Aircraft Agility and speed

• Aug 11, 2018

• #1

Supermarine-SpitfireMkXIV

Airman

54

2

Jun 1, 2018

Excuse me, could anyone help me by telling me the factors that made an aircraft agile.
Also, can anyone tell me the factors of speed in a fighter aircraft?

Thanks.

 

• Aug 11, 2018

• #2

GrauGeist

Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung

28,250

22,599

Aug 29, 2008

Redding, California

www.netallurgy.com

To be honest, there's a wide range of factors that contributed to a fighter's agility.

And what was considered the best performer in 1940 was eclipsed by types in service by 1945.

Perhaps narrow it down a little?

 

• Aug 11, 2018

• Thread starter
• #3

Supermarine-SpitfireMkXIV

Airman

54

2

Jun 1, 2018

Okay, do flaps help much? and Do streamlining and weight have anything to do with agility?

 

• Aug 11, 2018

• Thread starter
• #4

Supermarine-SpitfireMkXIV

Airman

54

2

Jun 1, 2018

Oh, and does engine power have to do anything with the agility?

 

• Aug 11, 2018

• Thread starter
• #5

Supermarine-SpitfireMkXIV

Airman

54

2

Jun 1, 2018

Factors of agility in 1940 please.

 

• Aug 11, 2018

• #6

Zipper730

Chief Master Sergeant

4,385

984

Nov 9, 2015

Hang on, I'm a bit tired as I've been up all night: I'll get to this in the morning

 

• Aug 11, 2018

• #7

swampyankee

Chief Master Sergeant

3,979

3,144

Jun 25, 2013

Supermarine-SpitfireMkXIV said:

Okay, do flaps help much? and Do streamlining and weight have anything to do with agility?

Click to expand...

Flaps will increase lift coefficient, so decrease instantaneous turn radius. Power:weight is critical, as greater power:weight means the aircraft can better recover energy, climb faster, and maintain greater turn rates. Streamlining means more surplus power at any airspeed.

Supermarine-SpitfireMkXIV said:

Oh, and does engine power have to do anything with the agility?

Click to expand...

Power:weight was addressed above.

Supermarine-SpitfireMkXIV said:

Factors of agility in 1940 please.

Click to expand...

The same as they were in 1917 and are in 2018: power:weight, wing loading, surplus power, control authority, roll inertia, control harmony, and predictable behavior.

 

• Aug 11, 2018

• #8

P

pbehn

Colonel

13,172

10,267

Oct 30, 2013

Supermarine-SpitfireMkXIV said:

Factors of agility in 1940 please.

Click to expand...

Maybe best to see what was done to the Spitfire in its service life to improve agility and later with the Spiteful.