Spits in a dive

[Brooke]

Took me about 5 minutes to test.  (Select Germany terrain, air spawn, set wind with 127 mph updraft, climb to 30k, roll over into vertical dive.)

I did about four dives vertically to the deck from 30k, well into compressibility, peaking out at Mach 0.81 in the Spit IX.

No problems whatsoever.

Which Spit version do you guys say has problems?

[Karnak]

Only problems I've had in diving Spits is that they roll very badly, if at all, at high speeds and the Mk XIV breaks its wings off very easily.

I've never lost control surfaces in a Spit due to speed.

[titanic3]

I think blackout is the bigger problem than control surfaces at that point. You're pretty much forcing yourself into a level target for whoever is on your tail.

[Widewing]

I tested most of the fighters for dive speed and handling.

I did this offline, using the TA map. Air spawning at 30k from field A3.

The fastest diving prop fighters are the P-51B and P-51D. Only these two could attain Mach .83

The Fw 190D-9 managed Mach .82, as did the Ta 152H.

Everything else was slower, typically between Mach .80 and Mach .81, except for the P-38s, Typhoon, and Hurricanes. They all maxed out at around Mach .77 or slightly less.

The Ki-84 and Ki-43 both reached Mach .80, before things began falling off. Ditto for the P-40s.

The Brewster and the I-16 both reached Mach .80 without damage, and the Yak-9U managed Mach .81 and suffered no damage (unlike the Yak-3, which breaks up at that speed).

The max for all Spitfires was Mach .81, but they had the best elevator authority (along with the N1K2-J). No trim was required to pull out of the dive. Likewise for the F6F-5, which will pull out hands off at Mach .81.

I have a film... a long film, if anyone is interested...

http://www.mediafire.com/download/j3pxqdndwc78v4w/Dive_tests.ahf

[Lusche]

I have a film... a long film, if anyone is interested...

I am, thank you 

[Arlo]

Only problems I've had in diving Spits is that they roll very badly, if at all, at high speeds and the Mk XIV breaks its wings off very easily.

I've never lost control surfaces in a Spit due to speed.

Try a Spit 1 from 20k in the TA. 70' +. Hold onto your elevators.  

(Edit - throttling back not NO throttling back)

[Brooke]

I tested most of the fighters for dive speed and handling.

Excellent! <S>

[Widewing]

One thing to note about the dive film... Even though it may appear that a fighter is increasing speed as it begins to pull out of the dive, Mach is decreasing. Most understand that Mach is altitude dependent. I used E6B, which shows Mach regardless of altitude.

Terminal speed in terms of MPH (ignoring Mach) can only be determined by flying each aircraft into the ground. Except, of course, those which have already come apart.

One thing you can count on... Should you be flying a P-51D and run into a horde of P-47Ms at 30k, you can bug out with impunity. The P-51D will dive faster, all the way down to the deck. After that, it takes a very, very long time to burn off the energy acquired in the dive. On the other hand, the P-47s cannot retain E like the P-51D and the Mustang will be long gone. RunStang, indeed!

[Arlo]

Try a Spit 1 from 20k in the TA. 70' +. Hold onto your elevators.  

(Edit - throttling back not NO throttling back)