The Greatest Fighter Pilot in WW II???

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The Spitfire was a great aircraft non the less, one of the best infact. However I think that just like the Me-109 it was exceeding its capabilities by the end of the war and was outclassed by newer and better fighters.

 

[plan_D]

Except the fact that the Spitfire Mk. XIV was the best dogfighter of the war.

 

[cheddar cheese]

The late war Spits were stil competitive, whereas the 109 was starting to get outclassed (Possible exception of the K-4)

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I dont know if I would call it the best. One of the best yes but the P-51 was also a great dogfighter.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The problem with the K-4 it had great performance but it was not very highly maneuverable at highspeeds. Its climb speed also lagged.

 

[Erich]

Green 7 of JG 300 ............K-4

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

How do you know that it is Green 7, I can not see the numbers on the tail.

 

[plan_D]

In a dogfight the Spit. Mk. XIV massacred the P-51.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Maybe but I would not say it was the best dogfighter of the war.

 

[plan_D]

Then you'd be arguing against most people in the world.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Maybe

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

there was absolutely no way the spit was "exceeding its capabilities by the end of the war " as can be proved by all the post war marks..........

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

An airframe can only be improved so much. I am sorry but it is true. The airframe itself can only handle so much.

 

[plan_D]

Seeing as the Spitfire served post-war and was, in most peoples minds, the best dogfighter of the war. It certainly had not out-done itself.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

and there were many post war marks with ever bigger engines, they proberly could have developed it more if we hadn't entered the jet age...........

 

[plan_D]

Turbo-prop...did they have any turbo-prop Spitfires?

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

doubt it................

 

[plan_D]

They did it with the Mustang.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Many aircraft served post war the P-51 also. I am not saying the P-51 was any better then the Spitfire. The Spitfire was a marvelous aircraft dont take me wrong. However the airframe of the aircraft can only be strenghened so much and take so much before you can not upgrade it anymore. I highly doubt there were any turboprop Spitfires postwar. I really dont think the airframe could have taken a turboprop without being shaken apart.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Yes but to put the turboprob in the P-51 it had to basically be rebuilt and this was not until 1967. The P-51 proved to be so useful that in 1967 the Mustang was put into production once again, this time by Cavalier and Piper. The Cavalier Turbo-Mustang III and Piper Enforcer were developed as Counter-Insurgency (COIN) aircraft with duties including light attack, Forward Air Control and interdiction roles.