Spitfires...

[Wraith]

Alright, i've been flying AH for about 2-3 years now, and i've flown mostly American muscle planes.  I've started to fly Spits in the last 6 months, primarily the VIII.  I was wondering,  the Spit 5 has great turning and speed, but is it viable for mission?  It only has two guns, which worries me as well.  My question is:  Is the speed and turning capability of the 5 worth giving up the guns and fuel range of the 8?

Constructive Comments only please.

[USRanger]

I've flown both quite a bit and prefer the 8 myself.  I prefer the guns over the slightly better turning radius.

[CAP1]

Alright, i've been flying AH for about 2-3 years now, and i've flown mostly American muscle planes.  I've started to fly Spits in the last 6 months, primarily the VIII.  I was wondering,  the Spit 5 has great turning and speed, but is it viable for mission?  It only has two guns, which worries me as well.  My question is:  Is the speed and turning capability of the 5 worth giving up the guns and fuel range of the 8?

Constructive Comments only please.

i've never flown the 8....but i do like the 5, 9, and 16....those are the only three that i've flown. i don't normally have trouble getting kills in any of them, although if i go furballin, it seems that the 16 is a bad spit to have......

[moot]

The 16 is bad to furball with?  Because?

[Motherland]

The 16 is bad to furball with?  Because?

Spit16 is the first plane I pick if Im over a furball. I'm sure the same go's for most people, so being in a Spit16 is probably a lead magnet.

[moot]

Not a problem if it's faster than people's lead.

[hammer]

...It only has two guns, which worries me as well.  My question is:  Is the speed and turning capability of the 5 worth giving up the guns and fuel range of the 8?

The spit 5 and 8 have the same gun package: 2 x 20mm Hispano & 4 x .303 Browning MGs. The only difference is the 5 has only 60 rds for each 20mm while the 8 has 120 rds/20mm.

The ultimate answer to your question is yes, the 8 (or even the 9 for that matter) are worthy upgrades from the 5.

Regards,

Hammer

[Motherland]

The spit 5 and 8 have the same gun package: 2 x 20mm Hispano & 4 x .303 Browning MGs. The only difference is the 5 has only 60 rds for each 20mm while the 8 has 120 rds/20mm.

The ultimate answer to your question is yes, the 8 (or even the 9 for that matter) are worthy upgrades from the 5.

Regards,

Hammer

But, doesnt the 5 have the older, heavier Hispanos with the longer barrel (therefor more accurate)?

[Guppy35]

Personally i think the 8 is the best overall Spitfire we've got.

[moot]

How are any of the spits superior to the 16, in a dogfight?

[Wraith]

How are any of the spits superior to the 16, in a dogfight?

1.)  None of the Spits should dogfight, leave it to the Zero and sometimes F4U's.
2.)  Spit 5, 8, and 9 can all turn tighter than a 16, a 16 just has a better roll on it, which means it can change direction fast, but not necessarily turn as fast. 

[MiloMorai]

How are any of the spits superior to the 16, in a dogfight?

They use R-R Merlin engines while the 16 uses Packard Merlins. 

[SgtPappy]

Huh? Spitfires dogfight great...
If you mean none of them should ONLY do flat turns, then you'd be right. Spitfires can be pretty decent energy fighters because of their quick acceleration and very little loss of speed in the tightest turns. The Spitfire XIV however, is a totally different plane. I don't like to fly it at all as it's nothing like the traditional Spitfires.

But the VIII is more mission-worthy because of its better versatility and ability to E-fight (which is pretty much a dogfight as it is a way of getting angles). The V is my favourite Spitfire simply b.c it's a 'traditional' spitfire and it's fun to fly but it's not going to do much for you other than defend a horde of enemies attacking a base. It's mostly just a TnB'er though it can E-fight to some extent versus something like an A6M which has worse dive speed, zoom and level speed.

But flying the P-38J right now, I think the Spitfire's got itself in for trouble versus the real vetical E-fighting crowd.

[hammer]

But, doesnt the 5 have the older, heavier Hispanos with the longer barrel (therefor more accurate)?

I don't believe so. The only different Hispanos I'm aware of are on the Tempest. Those are Hispano Vs. I'm pretty sure all the rest are Hispano IIs.

regards,

Hammer

[bj229r]

Spit16 is the first plane I pick if Im over a furball. I'm sure the same go's for most people, so being in a Spit16 is probably a lead magnet.

Umm..that would be the P47