Glider
Captain
Lesof
There is a lot of sense in this posting. If we stand back and look at the situation there were three main questions
a) Did the test pilot take the aircraft past the deployment of the slats. Yes
b) Was Gunther Rall afraid of his aircraft No
c) Could a British test pilot get the absolute best our of a foriegn aircraft No
Taking C a little further. Did it matter?
The idea behind these tests it to equip your pilots with the best information on how to handle a foriegn pilot who is in combat with you. If the Test pilot can get a similar level of performance out of an aircraft that an average opposing squadron pilot can obtain, then I suggest the job has been done.
Aces can always get the extra 5% out of an aircraft.
Re the 109, the average German Pilot couldn't turn inside the Spitfire, indeed a number of experienced pilots even expert pilots couldn't turn inside the Spitfire.
The fact that (possibly) in certain circumstances the 109 might have a theoretical advantage is almost irrelevant, as the average Allied pilot could and did turn inside the 109.
There are numerous quotes from pilots of all levels of experience that the Spitfire did this and precious few examples on the 109 doing this.
There is a lot of sense in this posting. If we stand back and look at the situation there were three main questions
a) Did the test pilot take the aircraft past the deployment of the slats. Yes
b) Was Gunther Rall afraid of his aircraft No
c) Could a British test pilot get the absolute best our of a foriegn aircraft No
Taking C a little further. Did it matter?
The idea behind these tests it to equip your pilots with the best information on how to handle a foriegn pilot who is in combat with you. If the Test pilot can get a similar level of performance out of an aircraft that an average opposing squadron pilot can obtain, then I suggest the job has been done.
Aces can always get the extra 5% out of an aircraft.
Re the 109, the average German Pilot couldn't turn inside the Spitfire, indeed a number of experienced pilots even expert pilots couldn't turn inside the Spitfire.
The fact that (possibly) in certain circumstances the 109 might have a theoretical advantage is almost irrelevant, as the average Allied pilot could and did turn inside the 109.
There are numerous quotes from pilots of all levels of experience that the Spitfire did this and precious few examples on the 109 doing this.