GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
So 500 pounds isn't close?The P-39Q was 6,516 lbs empty; 7,570 loaded; and 8,400 gross.
The Fw 190 A-8 was 7,060 empty; 9,735 loaded; and 10,000 gross.
They aren't even close in weight. The P-39Q routinely operated over a ton lighter than the Fw 190 A-8. You could put a pilot and 300 pounds of ammo in a P-39Q and still be lighter than an empty Fw 190 A-8. With the the horsepower these planes had, a ton extra won't help sparkling performance, and the P-39 needed less weight to have low-level performance, which it had. It just faded at the mid-teens in altitude (feet).
It might have been interesting to see a 2-stage Merlin P-39 and see how it could do up high, but that's another discussion entirely and unrelated here.