sea Hawk	Southampton Mk X	-
	Type 178 07 Southampton IV		19
	Type 178 08 Proposal to reduce landing speed	S6b	18
	Type 178 09 High performance day bomber		24
	Type 178 10 Single seat day and night fighter (biplane and monoplane)		21
1932	Type 178 11 3-engined monoplane flying boat	Military Air Yacht	-
	Type 178 12 Single seat biplane day and night fighter	Mod. Type 178 10	21
	Type 178 14 Single seat monoplane day and night fighter	Mod. Type 178 10	21
	Type 221 Southampton IV	Scapa prototype	19
	Type 222 Floats for Vickers Vildebeest		-
	Type 223 Seagull V single engine amphibian flying boat	Prototype N2	20
	Type 224 Single seat monoplane day and night to AM spec. F.7/30		21
	Type 225 Single engine civil amphibian flying boat	Civil Seagull V	20
	Type 226 Scapa	Production	19
	Type 227 Southampton V to AM spec. R.24/31		19
	Type 228 Seagull V	Production	20
	Type 229 Scapa with experimental stainless steel wing spars		-
	Type 230 Southampton V/Stranraer	Prototype	19
	Type 231 Twin engine bomber transport to AM spec. C.26/31		-
	Type 232 Four engine boat seaplane to AM spec. R.2/33		22
	Type 233 Southampton II for Turkey, Hispano-Suiza 12Nbr engines		-
1933	Type 234 Southampton II for Turkey, Hispano-Suiza 12Nbr engines		-
	Type 235 Scapa with Napier Culverin diesel engines		19
	Type 236 Walrus	Production	20
1934	Type 237 Stranraer (and projected civil adaptation)	Production	19
	Type 238 Biplane boat seaplane to AM spec. R.2/33		22
	Type 239 Four engine boat seaplane to AM spec. R.2/33		22
	Type 240 Twin engine coastal reconnaissance landplane		-
	Type 300 F.7/30 development	Projects & Spitfire I	21
	Type 301 Floats for Vickers Vincent		-
	Type 302 Four engine flying boat for Imperial Airways		22
	Type 303 R.24/31 Scapa development	4 designs	23
1935	Type 304 Stranraer development – Canadian Vickers production		-
	Heavy bomber landplane to AM spec. B.1/35		24
	Type 305 Two seater day and night fighter AM spec. F.9/35		21
	Type 306 Flying Boat for Imperial Airways transatlantic passenger service		22
	Type 307 Seagull V – Pegasus VI		-
	Type 308 Long range flying boat to AM spec. R.12/35		23
	Type 309 Sea Otter		20
	Type 310 Long range flying boat		23
1936	Type 311	No information	-
	Type 312 Single seat day and night fighter to AM spec. F.37/35		21
	Type 313 Single seat day and night fighter to AM spec. F.37/35		-
	Type 314 High performance flying boat to AM spec. R.1/36		23
	Type 315 Walrus for Argentina		-
1937	Type 316 Heavy Bomber to AM spec. B.12/36		24
	Type 317 Heavy Bomber to AM spec. B.12/36 – Hercules engines	Two prototypes	24
	Type 318 Heavy Bomber to AM spec. B.12/36 – Merlin engines		24
	Type 319 2 seat fighter		25
	Type 320 Walrus for Turkey		-
1938	Type 321 Mark IV gun turret		24
	Type 322 Aircraft to AM spec. S.24/37		-
	Type 323 Speed Spitfire		21, 25
	Type 324 Fighter to AM spec. F.18/37		25
	Type 325 Fighter to AM spec. F.18/37		25
	Type 326 Walrus development - Pegasus VI		-
	Type 327 High speed single seat cannon gun fighter		25
1939	Type 328 Flying boat to AM spec. R.5/39		25
	Type 329 Spitfire Mk II
	Type 330 Spitfire Mk III
	Type 331 Spitfire Mk V
	Type 332 Spitfire FN gun (for Estonia)
	Type 333 Two seat fleet fighter to AM spec. N.8/39		25

 

[hesham]

Hi,

311 was a Supermarine designation for Spitfire F37/34 with Merlin E engine,only a project.

http://www.k5054.com/variants.html

 

[Schneiderman]

Possibly, the date would be about right but no drawings seem to exist to confirm this (presumably if it was a simple upgrade of the Spitfire it would only have involved minor changes and any drawings would be unlikely to have been retained). As it is followed by the type 312, which is not a simple Spitfire variant and possibly based on an earlier version of the Type 300, it leaves a few questions in my mind so I have chosen to leave this as unknown

 

[lark]

Impressive list..... thanks!

 

[covert_shores]

Impressive cover. Love the quality artwork

 

[Schneiderman]

Impressive cover. Love the quality artwork

Front and back cover, plus some further colour illustrations, courtesy of Matt Painter http://www.matt-painter.co.uk/

 

[Schneiderman]

Back cover

 

[hesham]

Possibly, the date would be about right but no drawings seem to exist to confirm this (presumably if it was a simple upgrade of the Spitfire it would only have involved minor changes and any drawings would be unlikely to have been retained). As it is followed by the type 312, which is not a simple Spitfire variant and possibly based on an earlier version of the Type 300, it leaves a few questions in my mind so I have chosen to leave this as unknown

But Mr. Tony Buttler confirmed on this ?.

 

[Schneiderman]

However, as you can see, that list is contradictory. Type 300 covers the various project designs leading to the Spitfire, the prototype and the production of the Mk1. F.37/34 was written to support the order for the prototype so clearly Type 311 has to have been something different.

 

[Maveric]

Can you tell me the designation of the airplane back cover? Thanks

 

[Schneiderman]

Can you tell me the designation of the airplane back cover? Thanks

Certainly! It is one of a number of preliminary concepts for a large, six-engine flying boat to specification R.6/28. It seems that Supermarine, and probably most other companies, played with a variety of ideas before selecting the best and proceeding with detailed design. Only then was it designated an official project number/name

 

[Maveric]

Thanks for quick answer

 

[theponja]

You know Schneiderman this isn't good. As a lot of guys here I started this with the luft46 stuff. I was happy to buy several books on German projects, later because this forum I added Japanese and American books. Of course with a lot of explanations to my wife.
You, yes YOU make me add the Schneider Trophy book and now this .... I've to prepare anothe fight for this book.

Very interesting by the Way

 

[Schneiderman]

 

[cluttonfred]

I just ordered my copy....oddly for less in dollars from the U.S. Amazon site than the price in pounds on the UK Amazon site!

 

[Schneiderman]

Maybe it doesn't travel well

 

[theponja]

I just ordered my copy....oddly for less in dollars from the U.S. Amazon site than the price in pounds on the UK Amazon site!

I'm live in Argentina and I always end ordering on bookdepository. Is cheaper than Amazon US + shipping.

 

[theponja]

I know the enginiering solutions determine in same way all the planes looks similar but I love the one on the back cover. Looks so "dieselpunk".,
I'd like to see more designs like this to be real.
Just to see it on more detail is going to be great.

Scheiderman I imagine this is a 3d model.

 

[Schneiderman]

Scheiderman I imagine this is a 3d model.

Yes it is, one built by Matt Painter. The colour section of the book includes several 3D renders, some by myself and other by Matt (see the link in post #11 to see examples of his work for clients)

 

[Nick Sumner]

Really looking forward to this volume! Schneider Trophy Seaplanes and Flying Boats set a benchmark for quality in all departments and I'm sure this next effort will be just as good. Please let us know when it is released.

 

[Schneiderman]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.
Personally I think this one is better; different publishing style but better. Still scheduled to be released on 2nd May but I'll put a post here if it changes.

 

[theponja]

Scheiderman I imagine this is a 3d model.

Yes it is, one built by Matt Painter. The colour section of the book includes several 3D renders, some by myself and other by Matt (see the link in post #11 to see examples of his work for clients)

Nice works from Matt but not planes

 

[Schneiderman]

True, his illustrations for my book was the first time he had tackled aircraft apart from some work he did for the group building a replica Westland Whirlwind (fighter not helicopter)

 

[SlickDriver]

Wow!! Thank you - my order is in and I eagerly await it's arrival

 

[Schneiderman]

Hi all,
Book left the publishers today and should be available from UK booksellers within days.
Cheers

 

[lark]

Ordered the book a few weeks ago... eagerly lookin' forward

 

[elmayerle]

On order from Amazon here in the US. They tell me it's arriving in their warehouse in the US in the early part of October.

 

[theponja]

Hi all,
Book left the publishers today and should be available from UK booksellers within days.
Cheers

Great!!! Nice picture!!!

Update: bookdepository tell me my order is on the way!!!

 

[CJGibson]

My copy arrived today.

Not my usual fare, as you might imagine, but my interest in flying boats prompted my purchase.

I've just had a quick flick through it and it certainly looks good, with Matt Painter's artwork very impressive.

Nice job, Ralph.

Chris

 

[Schneiderman]

Thanks Chris, I hope you find something of interest in it.

 

[lark]

Book arrived.During the 'browsing phase' a found already a few gems.
Use the weekend to work my way in it.

 

[Schneiderman]

Have a good weekend!

 

[lark]

I'm on 2/3 of the book.
You not give us just one book but three in one... !

 

[JFC Fuller]

I have also been reading this over the weekend, overall its an excellent effort rich detail. It's a really great contribution to a topic about which I knew little. It should be of special interest to anyone wishing to know more about interwar British aviation design.

Well done and thank you Ralph/Schneiderman!