I thought I'd add a translation of the German trials of the 109e, 110c, Hurricane, Curtiss and Spitfire.
Quote:
In the following performance and air combat comparison that has been performed at the E-Stelle Rechlin between Me 109E and Me 110C and the captured enemy fighters Spitfire, Hurricane and Curtiss, shall be brought to notice. The results of the comparison are to be announced immediately to all Jagd and Zestorer units to guarantee appropriate air combat behaviour in the engagements on the basis of technical conditions.
The Me109 clearly out-performs all foreign aircraft.
Speed : the Spitfire is at 0m by ca. 20 km/h, at 4km by ca. 10 km/h. Hurricane and Curtiss at 0m and 4km altitude by ca. 60km/h. A similar superiority of the Me 109E exists in climb performance too.
Climb times to 4 km.
Me109E - 4.4 mins
Spitfire - 5 mins
Hurricane - 5.6 mins
Curtiss - 5.2 mins
The Me110C is inferior speed wise to the Spitfire, superior to the Hurricane and Curtiss. Regarding climb performance the Curtiss is equal at ground level, up to 4 km superior then inferior. Hurricane is inferior up to an altitude of 2 km then superior up to 6.5 km. the Spitfire is equal at ground level but otherwise superior.
The best climb for the Me 109E and Me 110C is achieved with shallow climb angle and higher speeds than the enemy fighters.
It is wrong to climb away steeply or climb behind an enemy fighter with the same angle.
Before turning fights with the Me 109E, it must be noted that in every case, that all 3 foreign planes have significantly smaller turning circles and turning times.
An attack on the opponent as well as disengagement can only be accomplished on the basis of existing superiority in performance.
The following suggestions are made:
The Spitfire and Hurricane have 2 pitch propellers. Climbing away with the Me109 and Me 110 must be done with the best climbing speed or even higher speeds of about 280-300 km/h. On aircraft with 2 pitch propellers with low blade angle the engine will experience a very high over-revolution, on the other hand a high blade angle, high boost pressure - therefore, in other words, performance loss.
On a sudden push forward on the stick to dive, the carburettor cuts out due to negative acceleration. This evasive measure, diving, is also recommended.
The rolling ability of the enemy fighters at high speeds is worse than that of the Me 109. Quick changes of trajectory along the vertical axis cause, especially with the Spitfire, load changes around the cranial axis, coming from high longitudinal thrust momentum, and significantly disturbing aiming.
In summary it can be said that all three enemy types are inferior to the German planes regarding flying qualities. The Spitfire has bad elevator and rudder stability on the target approach. In addition, wing-mounted weapons have known shooting technique disadvantages.
A bit more on the subject.
On the 11th July 1940 Wing Commander George Stainforth - of Schneider trophy fame flew the 109 in a seris of comparative trials concerning the turning circles of the 109, Spitfire and Hurricane. Stainforths subsequent report concluded that the Hurricane out-turned the 109 'within about 1 complete turn' and that 'The Messerschmitt appears to be only slightly faster than the Hurricane.' 'The Spitfire out turned the 109 almost as easily as the Hurricane'
(unlike the Rechlin tests this Spitfire had a CSP). 'The Spitfire pilot reported that he had no difficulty in sitting on the 109s tail, and could, in fact have tightened his turn quite a lot more and got well on the inside, he was at +5 boost, almost full throttle'
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