Question for Spitfire guy's

[Onyx13]

What is the best speed for the tightest turns in the Spit 8 and 16 under 10k. Also same question for a scissors.

[FLS]

Your tightest turn, smallest radius, and best turn rate, is at about 230mph for the Spit16 and 220mph for the Spit8. But that is only true when you are at the edge of blackout. Your best sustained turn is around 155mph in the Spit8 and 165mph in the Spit 16 assuming you pull enough to hear the stall horn which will put you about 3g on the accelerometer. This is with 75% fuel.

Since you're flying loops in a rolling scissors your speed is constantly changing but it's essentially a sustained turn. What you want to remember about loops is that you take it easier on the bottom and can be more aggressive when inverted on the top. On the bottom of a loop gravity is hurting you but on the top it's helping to pull you down.

[SmokinLoon]

**points up**  Good info.

However, always keep in mind that there are more things that just a hard number to take in to consideration.  The "forgiveness" of an aircraft plays a big part in the player's ability to sustain a turn, hold the edge of a stall, or control a roll.  The Spit 9 is far more forgiving than the Spit 8, but the Spit 8 has a slight edge in acceleration, low level speed, and WEP performance.  The Spit 16 acts like a fish out of water, it does it all but it is easy to "flop and roll" too far.

As usual, practice makes perfect and you can't be taught experience.   

[Karnak]

The Spit VIII's advantage over the Mk IX in speed and acceleration/climb at low altitude is a bit more than slight:

[SmokinLoon]

Slight is the word and I'm sticking to it.

Compare the P40, P47, or other such tugboat compared to the Spitfire 8 and THEN I may increase the severity of the word in which I use to describe the difference in climb/speed.  Otherwise, the term sticks when comparing the Spit 9 and 8. 

Thanks for providing the charts though, they are lovely to look at.  Too bad they only show the hard numbers, eh?

[FLS]

1000 fpm is a big slight. Most people consider a 30% increase significant.

[Widewing]

Slight is the word and I'm sticking to it.

Compare the P40, P47, or other such tugboat compared to the Spitfire 8 and THEN I may increase the severity of the word in which I use to describe the difference in climb/speed.  Otherwise, the term sticks when comparing the Spit 9 and 8. 

Thanks for providing the charts though, they are lovely to look at.  Too bad they only show the hard numbers, eh?

Sorry, but the Spit VIII completely owns the Spit IX below 15k, because the Mk.VIII owns the vertical.

[BnZs]

A SpitIX at 25% fuel is actually heavier than a SpitXVI at 25% fuel, and it is self-evident which has more horsepower at low alts.

A SpitVIII at 25% is a bit heavier than a SpitIX at the same fraction, but as the VIII's fuel capacity is larger it can fly 1/3rd longer on MIL. Thus this difference is mostly extra gallons of gas. And the VIII has the same horsepower advantage as the XVI.

[SmokinLoon]

1000 fpm is a big slight. Most people consider a 30% increase significant.

The difference in WEP is more like 900 fpm from 1-7k, then the Spit 8 climb rate tapers off quickly to 4200 fpm at 13k where the Spit 9 is hanging at 3700 fpm.  Ultimately, over the long haul these two planes are more alike than not, the WEP is more of a crutch than a platform to measure.  Again, the two different planes have stats within peein' distance of each other IMO.  When compared to the tugboats is when the terms "major, huge, significant", etc, would be used.  I'm not disputing the advantages of the the 8's WEP, I'm just disputing the "ownage" tag some have applied.

I like the Spit 8 mostly for the extra range it provides.  I don't ever use WEP unless I need it in a tight engagement. 

[FLS]

I rounded up since there was only a slight difference. 

[projoe]

Yall don't let pepprr know bout the 8/16. She's a beast in the 9, hate to see what she could do in one of those.

[Karnak]

The difference in WEP is more like 900 fpm from 1-7k, then the Spit 8 climb rate tapers off quickly to 4200 fpm at 13k where the Spit 9 is hanging at 3700 fpm.  Ultimately, over the long haul these two planes are more alike than not, the WEP is more of a crutch than a platform to measure.  Again, the two different planes have stats within peein' distance of each other IMO.  When compared to the tugboats is when the terms "major, huge, significant", etc, would be used.  I'm not disputing the advantages of the the 8's WEP, I'm just disputing the "ownage" tag some have applied.

I like the Spit 8 mostly for the extra range it provides.  I don't ever use WEP unless I need it in a tight engagement. 

The Spit IX's initial climb rate is closer to a P-47's than it is to a Spitfire Mk VIII's....

[SmokinLoon]

I rounded up since there was only a slight difference. 

nyuk nyuk.   

[SmokinLoon]

The Spit IX's initial climb rate is closer to a P-47's than it is to a Spitfire Mk VIII's....

Did you know that auctioneers make bad grocer clerks? 

[BaldEagl]

Sorry, but the Spit VIII completely owns the Spit IX below 15k, because the Mk.VIII owns the vertical.

Maybe but it's roll rate sucks, it doesn't turn as well and the IX is much more docile handling all around.