Expert: Paul Soderman - 1/11/2011

Question
What exactly is the difference in aerodynamicy between, say, the Spitfire and a JU-88? Is there anywhere I can get the blueprints for the wing of the Spitfire(airplane experimentation!)?

Answer
Destiny
The Spitfire was a single-engine fighter and the JU-88 was a twin-engine light bomber that did some night fighting.  They were different in so many ways it is difficult to define the exact aerodynamic differences. The fuselages were different, as were the cockpits, powerplants, wings, tail, etc.  All those things affect the aerodynamics.  You would have to find or compute the total aerodynamic performance data (lift, drag, pitching moment) to really see the differences.  If you do a google search on Spitfire you get many hits.  There is even a Spitfire Society at:  http://www.spitfiresociety.com/index.html  Perhaps they can point you to some data.  S, Hoerner's book Fluid-Dynamics Drag* contains geometry and data on the JU-88 drag - see chapter on Complete Aircraft.  He also has data on the Me-109, but I couldn't find anything on the Spitfire.  It might be there.  You can also check old NASA and RAE technical reports in a good engineering library.

*I have two possible sources for the book:  Hoerner Fluid Dynamics, PO Box 65283, Vancouver WA 98665 (360-576-3997) and 7528 Staunton Place, N.W., Albuquerque NM 87120 (505-898-0533).
Good luck.
Paul