[ Duplex ] up from its birthplace , taking flight over Southampton water . The monument will be 40m tall – on a par with the scale of the Statue of Liberty and Nelson ’ s Column – and make a breath-taking sight for the millions of people who visit the UK ’ s busiest cruise port each year . Cantilevering 30m from its base , the mast and plane sculpture will be constructed from duplex stainless steel grade 1.4462 . The plane sculpture is a 1.5x scale replica of a Mk Vc spitfire measuring 16.8m wingspan and 14.04m in length . The plane sculpture will be formed using 3mm sheet formed over ribs and internal framing ( also in duplex ) to form a semi-monocoque structure similar to the original aircraft . ( Monocoque means an aircraft structure in which the chassis is integral to the body ). The vapour trail - Glinting in the sun , the stainless steel mast will curve skyward , lifting the gaze of visitors near and far . The word ‘ Spitfire ’ will be embossed on the vapour trail , appearing in the same stylised typography used in the original marketing brochure for the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire . The vapour trail is a stressed skin structure ( monocoque ) formed using duplex plate welded together with internal stiffening ribs . To create the dynamic form the vapour trail develops from a 5-sided form to a 3 sided form as it enters the rear of the plane sculpture . The thickness of the plates decreases incrementally from the top down to the base of the mast approximately every 2m . From 50mm thick at the rear of the plane , 40 , 30 , 25 , 15 down to 12.5mm at its base connection . The plinth - Reaching out over Southampton waterfront , the circular plinth will take design cues from Allied Airforce roundels and insignia . At the centre of the Roundel base is the beating heart of the monument “ The reflection pool or sky mirror ” that provides a highly dynamic and interactive space for its viewers . Measuring 10m in diameter and 25mm deep it has been designed to reflect light and colour from the sky and its surroundings providing moments of joy and theatre for the viewer as the move around the site . Its reflective qualities make the experience interactive and changeable for its users whilst providing the central gravity for how people enjoy and experience the monuments power and playful serenity . The roundels - Men and women from over 30 Allied air forces flew the Spitfire during its service career , and these iconic aircraft were constructed in more than one location . The outer ring of the plinth will reflect this unity by displaying interactive roundels and insignia of air forces , and emblems to represent cities and towns involved in construction , delivery , and maintenance too .
[ Duplex ] up from its birthplace , taking flight over Southampton water . The monument will be 40m tall – on a par with the scale of the Statue of Liberty and Nelson ’ s Column – and make a breath-taking sight for the millions of people who visit the UK ’ s busiest cruise port each year . Cantilevering 30m from its base , the mast and plane sculpture will be constructed from duplex stainless steel grade 1.4462 . The plane sculpture is a 1.5x scale replica of a Mk Vc spitfire measuring 16.8m wingspan and 14.04m in length . The plane sculpture will be formed using 3mm sheet formed over ribs and internal framing ( also in duplex ) to form a semi-monocoque structure similar to the original aircraft . ( Monocoque means an aircraft structure in which the chassis is integral to the body ). The vapour trail - Glinting in the sun , the stainless steel mast will curve skyward , lifting the gaze of visitors near and far . The word ‘ Spitfire ’ will be embossed on the vapour trail , appearing in the same stylised typography used in the original marketing brochure for the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire . The vapour trail is a stressed skin structure ( monocoque ) formed using duplex plate welded together with internal stiffening ribs . To create the dynamic form the vapour trail develops from a 5-sided form to a 3 sided form as it enters the rear of the plane sculpture . The thickness of the plates decreases incrementally from the top down to the base of the mast approximately every 2m . From 50mm thick at the rear of the plane , 40 , 30 , 25 , 15 down to 12.5mm at its base connection . The plinth - Reaching out over Southampton waterfront , the circular plinth will take design cues from Allied Airforce roundels and insignia . At the centre of the Roundel base is the beating heart of the monument “ The reflection pool or sky mirror ” that provides a highly dynamic and interactive space for its viewers . Measuring 10m in diameter and 25mm deep it has been designed to reflect light and colour from the sky and its surroundings providing moments of joy and theatre for the viewer as the move around the site . Its reflective qualities make the experience interactive and changeable for its users whilst providing the central gravity for how people enjoy and experience the monuments power and playful serenity . The roundels - Men and women from over 30 Allied air forces flew the Spitfire during its service career , and these iconic aircraft were constructed in more than one location . The outer ring of the plinth will reflect this unity by displaying interactive roundels and insignia of air forces , and emblems to represent cities and towns involved in construction , delivery , and maintenance too .
The iconic Spitfire Superior air power is pivotal in modern warfare , and British aircraft design and
“ A nation that forgets its past has no future ”
- Winston Churchill .
engineering helped change the course of the Second World War . Most aircraft in the 1930s still had fabric stretched over a traditional , fixed wing and fuselage , but the British designer , RJ Mitchell , was obsessed with aerodynamics and construction techniques that would deliver more speed and greater manoeuvrability . He designed an icon – the Supermarine Spitfire . From its new , elliptical wings and aluminium body to the wing spars made of concentric square tubing that made each boom progressively stronger from wing tip to root ; thinner wings ; sunken rivets ; covers on the landing gear housing that reduced drag – these are just some of the engineering innovations that created a legend . Another design first came in the form of the Merlin engine , developed by Rolls-Royce . Exhaust ports angled away from the fuselage used to be the norm , but Spitfire exhausts ran parallel to the body of the plane , enabling more thrust and control . This gave Mitchell ’ s aircraft better turns of speed , better aerobatic abilities and an impressive turning circle , all needed to help outmanoeuvre enemy aircraft .
Steel plate outer skin formed of plate that varies in thickness from 12.5mm to 30mm
Longintudinal ribs formed from 10mm thick plate butt welded to the outer skin and transverse ribs
Transverse ribs at approximately 2m centres up the height of the mast . Ribs to have notches to mitigate the risk of condensation collecting
Longitudinal rib
Transverse rib
Notch to alleviate condensation build-up
Interior of mast
The typical rib arrangement within the mast .
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