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I don't see the Zero's wing having nearly as much area as the Spit...Zero's wing was about the same size, varied from about 230sq ft to 240sq ft depending on exact model of the Zero, later ones had the lower figure. Since the Zero was lighter it didn't take much else.
I have a hard time imagining any plane being able to outturn a Spit with its huge amount of wing area of that elliptical wing. If the Zero outturned it, I'd sure like to know it was able to...
I have a hard time imagining any plane being able to outturn a Spit with its huge amount of wing area of that elliptical wing. If the Zero outturned it, I'd sure like to know it was able to...
I think the Zero was the tightest-turning monoplane fighter. The Ki. 43 Oscar was right tehre in wing loading, but teh Zero ws slightly better, at least in the early models.
Greg,
A good "What if" would be more like Hitler sending over a contingent of Luftwaffe pilots and support crews to fight with the Japanese in 1942. Not sure the logistics would work out but a couple of squadrons of 190's would be a mighty big jolt for the allies, especially on top of the whole Zero shock issue.