Classic British Flight Sim

Someone please educate me a little on the topic subject. I have very good photo coverage of the circular base gunsights used on the Mk. I/Ia Spitfires found in various UK museums.

The just released RealAir cockpit screen-shots of their new Mk. IX also show a circular gunsight (that is perhaps a little slimer?).

The Plane Design XVI however has a much larger reflective gunsight that has a couple of supporting side arms. This unit appears to come a good deal further back into the cockpit.

The RealAir screenshots of their new Mk. XIV show the same circular gunsight used on their new Mk. IX.

Can anyone identify these gunsights and tell me when they were introducted (more or less), and which Spitfire marks would have either (or both) of them.

Hi Bill

try here mate

http://www.warbirdsite.com/museumgunsights.html

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=17850

http://www.spitfirespares.com/SpitfireS ... sites.html

Regards
Rick

You might want to try asking 'James B' over on the Shockwave BoBII forum as he has extensive knowledge of Spit gun sights and owns a couple of working ones.

That second reference of Rick's is particularly good. My Dad was operational on Spitfire VIIIs and IXs in 1944-45 in Italy and Yugoslavia and he has always said that the introduction of the gyro gunsight during that time made a huge difference in air-to-air gunnery. Before the gyro gunsight, only a few pilots could reliably get hits; with it, the average squadron pilot could get accuracy which previously was only achieved by the 'aces'.

Kevin