First of all, I am not a pilot, just a humble Flight Test Engineer, so strictly speaking, am not qualified to answer your question as posed. However, handling reports and comparisons (using the same pilot) showed that the Spitfire had better sustained turn performance (i.e. turn rate keeping altitude and airspeed constant) could frequently out turn the 109.
Regarding instantaneous (i.e. max turn rate with speed bleed off), anecdotal evidence suggests that the Spit may have been more hardy and Luftwaffe pilots were not so keen to pull and pull……….however, you must remember that wartime aircraft did not have g meters. Test aircraft did.
Another poster suggested that it depends on the pilot, hence true comparisons could only be made with accurate parameter recording or popping the same pilot in both aircraft….but in reality it all came down to skill of pilot and how far he was willing to push the envelope. Put simply, how sweeter would Swan lake sound? Played on a Stradivarius Violin by me (i.e. with no musical talent whatsoever) or an expert playing a cheap chinese school violin?
For the pilot answer, there is one who frequents this forum who has flown many Spitfires and a real 109…so over to him!!
Sign In
