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How much larger?
The Spitfire had great aerial performance but relatively short endurance. IMO increased endurance would have been the single most useful improvement. Replacing machineguns with 20mm cannon was the second most needed improvement.
How much larger?
The Spitfire had great aerial performance but relatively short endurance. IMO increased endurance would have been the single most useful improvement.
Replacing machineguns with 20mm cannon was the second most needed improvement.
I agree. But that doesn't mean Spitfire combat radius was adequate. Especially from 1941 onward when the RAF was projecting combat power into France and over the Medittranean.Endurance of the Spitfire was commensurate with that of other European inline engine fighters from Germany, Italy and Russia.
I maintain that by mid 43 the Spit was past its best by date it was a wonderful point interceptor but there was little to intercept , IMHO it would have nehooved the powers to be to swap over to the easier and cheaper P51
If the Spitfire was past it's due date in 1943 the P-39 and P-40 were past their due date on Dec 7 1941.
The Spitfire was held back in some ways like the P-38 was, The need for a "good" fighter that can be delivered to the squadrons next week or next month trumps an "improved" model that won't be delivered for several months but does require shutting down production for several weeks if not longer.
According to RAF pilot Michael Spencer, in May 1945 a competition occurred between a P-38 (no model letter given) and a Mk FXVIII at an American airfield near Southhampton. From a standing start both aircraft began their take-off run. When the P-38 lifted off and began gear retraction at just past the half way point of the runway; the Spitfire had already executed a 180 degree turn and performed a head on pass at the P-38. - paraphrased from "Spitfire" by Ethell and Pace, a very flawed book with numerous errors.
Not bad performance for being past the "best by date" if the story is true.
I probably have spent more time with Spits then you and have listened to more pilots who flew them , including sitting with John Romaine sucking back cold beers and the Spit was a wonderful aircraft but in 44 its main job was ground attack not chasing the Hun that was done by the P51 . During the Channel campaign the kill to loss with the 190 was what?Its an Iconic aircraft of the Commonwealth forces and how many were retained post war by the RCAF ? None they rearmed with P51'sNot again...the Spitfire was not past its best by 1943. Please read my original post and you'll see how the Spitfire evolved.
The Spitfire did everything and more that it was asked to do.
Cheers
John
I think the Spitfire VIII could have served as an 8th AF escort fighter, as it had better range than the early P-47. With DTs and shuttle missions it could have provided escort to about 400 miles.
To JabberW - what defined Johnny on Time? The MK I and IA's were delivered to RAF three months after Pearl harbor. It didn't have fuse tanks but did have twin 90 gallon wing tanks from first production models. The internal fuel combined with drag at 60% levels of Me109F and Spit V gave it immediately ~ 2X range.
True the killer high altitude performance didn't come until Brit and US Merlin experiments concluded in November 1942 with full production ops rolling them off in mid 1943 but it had great range with the Allison in 1941
I maintain that by mid 43 the Spit was past its best by date it was a wonderful point interceptor but there was little to intercept , IMHO it would have nehooved the powers to be to swap over to the easier and cheaper P51
I probably have spent more time with Spits then you and have listened to more pilots who flew them , including sitting with John Romaine sucking back cold beers and the Spit was a wonderful aircraft but in 44 its main job was ground attack not chasing the Hun that was done by the P51 . During the Channel campaign the kill to loss with the 190 was what?Its an Iconic aircraft of the Commonwealth forces and how many were retained post war by the RCAF ? None they rearmed with P51's
I probably have spent more time with Spits then you and have listened to more pilots who flew them , including sitting with John Romaine sucking back cold beers and the Spit was a wonderful aircraft but in 44 its main job was ground attack not chasing the Hun that was done by the P51 . During the Channel campaign the kill to loss with the 190 was what?Its an Iconic aircraft of the Commonwealth forces and how many were retained post war by the RCAF ? None they rearmed with P51's