Some one had stated the fact that the me 262 could out climb the p51, then some one said that it would also depend on the fuel load, well yes of course, this is true for many air craft types...actual german test of the me 262 showed a clime rate of about 3800 fpm, at 7000kg, that's 15.432 pounds for the me 262 tested, some one correct me if im wrong but that means that the me 262 is carrying its maximum fuel load of around 4500 pounds...lets compare that to the spitfire xiv which had a climb rate of around 4700 fpm with a fuel load of 950 pounds of fuel, so lets say each each aircraft meets each other in the air at half fuel load, where is the spitfire has gone through hundreds of pounds of fuel the me 262 has gone through thousands of pounds of fuel, this should have a dramatic effect on climb performance. Here are a few combat reports (I don't put a lot of faith in combat reports but) on one or two occasions US pilots one of which was p47 pilot said that chasing an me 262 in a zoom climb that the me 262 could actually accelerate while vertical, obviously it just seemed that way, a 262 following a recon spitfire from below stated that the spitfire pilot after spotting him opened his(by viewing smoke from the spitfire I think) pulled the spit into a climb but the me 262 had no problem out climbing him, spitfire 9 pilots jumping a me 262 while landing said that the german pilot opened out climb him, the key to this is the spitfire pilot stated that the me 262 was able to gain altitude on him not just a faster climb, of course the 262 was coming in to land and most likely low on fuel.
Watson himself said in a documentary that the me 262 was the best, most combat worthy and that you could do any thing in it.
I personally think they were about equal fighters myself but that the me 262 was the superior jet, what I mean by that is that the me 262 was superior in speed, acceleration, dive and same in climb and found to hold its speed better in turns, the p80 of course had boosted ailerons and lighter wing loading, pilots also found the view to be better as well as the canopy being quieter in flight oh it also had dive brakes.
The early jets are where my interest mostly are with the me 262 being by far my favorite but I also love the Meteor, having said that, I believe the allies have easily delt with larger numbers of jets to a point of course, using the same tacticts they were already using, like having their fighters staggered in altitude 2000 ft 4000 ft 8000 ft and so on, attack the jets while climbing, forming up, attacking, approaching the air field and landing.
here is is some of the stuff I can find on thatThere were several US test pilots who gave the -262 high marks in many performance areas but I don't think anyone ever said the 262 was "over all" superior to the P-80
The claims that, in certain respects, the Me 262 was found to be superior to its American counterparts are correct. These claims did cause consternation in the Air Force. Brig. Gen. L. P. Whitten wrote on Oct. 17, 1946:
"1. The results of the ME-262 - P80A comparative speed and climb tests as outlined in Air Materiel Command Flight Test Report, Serial No. TSFTE-2008, are viewed with serious concern by this headquarters. ..."
Watson himself said in a documentary that the me 262 was the best, most combat worthy and that you could do any thing in it.
I personally think they were about equal fighters myself but that the me 262 was the superior jet, what I mean by that is that the me 262 was superior in speed, acceleration, dive and same in climb and found to hold its speed better in turns, the p80 of course had boosted ailerons and lighter wing loading, pilots also found the view to be better as well as the canopy being quieter in flight oh it also had dive brakes.
The early jets are where my interest mostly are with the me 262 being by far my favorite but I also love the Meteor, having said that, I believe the allies have easily delt with larger numbers of jets to a point of course, using the same tacticts they were already using, like having their fighters staggered in altitude 2000 ft 4000 ft 8000 ft and so on, attack the jets while climbing, forming up, attacking, approaching the air field and landing.