Thanks to Lolsav, I decided to have a wee run in the 109, and makes some quick anecdotal comparisons to my usual crate.
OK first up; cards on the table:
I've typically only flown spits, but today was convinced to have a go in the 109, in an online map.
This is not a plea for balance. I'm not interested in "balance". If I wanted "balance" I'd play a game where everyone flew the same aircraft
I hope these points will also help other red-only guys see how some of their tactics might be playing into the 109's specific nature.
Some initial thoughts from the previously unfamiliar;
The 109 has some interesting differences;
1. the nose weapons configuration is great. they shoot where you point it! (unlike the wing-mounted only fighters) my confidence in the trajectory of the fire is much greater with the 109. This is historical, and reflects one of the real advantages the 109 had - its armament.
2. The visibility is excellent. Much better that you would imagine based on the external look of the 109. That extra little bit of over-the-shoulder window meant I could see aircraft behind/below (7, 5 o'clock) that you just don't see in the spits. This helps explain why I'm often spotted, when I think I'm concealed. You really have to be under the 109 to be invisible - which is not a safe place to be anyway!
3.The 109 engine sounds gave me a warning when the RPM was too high, and was about to overspeed/ blow! All I had to do was reduce rpm, and she went back to normal running. How I wish we had that kind of audible "warning" in the red fighters... which just suddenly blow the second they hit the modelled threshold!, and there's no way to anticipate/ recover in time without strict engine management procedures. I think the 109 engine setup is more forgiving.
4. Recovering from a flick-stall (but not in a spin) was marvellous. I took my hands and feet off and just waited about 3 to 5 seconds for the heavy nose to drop. she righted herself and I was power diving and under lift within a second or two more. really nice. really stable. I might try and put one in a spin soon too, to see how that experience compares.
5. Turning is not awful, but there is a slight pedestrian feel to it compared to the spit - which you can "yank" around for 180 degrees in a quick burst (provided you keep the nose relatively level!). The lack of turning speed (rotational velocity) in the 109 is, however made up for the fact that she will turn with the nose up a lot better than the spits. So, whilst the spit might turn inside the 109 will be gaining height. But this shouldn't be news to anyone who has seen this borne out time and time again online.
Defo a nice crate to fly. I might brave a few missions in the busier servers now too....
Does anyone know if point 4 is "historical"? Are the reasons why a 109 v spit will blow engines different, and thus the "sudden" nature of the spitfire breakdown is accruate? Should there be any kind of audible warning from the engine in either case that something is about to pop? Should it be avoidable to a point, even once the engine tone has changed to "abnormal"?