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WW2 original color photos

Kermit3D

Well-Known Member
1a35243v.jpg
 

Smithy

Well-Known Member
Focke Wulf 190 A-8 (version visible on the photo) :

Max speed at 5 500 m : 652 km/h
Turn time : 22 s
Max altitude : 10 300 m
Take-off weight : 6 t


Spitfire Mk XIV (version visible on the photo) :

Max speed at 8 537 m : 723 km/h
Turn time : 17 s
Max altitude : 12 000 m
Take-off weight : 5 t

In theory, the Spitfire wins ! ;)

It's not just the aircraft but the chap flying it.

The Spit XIV was a terrific aircraft but it was a beast for new pilots coming from OTUs.

One of my Dad's best mates commanded a XIV sqn towards the end of the war and said it needed careful transition. He had flown Merlin Spits from 41 to 44 (so incredibly experienced) and said the sudden opposite torque pull was often nearly disastrous for even experienced pilots coming from Merlin Spits.

He told me it had incredible performance but was a brute and for more unforgiving and quick to lose control than a Merlin Spit.

The one thing he said which shattered his confidence in the XIV was when he met a 262 over Germany and even though he was flat out it left him for dead.
 
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