Ten best turning twisting climbing fighters

[Jank]

I always hear a few people mention the Italian fighters. What data or sources are relied on that indicate that these planes were such tight performers?

[Dogwalker]

For the aircrafts effectively tested by the RA, the figures usually comes from the RA official acceptance papers.
Since the aircrafts tested by the RA usually were made to fit the charateristics given by the RA in an official concourse, the results can be considered accurate. The aircrafts presented by the different firms were tested toghether, in combat conditions (full load), with the RA test pilots and the test pilots of the firms that alternate themselves over the different machines. Even mock-up fights were done.
For example, the figures I reported for the C.202 come from the official test of RA for the VI-VIII series (that with the two adjuntive 7.7mm wing mounted machineguns)
Unfortunately, the main part of the documents stored at Guidonia was destroyed after the armistice, so, for some of the less comons aircrafts,the figures come from copies made for different reasons. For example the figures for the SAI 207 come from an internal document of the SAI in which the results of the RA tests were taken as base to calculate the projected prestations of the SAI 503.
For this, for some of the aircrafts, the figures are not complete.
For the aircrafts never tested by the RA, as SAI SS4, or Piaggio P.119, the figures are those of the constructor, and are clearly less reliable.

For the users of Google Earth: the test airport of Guidonia still exist, it's at 41°59'30"N 12°44'10"E

[Jank]

Dogwalker - How did the best Italian birds turn compared with the best Japanese fighters in turn.

[Dogwalker]

I think it's an impossible comparison, since none flew both.
The C.202 is an european fighter. Heavy (for it's dimension), heavily armoured and fast (for 1941-42). The pilots that entusiastically stated about his handling, compared it with the aircrafts they known, and often they talk specifically of the handling at high speed. I dont't think it can match the japanese (with the exception, obviously, of the Ki-61) in slow turn.
Probably the earlier Italians, as the C.200 or, better, the Re 2000, are comparable to the japanese, since they were projected with a similar type of aerial fight in mind.

[FLYBOYJ]

very true, and the advantages and disadvantages and strategies were the same against the Ocar and the Zero
was the Ki-61 encountered often?

80th FG guys encountered them all the time...

[Twitch]

I put the MC 202 on my list because it has an initial climb rate of about 4,400 FPM seeing 6,560 feet in 1.5 minutes. Certianly crates like the CR 42 or G.50 could out maneuver it.