Best Battle of Britain Aircraft

[the lancaster kicks ass]

yes perhaps the fact that the hurricane shot down 65% of all aircraft shot down during the entire battle (including ground defences) will turn a few votes towards the hurricane...............

[Maestro]

Originally Posted by the lancaster kicks ass

yes perhaps the fact that the hurricane shot down 65% of all aircraft shot down during the entire battle (including ground defences) will turn a few votes towards the hurricane...............

Yeah, but don't forget that there was much more Hurricane squadrons than Spitfire squadrons because the Spitfire was relatively new when the BoB began. So it's just normal that the Hurricane shot down more planes.

[cheddar cheese]

And the fact that most of the pilots preferred the Hurricane should err thigs the Hurricanes way too...

[BombTaxi]

The Hurricane (which got my vote) was also a superior gun platform to the Spit. Its eight guns were concentrated in two banks of four, rather than being spread along the wing as they were in the Spit, giving a better concentration of fire.

It's true that the Hurri got more kills, and was in more squadrons. However, it also found itself, more often than not, attacking bomber formations, which meant it had the defensive fire of these aircraft to face, as well as the danger of escort fighters and friendly flak, which, IMHO, was made thier task just as difficult, if not more so, than the dogfighting which Spits were often involved in. I think that the Spitfire gets the glamour because of its cleaner lines and the mystique which grew up around both the aircraft and RJ Mitchell. However, the Hurri was the true workhorse of the RAF both during the BoB and the Battle of France.

[cheddar cheese]

Yup. Its a shame it wasnt further developed really, it was kind of obsolete by 1941.

[Nonskimmer]

Yeah, the Spit was flashier. Victory in the BoB more or less hinged on the Hurricane, but...c'mon!! It's the Spitfire we're talkin' about, boys!

[cheddar cheese]

But at the time the Hurricane was better...

[Nonskimmer]

LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA (I can't hear you) LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA...

[JCS]

For looks I have to go with the Hurricane, theres just something about the Spit that I dont like...

[Cheap Labour]

The Spitfire had a higher top speed and I'd trust it more in a turning fight than that cow of a fighter the Hurricane. And as we well know, a concentrated gun platform didn't matter for turds during the BoB because your average RAF fighter pilot was such a lousy shot that the spray effect of the Spitfire's staggered guns was probably more effective in any case.

I'm convinced that these "kills" that we get for posting are based on BoB scores by RAF pilots. Terribly bloated and most unconfirmed.

[Maestro]

Originally Posted by BombTaxi

I think that the Spitfire gets the glamour because of its cleaner lines and the mystique which grew up around both the aircraft and RJ Mitchell. However, the Hurri was the true workhorse of the RAF both during the BoB and the Battle of France.

Come on ! The Hurricane (even the Mk. IIC) got outclassed by the Spitfire Mk. IX in 1942. The Hurricane was a great plane, but not as great as the Spitfire. The Spitfire was faster and more manoeuvrable than the Hurricane.

During the BoB, the only reason why Hurricanes were sent to take on the bombers was because it could take on more fire than the Spitfire.

[BombTaxi]

By Battle of France, I meant the actions in 1940 prior to the BoB. The Hurricane fought 109s sucessfully in that campaign, as it did in the BoB, and it continued to give good service in the Western Desert until 1941. I dont dispute that in terms of absolute performance, the Spit was the better a/c: but the fact remains that it was the Hurri that won the BoB!

[cheddar cheese]

Originally Posted by JCS

For looks I have to go with the Hurricane, theres just something about the Spit that I dont like...

I know what you mean (Except for the late war versions which looked incredible)

Originally Posted by Cheap Labour

I'm convinced that these "kills" that we get for posting are based on BoB scores by RAF pilots. Terribly bloated and most unconfirmed.

[rebel8303]

Am I the only one who thinks that dogfights are more difficult than bombers without escort?

[cheddar cheese]

Dunno if I understand you right, but Yes I do think that dogfighting a 109 is more difficult than taking on an unescorted bomber formation.