Hi Angus,
>So, initial acceleration is in favour by low wingloaded aircraft, but the true speedmonsters are aircraft with higher wingloading, or more correctly, less lift, which corresponds nicely with top speeds pr. hp of ww2 fighters. More or less I guess.....
Actually, acceleration is mathematically tied to climb rate.
The aircraft with the superior climb rate at a certain speed will out-accelerate the one with the inferior climb rate at the same speed.
Of course, climb rates are given at best climb speed, which varies from plane to plane, so using published climb rate figures is not perfect for a comparison.
It also gives only one data point for comparison. At high speed, the aircraft that accelerated worse at low speed might actually accelerate away from its rival.
So at sea level and starting at best climb speed, a Spitfire XIV at +18 lbs/sqin and 8500 lbs with a climb rate of 23.9 m/s will probably out-accelerate a Me 109K-4 at 1.8 ata and 3400 kg by a very small margin because the latter only climbs at 23.3 m/s.
Assuming the Me 109K-4 has a higher top speed at sea level for the sake of the example, there'll be a speed between best climb speed and top speed where both aircraft accelerate equally well, and above that speed, the Me 109K-4 will out-accelerate the Spitfire XIV.
(Of course, at high speed acceleration is much less rapid anyway, and so the difference will be much smaller in absolute terms, too.)
Regards,
Henning (HoHun)