Is Spitfire relly superior to FW-190?

[cheddar cheese]

But in any case, a tricky plane to fly requires sufficient training. The USAAF knew it wasnt simple, and these levels of training were not met. Simple as that.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

well why not make the plane easier to fly??

[cheddar cheese]

And how do you propose to do that?

[the lancaster kicks ass]

well when it was designed, it should have been designed to be easier to fly.......

[evangilder]

Maybe, but some airplanes that are difficult to fly become great assets once a pilot is seasoned in it. Sometimes its just a matter of how you do things. The Corsair was a miserable airplane to land on a carrier, but it was a great fighter. Sometimes making it easier to fly can make it less effective.

A standard Cessna will always try to right itself to level flight when you do something squirrely. That is how it was designed. The Pitts S2C, and aerobatic plane on the other hand will not. It is designed that way to be a great aerobatic plane. Not an easy bugger to fly, but a good pilot can do amazing things with it.

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by the lancaster kicks ass

yes

Combat config? All you got to do is push the throttles fwd first, push the props to high pitch and go, watching that you didn't overboost. I understand that the P-38 accelerated rapidly.

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by the lancaster kicks ass

you assume the other man had followed you, and do you really think, that after you have, on instinct , dived after being bounced, you'd be able to switch to combat configuration whilst under severe G forces?? wouldn't you be using all your effort to concentrate on perhaps pulling out of your dive?? and you'd loose allot of speed again during the climb back up to meet your oponent, where you're easy prey again, what are you gonna do to get your speed up again?? dive??

Sorry Lanc, I have to disagree, you're bounced, you dive make turns in the dive and use the energy to build up speed and not over stress the airplane, at that point you decide to re-enter the fight or turn to home.

In the dive you "manage your energy," and use that to climb back up. That's fighter pilot 101 - I've had the opportunity to do some simulated dogfighting in T-33s, Fougas, and L-29s. The whole thing resembles a egg shape flight. At that point you look to exploit the opponent by entering high speed or low speed scissors, or just try to turn with the opponent. I actually learned its better to fight in the vertical.

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by cheddar cheese

But in any case, a tricky plane to fly requires sufficient training. The USAAF knew it wasnt simple, and these levels of training were not met. Simple as that.

This was recognized in about 1943 and many P-38 pilots came out of multi-engine aircraft ranks (B-25 and A-20 pilots were frequently tapped to go to P-38s). Any multi engine recip aircraft could be tricky to fly, especially if you're a low time pilot. Even today in Generl Aviation, there is a large accident rate for multi engine aircraft (Cessna 300 series, Piper Aztecs etc.) because the pilots flying them don't stay proficient, especially in emergency engine out take off procedures.

[cheddar cheese]

Yes. Also the P-38 was designed to "Specification X-608. In Specification X-608, the aircraft was required to maintain a top speed of 360 mph, whereas previously designed aircraft were only required to maintain a top speed of 300 mph. This aircraft would also be required to operate at altitudes of 20,000 and contain firepower three or four times higher than any other existing fighter aircraft. Essentially, this aircraft would be able to perform any mission any other fighter would be capable of, but not limited to any specific one. " Essentially meaning that this was to be far superior to other fighters of the time. Imagine the difference going from a P-35 or P-36 into this.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

This was recognized in about 1943 and many P-38 pilots came out of multi-engine aircraft ranks (B-25 and A-20 pilots were frequently tapped to go to P-38s). Any multi engine recip aircraft could be tricky to fly, especially if you're a low time pilot. Even today in Generl Aviation, there is a large accident rate for multi engine aircraft (Cessna 300 series, Piper Aztecs etc.) because the pilots flying them don't stay proficient, especially in emergency engine out take off procedures.

Yeah but I personally have always loved the added security of having another engine.

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by cheddar cheese

Yes. Also the P-38 was designed to "Specification X-608. In Specification X-608, the aircraft was required to maintain a top speed of 360 mph, whereas previously designed aircraft were only required to maintain a top speed of 300 mph. This aircraft would also be required to operate at altitudes of 20,000 and contain firepower three or four times higher than any other existing fighter aircraft. Essentially, this aircraft would be able to perform any mission any other fighter would be capable of, but not limited to any specific one. " Essentially meaning that this was to be far superior to other fighters of the time. Imagine the difference going from a P-35 or P-36 into this.

And you're right CC - there was no aircraft available to provide a easy transistion, especially for a twin engine aircraft. A simialr thing happened to many countries after WWII when they went from the F-86 into the F-104.

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

Yeah but I personally have always loved the added security of having another engine.

Yep, as long as the pilot says proficient

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

And thats why there is training flights. They always seem boring but when the infimous words "Oh ****!" are said you realize why you spent all those hours in the simulator and in the traffic pattern.

[plan_D]

The F-104 nicknamed Widowmaker.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Yeap the Starfighter had a habit of it.