View Single Post
  #164  
Old 09-18-2012, 12:35 AM
Crumpp's Avatar
Crumpp Crumpp is offline
Approved Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,552
Default

Quote:
In short I don't see how it proves anything.
Well, that is because you don't understand aircraft performance.

That is ok and you are not alone.

It proves exactly what I said and the math does not lie nor is it bias.

I will see if I can help you. If I can't, oh well, it does not change the physics or the math.

Angle of bank and load factor have a fixed relationship in a steady state turn.

For example, 60 degree of bank will always produce a 2g load factor no matter what the aircraft under consideration.

Turn rate and radius is a function of angle of bank and velocity.

All aircraft at the same angle of bank and velocity will make exactly the same turn. So if a Cessna Corvalis and a Boeing 747 are going 200 knots and banks 60 degrees, they will both make the same rate and radius of turn.

Radius is very velocity dependant.

From an FAA question when getting your commercial certificate.....

An aircraft holds a constant angle of bank and velocity increases. What is the effect on radius?

The correct answer is load factor remains constant and radius increases.

At the same velocity, the aircraft which can sustain the highest angle of bank is achieving the higher load factor and will make a smaller radius as well as higher rate of turn.


So that diagram shows the Spitfire cannot realize a sustained turn performance advantage until it reaches the portion of the envelope the Bf-109 cannot fly in anyway. Then the Bf-109 must reduce its angle of bank in order to match speed and the Spitfire can sustain a higher angle of bank in that portion of the envelope.

If a Spitfire enters a turn fight with a Bf-109, the Bf-109 can force the Spitfire into this low speed realm. The Bf-109 will simply outturn or match any Spitfire that tries to remain at the same speed or maintain velocity.

So both pilots have to make a choice. The Spitfire pilot can choose to hold onto his airspeed and be shot down. The Bf-109 pilot can choose to follow the Spitfire into the low speed realm and be shot down.

Factor in stability and control, these aircraft are even more equal dogfighters. The Bf-109 pilot can precisely attain and hold a target load factor to achive maximum performance.

The Spitfire requires a skilled pilot to precisely achieve and maintain a target load factor in order to achieve maximum performance.

Understand?
__________________

Last edited by Crumpp; 09-18-2012 at 12:46 AM.
Reply With Quote