Me 109, Spitfire, Zero or Mustang

[Njaco]

I agree but I'm not sure I would want no armour and no self-sealing tanks. Was the ammo comparable to a Spit or Bf 109?

[fly boy]

alder i have read the power of the p-51 and how most pilots were top aces in it

[Soren]

The P-51 was a fine a/c which did its job well, however it is often overrated. The P-51 wasn't individually anything special, being out-performed by a good number of German fighters. That having been said the P-51 was a responsive aircraft at the speeds where most of the dogfighting was taking place by 43-45, speeds where the differences in wing-loading between fighters suddenly became irrelevant as neither pilot nor aircraft could take the maximum loads which the lift permitted. This is exactly why the Fw-190 really handed it to the Spitfire in dogfights and often by outturning it.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by fly boy

alder i have read the power of the p-51 and how most pilots were top aces in it

Actually the top aces were in the Bf 109.

As for power the Bf 109, Spitfire, Fw 190 and many other aircraft had the same power.

Again I am not saying your pick is wrong. All of these aircraft were fine aircraft and could be considered top.

I just am wondering how you came to your conclusion.

[drgondog]

Originally Posted by Soren

The P-51 was a fine a/c which did its job well, however it is often overrated. The P-51 wasn't individually anything special, being out-performed by a good number of German fighters. That having been said the P-51 was a responsive aircraft at the speeds where most of the dogfighting was taking place by 43-45, speeds where the differences in wing-loading between fighters suddenly became irrelevant as neither pilot nor aircraft could take the maximum loads which the lift permitted. This is exactly why the Fw-190 really handed it to the Spitfire in dogfights and often by outturning it.

Soren - pretty good observation. The 51B/C and D had excellent high altitude performance 600 miles from home..

In my opinion the Luftwaffe failed to capitalize on four years experience and let the 8th AF gain it in painless measure - then had to confornt an airplane that could compete over their own airspace with a flood of great students led by increasingly skilled leaders.

[Soren]

Agreed. The idiotic top leadership of the LW made sure it was never used to its full potential.