Originally posted by Krusty
Not to put a damper on the party, but I don't think all the credit with the +12 SpitVb is due to the "spit fans".. Going by the constant agravation on the CT forum and the ban of the spitv in almost all setups with the 109F4, there were a lot of non-spit drivers that have been calling for the toning-down of the spitV for a long long long time. It's not just spit drivers being benevolent, you know 
LW pilots "made do" with flight models that HTC (I think Pyro, specifically) admitted were off-base, and not accurate. And "made do" with these for years, in fact. A few vocal minorities gripe and moan constantly, but most people find the LW rides competently modeled, and still adequate to get kills in. So it doesn't do to lump LW pilots vs Spit pilots, as it's an unfair comparison as to who's getting what done with what planeset. Keep an open mind and don't discount outside opinions. Just because a 190D is fast doesn't mean it should be perked, because while it's fast it can't turn for chit, and in the time it takes to turn 180 every spit in the game can turn 720 and do it all inside the 190's turning radius (lol). Just because the 190D is fast doesn't mean it can fight any better, nor does it make it a monster. It is chased down by ponies, it is outflown by every USAAF plane except for the P40s, and the only thing it has going is speed (which most newbies in the MA use to run away from fights, I hear). Historically it had speed. Historically the spits did not. So why you want to chase one down is beyond me, when there are better rides to do it in.
A high-end spit does everything well. Who gives a crap if it's not as fast as a 190D? The Dora was an interceptor, not a turn fighter. Speed was its main defense. When you force it to fight it's dogmeat, easily. Which doesn't stop people from using it to run for the hills, but it doesn't in any way mean it should be perked either, just because it's faster than a spitfire.
The answer is simple. You fly it to it's strengths. Don't turn fight in a D9.
The Spit was designed as an interceptor too Krusty. Again, just because it does stuff you don't want it to do it should be perked, and because the LW ride you have doesn't do stuff you think it should do, you think it should be free.
I think it's hilarious that the Spit LFXVIe is all of a sudden a high end late war Spit. What it was in fact was a Spit LFIXe with an American made Packard Merlin 266 engine.
They were producing LFIXes and LFXVIes on the same production line with the difference in designation being determined by whether it was a Rolls Merlin or Packard Merlin being installed.
The 150 octane +25 boost stuff was tested on the IX and was used with them as well as RAF Mustang IIIs from the summer of 44 on. This again, before the D9 even entered the war.
Please don't misinterpret the XVI being somehow better then the XIV just cause the numeric designation is a later one.
If that's what's going to happen, then call it a Spitfire LFIXe as they were identical in performance in their low alt, clipped wing, tall tail, 3 hardpoint, E wing way. The LFIXe was doing the same job at the end of the war as the LFXVIe, which was essentially low alt ground support.
Image is of a late war LFIXe. Note the bomb racks on the wings. This one still has a smaller rudder but it's the same bird as an LFXVIe in terms of performance and if they took out the Merlin 66 and replaced it with a Merlin 266, it would be re-designated an LFXVIe.
Dan/CorkyJr
