Spit XIV

[BaldEagl]

I had been wanting to get a few sorties in a XIV this camp so I did so last night.

10 kills, 1 death which was my own fault when I augered it diving straight down at a target right on the deck (but yes, I did get the kill).

What a sweet plane.  407 mph @ 18K.  Same gun load out as the XVI.  I was running down Typhs on the deck and could out-turn them once caught.  E-fighting Zekes, Hurris and Spit VIII/XVI's with ease.  Climbing to intercept bombers at about 4K/min.

Those who don't think the XIV should be perked really need to take one out for a spin.  IMO it's every bit as dangerous as the Tempest but with 2 less cannons.

I might stick with this one for a while and see how I do in the long term.

[thrila]

I'm not convinced it deserves it's perk, bar the gun loadout you can do all those things in a 109k for twice as long

[B4Buster]

Think the 16 should be perked and the 14 unperked. 14 is real unstable and I think the spit 16 fanatics would have a hard time keeping it in the air

[BaldEagl]

Think the 16 should be perked and the 14 unperked. 14 is real unstable and I think the spit 16 fanatics would have a hard time keeping it in the air

I'm a XVI fanatic.  I took the XIV out again this afternoon.  5 kills on one sortie.  I thought I'd be able to run down a Dora on the deck but we were exactly even in speed.  Couldn't close and held at 1000 yards for a sector and a half.  Pony D's don't stand a chance.

Alright.  I changed my mind.  Unperk the XIV.   

[B4Buster]

Alright.  I changed my mind.  Unperk the XIV.   

And perk the XVI 

[whels]

a 325 mph plane doesnt need to be perked

[Anaxogoras]

I think the Spit XIV can be unperked.  Baldeagl, you have good results in it compared to the average joe because you're a better than average pilot.

From December's ToD:

[Anaxogoras]

a 325 mph plane doesnt need to be perked

The Spitfire XVI does 344mph on the deck.

[Spikes]

a 325 mph plane doesnt need to be perked

Speed isn't everything.


I like taking the 14 up for a change. Took it up and got 5 kills with no harm.

[Anaxogoras]

Spikes, he was talking about the 16, not the 14.

[Larry]

The Spit14 is a 109K4 with alot better gun pack. When you fly it in its environment it owns everything.

[BnZs]

k/d alone does not tell the story. Of all the planes listed, the Spit XIV is the one people are most likely to actually attempt to FIGHT with, instead of cherrypick. It is also the plane most likely to be taken up by inexperienced folks who are mistaken about its capabilities.

These threads always compare the SpitXIV to the K4 and thus end up as better arguments for perking the K-4 than unperking the XIV. If the Kurt didn't have its difficulties with views, guns, and elevator lock-up in dives, it would CERTAINLY deserve to be perked, and maybe does even with those difficulties. In any case, no such comparison is a good reason to unperk the XIV.

[1pLUs44]

I had been wanting to get a few sorties in a XIV this camp so I did so last night.

10 kills, 1 death which was my own fault when I augered it diving straight down at a target right on the deck (but yes, I did get the kill).

What a sweet plane.  407 mph @ 18K.  Same gun load out as the XVI.  I was running down Typhs on the deck and could out-turn them once caught.  E-fighting Zekes, Hurris and Spit VIII/XVI's with ease.  Climbing to intercept bombers at about 4K/min.

Those who don't think the XIV should be perked really need to take one out for a spin.  IMO it's every bit as dangerous as the Tempest but with 2 less cannons.

I might stick with this one for a while and see how I do in the long term.

+1, it's a speed demon in the MA's. Last time I took one up in the MA's (July/August) I got something like 5 or 6 kills and landed em.

[SgtPappy]

If the Spitfire XIV could pass 550 miles on internal fuel I'd fly it 100% of the time.

However, even if it did, I still don't think it needs a perk simply because it carried no bombs during the war. While the F4U-4, though out-performed by the Spitfire XIV, is a practically uncatchable fighter-bomber that can launch off a carrier deck. Any attempt to intercept it and it will either dive to safety of the a TG or just outrun you.

As awesome as the Spit XIV is, it's not ganna do that.

[B4Buster]

Don't blame whels he doesn't get in a plane often 

Spikes you're right it isn't just about speed. The 16 has decent speed. accelerates good, handled decent in a dive, holds E beautifully, turns beautifully, and had a modest armament. should be perked IMO, and the 14 unperked because it's unstable and I think spit 16 fanatics would find it hard to turn and not auger once they get low and slow.