One of the most expensive and catastrophic aviation mistakes dreaded by military and civilian pilots even in our modern age, is an accidental landing gear retraction or forgetting to lower or lock the landing gear in place upon approach.
The same was true for fighter and bomber pilots of WWII - both Allied and Axis.
Adapting the land-based Supermarine Spitfire for carrier-launched operations was no simple task as the iconic Battle of Britain, all-metal fighter’s landing gear was narrowly spaced, light weight and highly unsuited for the tremendous shocks incurred from a carrier landing. Many believed that the quickly installed carrier hook arrester would simply be pulled out of the aircraft upon snagging the deck arrester wire. They were not wrong.
Within a few months of operational use, these concerns soon proved to be valid and the Seafire factory was forced to redesign strengthen the aircraft's undercarriage and install additional longitudinal aluminium stringers to reinforce the tail area.
The newly named Seafire MkIII also suffered from having a limited fuel tank which rendered it incapabale of wider maritime patrols - a usually essential feature of any carrier launched fighter.
The first direct combat operations conducted by the Seafire was during Operation Torch - the Allied landings in North Africa in Nov 1942 and the landings in Sicily almost a year later.
The Seafires were again used for ground support and air-cover during the invasion of the Italian mainland in 1943 but were rendered largely ineffective when the invasion fleets experienced almost glass like ocean conditions with not a breath of wind.
Within a few days, a good 50% of the Seafires had been written off or suffered substantial damage on landing with no headwind to slow their approaches. Their faster than usual landings resulted in landing gear collapses, arrester hook failures and runway overshoots sending the hapless pilots and their aircraft over the side.
Much like the Avro Lancaster heavy bomber, the Seafire also incorporated an illuminated Undercarriage Indicator.
Mounted at the lower left hand of the Seafire's main flying panel, the instrument used a series of electrically illuminated coloured bulbs to alert the pilot as to the status of the undercarriage.
When the undercarriage was down and locked, two green lights would appear on the face of the Indicator.
When down but in the unlocked position, the Indicator showed two red lights. When fully retracted and locked in position, the Indicator showed no lights.
As an added safety precaution, the Seafire was also equiped with an Undercarriage Indicator Switch that prevented the aircraft’s Engine from being started unless it was moved to the ‘ON’ position.
It did this by means of a mechanical arm that slide across the face of the duel engine Magneto switches when in the ‘OFF’ position.
Once switched to ‘ON’ the switch powered up the Undercarriage Indicator unit alerting the pilot to the status of the aircraft’s undercarriage.
A similar combined unit was also installed in fighter aircraft like the Hawker Typhoon.
This Air Ministry labeled, 5C/1974 Undercarriage Indicator Switch is a WWII veteran and comes mounted in a 100yr old Mango Wood Stand complete with engraved Plaque and a detailed, double sided laminated Fact Sheet. It also comes with a detachable magnetic arm and a beautifully detailed 1/72 or 1/48 scale hand built model of this Royal Navy fighter/interceptor. What an amazing gift for the aviation enthusiast in your life!
This Supermarine Seafire Instrument comes complete with detailed Scale Model, Mango Wood Stand & Plaque plus Printed Fact Sheet featuring photo of instrument in aircraft cockpit.
Your Supermarine Seafire, Air Ministry Type 5C/1974 Undercarriage Indicator Switch, Original Recovery Curios Warbird Collectable includes:
The 1/72 or 1/48 scale hand-built and airbrushed plastic model is available with ‘wheels & flaps up or down’, ‘cockpit open or closed’ and ‘wings open or folded’ in a choice of two Squadron markings and camouflage.
*To opt for the larger, more detailed 1/48 scale model simply click on the 1/4 scale tab at the top of the page
Upon order placement you will receive an email asking for your preferred configuration.
Your complete Recovery Curios Original Instrument Collectable is securely packed and delivery normally takes between 6 - 8 weeks approx.
Did you fly, crew or maintain a Supermarine Seafire or have a friend, colleague or family member who did? Check out our PERSONALISED ORIGINAL INSTRUMENT COLLECTABLE OPTION here.