Unperk the spit14

[pembquist]

From a series of tests I'm currently running in another context, showing the climb profile of a few fighters. All with WEP until it runs out, no DT (not even the slipper on the XIV).

(Image removed from quote.)

The numbers on the data points are time in minutes, X axis is miles, Y axis is altitude in thousand feet. Work in progress

What is the basis for the last plot on the curves?  Out of wep? Out of fuel? Feeling a little dense.  I compared the spit16 to the k4 from ground to 20k with wep and 50% fuel.  The 16 got there first but leveling out the k4 just walks away.

[Lusche]

What is the basis for the last plot on the curves?  Out of wep? Out of fuel? Feeling a little dense.  I compared the spit16 to the k4 from ground to 20k with wep and 50% fuel.  The 16 got there first but leveling out the k4 just walks away.

Wep runs out just after 18k on the Spit 14, while it lasts up to about 32k in the K4. All tests at 100% fuel, no DT, autoclimb unless noted. Data read directly from the film viewer.

[pembquist]

Wep runs out just after 18k on the Spit 14, while it lasts up to about 32k in the K4. All tests at 100% fuel, no DT, autoclimb unless noted. Data read directly from the film viewer.

I looked at your chart closer, didn't see the b29 the first time, my question was why the last points on the curves were the last points, after looking closer I am assuming it was when the planes were high enough to intercept and not because of running out of gas.  Correct?

[Lusche]

I looked at your chart closer, didn't see the b29 the first time, my question was why the last points on the curves were the last points, after looking closer I am assuming it was when the planes were high enough to intercept and not because of running out of gas.  Correct?

Ahh I see, I think I misunderstood you the first time.
I ended the tests when either the climb rate was becoming so low making it quite impractical or, pardon me for that unscientific method... because I thought "that's high enough"  
None of the fighters on that quick chart did actually run out of fuel



Edit: Just did a quick test on the Spit 16. Also 100% fuel, WEP, no DT.  I was able to reproduce your result, the 16 was slightly quicker to 20k than the K-4. Only after the 16's WEP runs out, the 109 is cathcinh up and getting a (small) lead:

[RTHolmes]

contemporary tests put the spit VIII a fair bit quicker to 30k than the XIV, so the XVI beating the XIV isnt a big surprise. and it answers the question I didnt ask

[Bruv119]

so hang on a second the 14 that is all about power and climb  can't even out climb the 8/16??    

something needs to be done!!! 

[Lusche]

so hang on a second the 14 that is all about power and climb  can't even out climb the 8/16??    

Of course it can outclimb them. See how the gap is closing 25k, up there the 14 starts to climb significantly faster than them. This chart does show the total time to climb to altitude from SL, not the momentary climb rates.
But then, we all know where the majority of combat happens in AH


Right now the 14 basically has a boost in speed (yet not enough to challenge the actual speed demons at standard combat altitudes)  accompanied by a bunch of handling problems.  No wonder it does so relatively bad in the MA.

[Shane]

Shane, hotard, and I do it every hop in a lala.

I'd pay perkies to be able to jam the leading edge slats closed.   

on topic... i'm not opposed to either a free or minimal perked 14... 2-5 perkies...

it's still a spit... just food.   

[Karnak]

Well, at 12,000ft the Spitfire Mk XIV shares second place for fastest piston engined aircraft with the P-51D, being edged only by the Bf109K-4.  All the other speed demons, F4U-4, Fw190D-9, La-7, P-47M, P-47N, P-51B, Ta152H-1, Tempest V and Typhoon I are slightly slower to very much slower at that altitude.

[--)SF----]

I'd pay perkies to be able to jam the leading edge slats closed.   

on topic... i'm not opposed to either a free or minimal perked 14... 2-5 perkies...

it's still a spit... just food.   

Agreed on both counts.

Spits taste like popcorn.

+1

[icepac]

How you manage wep in the game can have a huge effect on the spit XIV climb time to 30k.

I try to save some for the horsepower dip that occurs around 16k up to 23k.

[Ruah]

Even with managed wep climb - the 14 is still far less a threat then the 16 is.