spit 14

[spitfiremkv]

the spit 14 is much more prone to stalling and spinning than the previous versions.also,when my engine quit while flying low and slow the nose went down and i couldn't pull up at all...does anybody know why it flies so differently?

[SKurj]

Heavier, more torque...

SKurj

[spitfiremkv]

you're right...that sucker is much heavier than the other spitfires.still,it's a good b&z and can outturn with almost everything except his own brethrent,hen the zero,the hurricane...and sadly the 109. That's at low altitudes.

[Kweassa]

Which 109?

 As it is, from my little bits of testing, I'd say the Spit14 turns a bit worse than 109F-4, bit better than Yak-9U. 109F-4 out turns a Typh, but Typhs out turns the 109G-2 and G-6. (In the long, sustained turns of 3~4 circles or more) I think the Spit14 turns a bit better than Typhs.

 So in comparison with 109s:

 E4>Spit14
 F4>Spit14
 G2 G6 G10
 The Spit14 turns better than all other planes that go over 400mph, too, deck or at alt.

 True, it does tend to become unstable when it sustains turns under 250 mph, but all 109s are much more unstable under 250mph except the E4(even the F4 starts to wobble under 250mph).

 If you are out turned(flat, sustained turns) in Spit14s by any other 109s than E4 and F4, you're doing something wrong.

[Karnak]

Remember, the Spitfire XIV turns tighter to the left than it does to the right.  This is opposite of Merlin Spitfires, which turn tighter to the right than they do to the left.

[SKurj]

This true in AH Karnak?


SKurj

[spitfiremkv]

interesting point there karnak. so if i turn left i should be able to outturn the other spitfires...hehehe,good to know. call me a dweeb but i just love turning dogfights. i can't even shoot straight anymore, only with lead deflection

from personal experience, i'd say spit14 definitely outturns tempests on the deck, but the temp is much faster at low altitudes. in the specs i noticed the temp and typh reach their maximum speeds at lower altitudes than the spit, so it makes sense.

[Karnak]

Skurj,

Don't know.  I haven't tested it.  That is what it did in reality though.

I did test its roll rate in AH, it definately rolls faster to the right.

[Kweassa]

Tested it.

 AH Spit14 turns considerably better to its left than right.

 Now, all  planes which had to deal with torque had turn rate differences I presume, but the AH Spit14 seems to be the only plane in AH I've tried that the turn rates of left and right is different enough to be noticed.

 ...

 but really shan't expect a Spit14 to out turn other Spitfires - left or right. Methinks you're rating the Spit14 a bit high there, spitfiremkv.

[spitfiremkv]

I tested the Spit14 agains other models in combat and it can definitely turn with them to the left. It stalls much quicker if I turn to the right.  I don't expect it to outturn them-after all it's a much heavier plane, retaining the same overall dimensions and so it has higher wing loading and higher stick forces.
The Griffon  sure generates a lot of torque ( did u see it try to roll on the ground when u apply full power on take off? )

[Vermillion]

Strange that it tested out that way, because Karnak has it backwards.

The majority of planes turn better to the left, because of the rotation of the engine.  

The Typhoon and Yak-9U however are the opposite and turn best to the right.  The Spit XIV should also turn the best to the right.

[J_A_B]

Verm, are you sure you don't have it backwards from what the others do?  I think you're looking at it from a different angle (direction is relative to where you are).

On most aircraft, the propeller rotates clockwise (from the perspective of being in the cockpit).  Rotating in this direction, it should cause you to turn better in a right turn (again, from the perspective of being in the cockpit).  

However, if you were in front of the plane looking at it, this would then seem as if it was a left turn so it all depends on perspective.

J_A_B

[Kweassa]

If there is something fishy in tests, it's probably the effect of combat trim.

 I don't know the exact reason, but combat trim conditions make turning to one's right side in a tight turn(tested sustained turns at 240mph, altitude change + or - 500 feet) very stall prone in Spit14s. I don't think I can match adequate conditions to simulate a trust worthy turn rate test, but I think it's safe to say despite the absolute factor in turn rates may(or may not) favor right turns in Spit14s, one thing for certain is turning to the right in Spit14 is definately a lot harder.

 Better test some more..

[thrila]

Verm they have it right, the spit14 should turn better to the left than the right.

[Karnak]

Quotes from the AFDU Tactical Trials:

TACTICAL COMPARISON WITH SPITFIRE IX

Turning Circle
18. The turning circles of both aircraft are identical. The Spitfire XIV appears to turn slightly better to port than it does to starbord. The warning of an approaching high speed stall is less pronounced in the case of the Spitfire Mk XIV.

COMBAT TRIAL AGAINST FW.190 (BMW.801D)

Turning Circle
41. Spitfire XIV can easily turn inside the FW 190, though in the case of a right-hand turn, this difference is not so quite pronounced.