To the right of the magnetic compass (meaning to the left in this view) is the fuel valve selector. Above it are the two identical switches for booster coil and engine starter. The brass knob to the right belongs to the manual priming pump used to inject raw fuel to the engine to ensure an easier engine start. Lastly, the tank fuel pressure selector is located directly on the fuselage frame.


Of interest is the metal ring next to the primer pump. On early Spitfires, this was an “idle cut off” to stop the engine, achieved by pulling on the ring . Later aircraft were cut by the mixture control on the throttle quadrant being moved REARWARDS to idle cut off, forewards to the stop was “auto rich”. Interesting to see this early aircraft’s mixture seems to work in the opposite sense, how’s that for an ergonomics “gotcha”!