Question for Spitfire guy's

[Widewing]

Maybe but it's roll rate sucks, it doesn't turn as well and the IX is much more docile handling all around.

In turning circles, there's little difference between the VIII, XVI and IX, except that the VIII has the smallest turning circle of the three and the best turn rate. Roll rate is nearly identical to the IX. Spit VIII is the best combination of handling and performance, IMHO.

[nrshida]

I wonder then why so many seem to stick to the Spixteen, misconception or cultural aspect perhaps.

[-ammo-]

I wonder then why so many seem to stick to the Spixteen, misconception or cultural aspect perhaps.

Maybe they see 16 is twice as much as 8 and guess it applies to the AC? This only applies to Knights and Rooks -  Bish can't do math.

[BnZs]

Maybe they see 16 is twice as much as 8 and guess it applies to the AC? This only applies to Knights and Rooks -  Bish can't do math.

Or maybe they understand (correctly) that for general air combat a massive advantage in roll rate is more important than a much smaller turning advantage. Clipping those wings for high speed roll gets rid of the only handling frustration to be found with Spits in-game.

[Widewing]

Or maybe they understand (correctly) that for general air combat a massive advantage in roll rate is more important than a much smaller turning advantage. Clipping those wings for high speed roll gets rid of the only handling frustration to be found with Spits in-game.

All true, until the fight gets slow. That's where the full span of the Mk.VIII makes a big difference. Also, there are various ways to counter a superior rate of roll. Maneuvering on a different plane than the faster roller can often offset the advantage. Against the Spit16, you don't attempt to follow. You go out of plane and cut the corner. Having fought many duels against the better Spitfire drivers, I find that the Mk.VIII is superior below 200 mph. At high angles of attack, the Spit16 is more prone to snap-rolls. Of course, unlike dueling, the MA environment varies greatly.

[BnZs]

All true, until the fight gets slow. That's where the full span of the Mk.VIII makes a big difference. Also, there are various ways to counter a superior rate of roll. Maneuvering on a different plane than the faster roller can often offset the advantage. Against the Spit16, you don't attempt to follow. You go out of plane and cut the corner. Having fought many duels against the better Spitfire drivers, I find that the Mk.VIII is superior below 200 mph. At high angles of attack, the Spit16 is more prone to snap-rolls. Of course, unlike dueling, the MA environment varies greatly.

Indeed I was speaking of the MA environment, not dueling. A Spixteen can always be a real PITA to follow, even in better turning but worse rolling planes like the Fm2. Then there are the offensive advantages of an extremely fast roll rate to consider.

[Hoplite]

Yall don't let pepprr know bout the 8/16. She's a beast in the 9, hate to see what she could do in one of those.

They don't come in pink....but she's flown the 16 a time or two if memory serves.

[Scca]

I wonder then why so many seem to stick to the Spixteen, misconception or cultural aspect perhaps.

Guns... 

[BnZs]

Guns... 

I'm still going to go with roll. The main show is the Hispanos, which are the same for the IX, VIII and XVI. It's an insane tool offensively and defensively. The Fw-190 is the only plane with similar roll at most speeds, but a flopping 190 bleeds E like crazy and has one of the poorest rate and radius of turn in the game, while a Spixteen retains energy well and has a good radius combined with a good rate.

[Hoplite]

Agree completely with BnZ... roll rate.

[BaldEagl]

I'm still going to go with roll. The main show is the Hispanos, which are the same for the IX, VIII and XVI. It's an insane tool offensively and defensively. The Fw-190 is the only plane with similar roll at most speeds, but a flopping 190 bleeds E like crazy and has one of the poorest rate and radius of turn in the game, while a Spixteen retains energy well and has a good radius combined with a good rate.

I always flew the XVI for the guns.  The .50's and Hispanos share almost the same ballistic qualities and being one who likes long convergence settings (650 yards) they were better matched than the .303's.  I've gotten used to the .303's now flying the IX with my convergence pulled in to 400 and they aren't bad.

The roll rate in the XVI is great but comes at the cost of a nasty low speed departure that's not shared by the full span Spits.

[Angus]

Spit VIII has one thing not mentioned, - more gas!
So as a comparison a fully loaded VIII is like a IX with a DT, or even more.