Funked.
"Flight tests with the intial mk XIV conversions revealed this variant to be an extremely effective fighter. Its performance was a huge improvement over the Mk IX and the MK XII. Jeffery Quill said that in his view the Mk XIV had the best fighting ability of any of the Spitfire variants. That did not mean it was an easy machine to fly however. "...The Mk XIV, with its tremendous power, increased propeller solidity and increased all-up weight and moments of intertia, was a good deal more of a handful for the pilot and so required more attention to 'flying' then its predecessors. Directional stability was a problem and the aircraft was apt to shear about a lot with a coarse use of the throttle; large changes in speed required prompt attention to the rudder trim. We at Supermarine tried all manner of expediants to improve the directional characteristics of the Mk XIv. The only real answer was to fit a much larger fin and rudder but it was a major design change and the Spitfire Mk 22 was the first production version to be fitted with it.
"So far as the Mk XIV was concerned, I took the view that performance was paramount; and if the pilots had to work a bit harder and concentrate a bit more on their flying, then that was better then sending them to war in an aircraft of inferior performance."
Alfred Price
Wings of Fame Volume 16
Griffon Spitfire and Seafire
Comment.
I think this opinion must have heavily influenced the designers of WB. It seems a very sound observation. I have always felt the flight harmony of the spit IX was one of its most outstanding characteristics in AH vs the LW planes. The 190A5 is the only German plane with a comparable feel. The Spit XIV would likey not be as tippy as a 109G10 or a 190A8 but it would be alot more of a handful then the Spit IX.
I was just amazed how closly this quote matched Zigs theory. Which rang very true to me so I dug arround again for Spit XIV thoughts. Yes it has the turn circle of the Spit IX, but not its sweet handling.
[This message has been edited by Pongo (edited 07-22-2000).]
