I find the Spit 9 to be a much more stable and smooth aircraft at low speeds than the Spit 8. Other that the Spit 8 being slightly heavier due to a different engine and extra fuel tanks these planes are exactly the same, yes? Same frame, same wings, same canopy, same weapons, etc. With %50 fuel, the Spit 8 is just over 400lbs heavier. Some of this is due to fuel but how much is due to the engine?
I've taken them both up w/ %50 fuel and gotten them both to a very similar weight (6900lbs each) and still the Spit 8 *seems* to stall out quicker, more "violently", and is much tougher to recover from vs the Spit 9. Is it due to the fulcrum of the plane being more forward?
Can anyone comment of this more precisely? I'm posting this few a few of us in my squad as the lads from the UK are quite curious as well.