> >The Spitfire was able to outfight the Bf-109 mainly because the
German
> >planes didn't have enough fuel to maintain the fight.
> They were faster and had better high altitude capability and once
they'd
> abandoned the 'big wing' tactics also had a tactical advantage,
besides
> the short loiter time for the 109's. Mustangs didn't show up in the UK
> until 1944. Interestingly enough the first Mustangs were export models
> built for the RAF. The original Allison engines didn't have enough
power
> to be a real threat. The Mustang only came into its own when they were
> fittted with Rolls-Royce Merlin engines. Once you hear that baritone
moan
> sound they made, you never forget it.
The original (and many subsequent) Spitfires didn't have fuel injection so they would choke-out in close-in manoeuvres.
Many still-living Battle of Britain pilots recall the Spitfire as having great backward visibility, amazing handling due to the wing design and poor survivability if hit (because the competition was using 20mm cannons).
The Mustang was a killer plane, it is a classic, one of my favourites.
Paul Received on Sun Jan 18 21:02:00 2004
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