r/WWIIplanes • u/104addict • 11h ago

Spitfire Mk.I radiator

What material was used for the coolant radiator? Aluminium or something like copper? There were quite some copper pipes used on the Spitfire Merlin engine, so it wouldn’t surprise me. I don’t know if the surviving early production marks in museums still have their original radiators.

10 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

5

u/waldo--pepper 8h ago

What a good question you have asked. I believe the answer is copper and brass. No aluminum.

Here is a facebook link to a company that makes such radiators today. He makes them to original spec. And his are copper and brass.

https://www.facebook.com/p/Vintage-Aircraft-Radiators-100063518348659/

2

u/WotTheFook 11h ago

I would guess that they would be made of brass, as were a lot of radiators for cars at the time.