Spitfires in AH

[Curval]

I am sure this has been the subject of multiple threads, but as I am relatively new I haven't seen it mentioned yet.

I have been flying the Spit IX this tour and have increased my kill count as a result.  But, one aspect of the Spitfire does appear to be missing from the flight model and it probably is the reason why people think the Spit IX should be perked.

The Merlin engines that powered the Spit IX (and Spit V) were fed fuel through a gravity based carberator system.  The BF109s' were fed by a fuel injection system.

The difference between these two systems actually evened the "playing field" when Spits and 109 tangled in the skies.  The Spitfire could not simply nose-down and dive....the effect of this was to cut the fuel supply to the engine due to the gravity feed necessary in a carberator system...and the Spit would slow down considerably as fuel was unable to get to the pistons...the engines would splutter, and if a 109 was on its tail the Spit would likely end up at the bottom of the English Channel...or wherever the fight was occuring.

To dive away from an enemy plane the Spit iX would be forced to invert and then pull back on the stick in a split-S type manouver if the pilot wanted to keep a regular flow of fuel to the engines in real life.

The 109 did not suffer from this loss of power effect when in a nose-down dive as its fuel was delivered to the pistons by an electrical injection system.

Having said this I have been flying and enjoying the Spit IX the way it is now, but if accuaracy is what is desired from AH the Spit FM should be changed to incorporate this reality.

My Spit 0.02

Curval

[Kieran]

...the carb was fixed by the time of the IX, if I am not mistaken. Karnak will provide the details (or Funked).

[Swoop]

Actually I think the problem was solved by the Spit MkII.......but as you say, Funked will confirm this cos he knows EVERYTHING about spits.  


Of course, if HTC bring the Spit MkI out with 1.09 and it DOESNT model this........

[Curval]

If it was fixed I stand corrected......

[AKSWulfe]

Just the early Marks (I & II) had gravity fed carberatuers. The Vb and IX had injection.
-SW

[Karnak]

Quite a lot of the Spit Vs and and even a few of the Merlin 61 powered Spit IXs had float carburators.  AH simply models versions of those marks that are fuel injected.

Look for the upcoming Spit Ia and Hurri I to have float carburators.

[Nashwan]

None of the Spits had fuel injection. Later models did have pressurised carbs, that eliminated the problem.
Early Spits were retrofitted with a restrictor that prevented the carb from flooding (flooding was the real problem, not fuel starvation).
Around 5500 Spit IXs were made. Over 5000 of those had the pressurised carb. But the AH Spit, if it has a Merlin 61, as performance indicates, should have some problems with negative G.
Of course, it should really be modelled as one of the 5000 with higher performance, no negative G problems etc, but that's a different argument.

[thrila]

Even thought the spitfire LF mkIX  made up nearly all the total spit IX's  built we get the poormans spitIX.

Hitech will never model the spit LF IX because not even he could control the Luftwhiners whines at the prospect of fighting a decent spitfire.

[Kieran]

There is no point worrying about that. Some people believe even the lowly Spit V is too numerous, therefore worthy to be perked. I say build the LF; far better that one than a Spit XIV that will really send 'em howling.

[Karnak]

I hope the XIV makes it into AH in the not too distant future.  The Spitfire was the UK's frontline fighter for the entire war, yet there are not Spitfire's in AH to represent that progression, unlike the 109 and 190s (a 190A-2, 190A-4 and a MW50 equiped 109G-6 would be nice).

Here is an idea for Spitfire progression through the war (aircraft in italics are not present in AH), with the 109 and 190's listed for comparison:

Spitfire MkIa: 1940
Spitfire MkVb: 1941
Spitfire F.MkIXc: 1942
Seafire MkIIc: 1942
Spitfire F.MkVIIIc: 1943
Spitfire F.MkXIVc: 1944
Spitfire F.21: 1945

Bf109E-4: 1940
Bf109F-4: 1941
Bf109G-2: 1942
Bf109G-6: 1943
Bf109G-6/U2: 1944
Bf109G-10: 1944

Fw190A-2: 1941
Fw190A-4: 1942
Fw190A-5: 1943
Fw190A-8: 1944
Fw190F-8: 1944
Fw190D-9: 1944
Ta152H-1: 1945

[Nifty]

LF Spitfire MkVc for me please.   The howls would never end.  You super tight turning, quad hispano dweeb!!!!  

[Kieran]

I'm not against the Spit XIV, I'm merely commenting you would hear the howls. A Spit you couldn't run from?

[Karnak]

Kieran,

IMHO, the Spitfire MkXIV has to be a perk plane.  That would cure the howls I think.  

The F.21 is by no means something I would ever push for, but it would be neat to try a Ta152H-1 vs. Spitfire F.21 as a "what if" fight.

[eddiek]

"IMHO, the Spitfire MkXIV has to be a perk plane. That would cure the howls I think."
Unfortunately, you are correct.  The local LW contingent will never stand for an unperked Spitfire MkXIV.  Looking at only the performance numbers, it is only the equal of the 109G10 we have, which BTW is NOT perked.
Oh well, we got the Ta152 crammed down our throats, even though the Spit XIV got more votes.  Odds are, if we ever do get it, it will be perked to the heavens.........

[Kratzer]

Dude, have you actually tried the G10?  If any plane doesn't need to be perked, it's that one... it perks itself.