[Kwiatek]

Well after reading many books, real life test by RAF and LW also looking in technical data of both planes i think that the difference between both planes sustained turn rate wasnt such huge. Still Spitfire should have the edge both in slow and higher speed turn rate. Of course im sure that some more experience pilots in 109 could turn with Spitfires with unexperience pilot - it confirmed some German aces.

Slats in 109 help a lot in the egde of stall but we should note that slats in 109 not cover all leading edge area but mostly airleons area - which mean that you have more control when you are close to stall ( when your wing rot are actually in stall). Other hand Spitfire had washed wingtips which had similar effect - when your wing rots were in stall your wing tips are not and you have still control on airleons. Both planes had similar stall speeds but Spitfire had clearly lower wingloading.

Slats in 109 give it better stall characteristic so pilots could feel more safe in stall fights then unexperience pilots in Spitfires but other hand good pilot in SPitfire could quite easy fell incoming stall beacuse Spitfire wings give him plenty of warning.

So i think the difference wasnt such huge but still Spitfire should be better in turn.


BTW

Looking in 109 COD slats working i see that they open very late - at very low speeds and i think they should work much earlier.

I checked RAF 109 E test and slats should be open in level flight at 180-190 km/h. In COD they start to open at speeds below 150 km/h.