The design of the Spitfire flaps

Hi,

Anyone know the design philosophy behind the Spitfire's seemingly crude flaps? Two positions where the lowered position seems to be acting more like an airbrake...

:)

The flaps were really only designed for use during landing, when the prototype K5054 was being tested it had flaps that extended to 60 degrees.

The feedback from the test pilots was:

“The aeroplane has rather a flat glide, even when the undercarriage and flaps are down and has a considerable float if the approach is made a little too flat. This defect could be remedied by fitting higher drag flaps.

‘In general the handling of this aeroplane is such that it can be flown without risk by the average fully trained service fighter pilot, but there can be no doubt that it would be improved by having flaps giving a higher drag.”

So they recommended flaps with higher drag, they did suggest a 2 position control to allow either 60 or 90 degrees, But I suspect the design of the pneumatically driven flaps made this more complicated so they stuck with either open or closed.