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Old 01-19-2013 | 09:28 AM
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Red B.
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From: Jonkoping, SWEDEN
Default RE: Toe-in or toe-out on a warbird?

The Supermarine Spitfire is a good example of a WWII fighter aircraft that had toe-in.

Here is an interesting read:

[link=http://spitfiresite.com/2010/04/spitfire-mk-ix-xi-and-xvi-variants-much-varied.html/3]The Spitfire site[/link]

"According to Rolf Meum, who has accumulated 100+ hours of Spitfire flying with the Old Flying Machine Company, Duxford, the teardrop-shaped blisters above the wheel wells correlate to a modified wheel axle geometry adapted to tarmac/concrete runway operation. The original “grassfield” undercarriage had a substantial toe-in. As tarmac, concrete and PSP runways became usual during the course of the war, the toe-in resulted in severe wear on the port main wheel due to the engine torque during take-off. With the modification, the toe-in was decreased, but the wheels could no longer lie flat in the wheel wells and therefore needed more space to fit."