Yes, we should get an incremental step because thats what the LW guys got, oh, wait...the LW guys jumped right to the end of the line and got a Bf109G-10, which for all intents and purposes is a Bf109K-4. They're also crying over and over for the Fw190D-9 and nobody is coming around a telling them that the aircraft would be imbalancing, even though most people here also state that it would easily beat a MkXIV.
So, why do German planes get a free ride from the AH community?
Pongo, the difficulty with flying the MkIX isn't killing a single opponent, its the fact that once you commit, you have to win or die. There is no egress. Thus you end up with a bunch of guys lynching the dweeb who is flying the Spitfire (because after all, he is cheating by flying such an easy aircraft) because there is no way in hell that he can escape. If we were just flying against 1942 planes, we could have a shot at escaping.
Pongo, do you believe that in 1942 the Spitfire MkIX was so ahead of its time that it was still fully competitive in '44 and '45?
Why do people keep confusing the MkXIV with an ultra-late war plane like the Ta152? I will be extemely disappointed in HTC if it ends up as a special "reward" plane. The Mk F.21 would be a good selection for the "reward" version of the Spitfire. The MkXIV entered service before the Bf109G10, Bf109K-4, Fw190D-9 and Me262. The F.21 was a contemary of the Ta152.
I am getting really bitter about people who fly Bf109G-10s, Fw190s and F4U1-Cs calling the Spitfire and its pilots names. These aircraft played a significant part in winning and securing our freedoms. One American player even stated that he hated the Spitfire and wished that it had never been made.
In AH nancy boys do not fly Spitfires, they fly Bf109G-10s, Fw190s, P-51Ds and F4U1-Cs. Thus my new signature.
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Real men fly inlines, nancy boys fly radials.
Sisu
[This message has been edited by Karnak (edited 06-14-2000).]