Why not Spit XIV?

[Zimme83]

The Spit XIV is pretty much a hanger queen compare to the rest of the MW/LW spits and has a very bad k/d ratio. Its a bit hard to understand, A spit XIV in the right hands should be a monster, climb rate is amazing. Guess people tries to use it like the other spit instead of BnZ:ing. But i really do belive it deserves a bigger "role" in the MA. So why doesnt people wants to use it?

[DmonSlyr]

I rip my wings off every damn time Haha

[glzsqd]

It's fairly slow for a late war plane at the typical MA altitudes(Spit16 is faster below 10k). Its also the corkiest and least stable spitfire with its huge increase in torque and the fact that the prop spins in the opposite direction.

[Zimme83]

I would say the XIV wins.

[Zimme83]

What should make the XIV attractive is this:

[Mitchell]

I like to use it as a bomber interceptor if I don't have time to get a 152 up to Alt. It climbs crazy fast and has lots of speed at Alt.

[Coalcat1]

A good sortie in the XIV is some good fun

[Drane]

The spit 14 is a blast to fly. I take it up quite often. It fights well up high. You can run down a P51 or P47 at high alt unless they dive out. The combo of 50 cal and 20mm is very lethal. When you have 1/2 a wing it's very difficult to stay upright and land with all that weight up front and torque. You can climb to 30k alt and still have 30 minutes of cruise fuel left. Overall it's my 2nd favorite interceptor after the TA152.

[Karnak]

Overly fragile, overly hard to aim with, not a great turn fighter and has a horrid 3 to 1 cooldown to WEP ratio.

And people kept telling me I was nuts to argue it shouldn't be perked, saying it would dominate the MA if the perk was removed.  Turns out that what I, and others such as Luche, said would happen is exactly what happened.


EDIT:

It's fairly slow for a late war plane at the typical MA altitudes(Spit16 is faster below 10k). Its also the corkiest and least stable spitfire with its huge increase in torque and the fact that the prop spins in the opposite direction.

Not sure which Spits you've been flying, but the XVI is not faster than the XIV at any altitude.  Does turn and roll a lot better though.  Better gunnery platform too.

[waystin2]

I use it on rare occasions to run down high alt cons and as a stripper for high altitude bomber escorts.  Nothing more scary for a bunch of jugs or ponies than realizing the Spit they see approaching is not hunting the bombers, it's hunting them.    The 14 is an absolute handful up high!

[The Fugitive]

Easy answer,  because it is a Spit!   

[glzsqd]

Overly fragile, overly hard to aim with, not a great turn fighter and has a horrid 3 to 1 cooldown to WEP ratio.

And people kept telling me I was nuts to argue it shouldn't be perked, saying it would dominate the MA if the perk was removed.  Turns out that what I, and others such as Luche, said would happen is exactly what happened.


EDIT:
Not sure which Spits you've been flying, but the XVI is not faster than the XIV at any altitude.  Does turn and roll a lot better though.  Better gunnery platform too.

My mistake. However the spit16 is still more suitable to the typical MA alts. And the SPit14 is still relatively slow by Late ware standards on the deck.

[Lusche]

Karnak nailed it.
The performance numbers a great, the handling is not, especially as a weapon platform. Which makes all the difference.

[FBKampfer]

The Spit 14 is the best 109 ever built.

[Mitchell]

I don't know the exact #s but it feels like it gains on faster planes for a bit (due to acceleration) then starts falling behind at higher speeds.