Spit XIV flight trials Vs. Tempest, Mustang III (P51D), FW-190D and 109G

[Furball]

Spit XIV flight trials.

http://www.fourthfightergroup.com/eagles/spit14afdu.html

[ra]

That document cannot be authentic.  The word 'dweeb' is not used once.

ra

[Furball]

It has the best all-round performance of any present-day fighter, apart from range.

[FTJR]

Interesting to see that the mk VIII is considered the better aeroplane below 25K:eek:

[Urchin]

One thing that has always confused me about that document is

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.

This wouldnt seem to be possible given

13. The tactical differences are caused chiefly by the fact that the Spitfire XIV has an engine of greater capacity and is the heavier aircraft (weighing 8,400 lbs. against 7,480 lbs. of Spitfire IX).

[/b]

How can the Spit XIV turn as well as a Spit IX when it weighs 1,000 pounds more and has the same wing?

[HoHun]

Hi Urchin,

>How can the Spit XIV turn as well as a Spit IX when it weighs 1,000 pounds more and has the same wing?

If you're talking about sustained turns, it's power that limits the turn and not lift. The Spitfire IX could turn tighter than the Spitfire XIV at any given speed - but only at the cost of losing speed or altitude.

Maintaining both, the Spitfire IX's advantage is that it needs less lift to get around in the same circle, creating less drag and requiring less power. With its more powerful engine, that Spitfire XIV can fly the same circle just fine as the extra power overcomes the extra drag.

Regards,

Henning (HoHun)

[Nashwan]

Interesting to see that the mk VIII is considered the better aeroplane below 25K

From the description of the Spit XIV:

"The engine is not representative of production as the FS gear is higher and the MS lower. A five blade propeller is fitted. The engine had a Bendix injection carberator and boost for combat is limited to plus 15 lbs."

Lower MS gear than the production aircraft meant slightly more power below 5000ft, but much less between 5000ft and 16,000ft.

15lbs boost limit meant much less power at almost all altitudes below 30,000ft.

In other words, the Spit XIV protoype in the test against the Spit VIII had much less power than the production Spit XIV, by several hundred hp at some altitudes.

For example, the Spit XIV prototype had a max speed of 387 at 10,000ft, the Spit VIII something over 390, the production Spit XIV 406.

[Urchin]

Ah I see, thank you Hohun.

I don't believe the Spit XIV in Aces High turns anywhere near as well as the Spit IX, but maybe I'm just flying it wrong.

[Sancho]

which 109G was it tested against and which 190?

[TimRas]

Originally posted by Sancho
which 109G was it tested against and which 190?

Bf 109 G-2  
I think that the aircraft tested was the famous "black six"
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~kkg/bb_aircraft_black6.htm

Fw 190A-3
Made inadvertent landing in England in June 1942. Pilot (from III/JG 2) got disoriented during combat, mistook the Bristol Channel for the English Channel and landed at the RAF airbase at Pembrey. The British must have been grateful.
http://www.luftwaffe-experten.co.uk/mp499.html

[Nashwan]

Fw 190A-3
Made inadvertent landing in England in June 1942. Pilot (from III/JG 2) got disoriented during combat, mistook the Bristol Channel for the English Channel and landed at the RAF airbase at Pembrey.

Pembrey isn't in England

[FTJR]

"The engine is not representative of production as the FS gear is higher and the MS lower. A five blade propeller is fitted. The engine had a Bendix injection carberator and boost for combat is limited to plus 15 lbs."

Consider me told...

[TimRas]

Originally posted by Nashwan
Pembrey isn't in England

Penbre in Cymru, right ?

[Nashwan]

Yes. My grandmother worked there during the war.

Consider me told

It's easy to miss, as the tests against the other aircraft were made with a production plane, with 18lbs boost.

[Pongo]

Originally posted by FTJR
Interesting to see that the mk VIII is considered the better aeroplane below 25K:eek:

With a merlin 70 the spit VIII was one sweet plane. Hence the lack of urgency for the griffon spits.