Krusty, Krusty, Krusty...
"The only difference" = "They are the same?"
Come now.
Your acceleration argument is false. The only difference is on the highest end of acceleration, at which point you won't notice it as much. When folks use "acceleration" as a characteristic they imply low or mid level speeds' acceleration (regaining E), in which case the G14 is almost exactly identical to the K-4. Only reason the K-4 accelerates better to 300mph is because it has a higher top speed overall. All planes stop accelerating near their peak speed as drag builds.
There is a difference in acceleration throughout the speed range. 0.30 seconds from 150-200, 0.50 seconds from 200 to 250 and a whopping 3.60 seconds from 250 to 300. All are noticeable. The end result of those figures, as the difference compounds while speed increases, is that the K4 walks away from the G14 handily.
Further, while your definition of "acceleration" is fun and while your assessment of what "folks may use acceleration to describe" is also neat, its pretty immaterial. Acceleration is acceleration. Both aircraft have speeds well in excess of 300 on both Mil and WEP. The fact that you've attempted to cite top speed, and the corresponding drag as engine power begins to lose its battle with the friction of the air, is strange since that argument clearly shows the G14's significant inferiority, when compared to the K4. This stands in contrast to your statement.
Your handling is perception is inaccurate. G14 actually more manuverable than a K-4. They both have the tall rudder so in regards to torque both have better control at slow speeds (compared to G-6 and previous models).
If his "handling" argument is inaccurate, due to subjectivity, then so is yours, by default. Since it cant very well be quantified beyond such simple tests as sustained turn radius, its a waste of our time to discuss it.
Your climb rate argument is false. The two planes trade off back and forth but are about equal up to 20,000 feet.
There is only one "trade off," which is altitude dependent and which lasts for... not very long. Beyond that, "About equal" is as flawed a statement as "what folks say." Paraphrasing, of course.
At Mil power, the K4 has a distinct advantage in climb rate for roughly 96% of the altitudes tested. The G14 matches and juuuuuuuust exceeds the K4 for a few seconds between about 5,500ft and 6,000ft. After that, the K4 pulls regains the advantage it has getting to 5,500ft and holds it the rest of the way, ultimately eclipsing the G14 by some 500FPM. If that was "about equal" I would concede. Since it's not, I wont.
Under WEP, the G14 simply extends its brief advantage to between about 5,500ft and 7,500ft. After that, the K4 again regains its advantage ultimately, you guessed it, exceeding the G14's climb rate by some 500FPM. Not equal.
The only speed difference is 20mph at sea level and probably 25mph at 16k. For MA use it's a noticable drop but not worth adding a plane halfway between them, 10mph faster than the G14 and 10mph slower than the K-4, as the G-10 would be.
More "the only difference" type stuff. Let me help with some perspective since numbers are bland and there seems to be a disconnect between what the numbers mean and how they manifest themselves in the arena.
You state that the 109G14 and the 109K4 have a speed difference of 20MPH at sea level and 25MPH at 16,000ft. You concede that this is noticeable but not worthy of plugging the gap with another aircraft. I say its huge and I'll show you why.
For this example, we'll examine the Corsairs. Well take the "worst," the F4U-1 and the "best," the F4U-4. The former represents the first generation, poorer performing mark and the latter is, by all accounts, the best airplane in the game.
At low altitude, under Military power, the F4U-4 has a top speed advantage of 10MPH. Under WEP, the F4U-4 has a top speed advantage of 22MPH.
Now, we'll go back the the G14 and the K4. Your numbers need some fixin' first. At low altitude, since we can clearly quantify it on the website, the K4 holds a Military speed advantage of 30MPH and a WEP speed advantage of 29MPH.
Lets recap the differences:
F4U-1 v. F4U-4Military: 10MPH
WEP: 22MPH
Bf-109G14 v. Bf-109K4Military: 30MPH
WEP: 29MPH
Shocking, eh? The best plane in the game, The F4U-4, and its first generation cousin, the F4U-1, the equivalent of the Bf-109E-4 mind you, have a lesser speed difference than the G14 and the K4; aircraft boasting performance differences which, in your words are "not worth adding a plane halfway between them."
Well thats a silly argument. How many Corsairs are in between the -1 and the -4? I count three.
Anyway, the point there is that if you dont notice a difference in performance between the G14 and the K4, you might as well never spend perks on the dash-four Hog because, next to the 109's, the Corsairs are the same exact plane.
So, uh... YES... to anybody that can objectively look at the stats, they are LIGHTYEARS apart in performance.
Fixed that part for you and deleted the rest so you dont look so silly.
Cheers.
