Quote:
Originally Posted by K_Freddie
Another 2c worth as we're on a roll.
The Spit wing is narrow in thickness and long in chord, designed for speed.
Take this to low speeds
If you rotate the spit the chord length now presents a larger area for drag (but producing momentary better lift) compared to the shorter chord of the FW, which has a thicker wing producing better lift and less(or equal) drag than the spit for the same rotation over longer time. Not forgetting the FW weight, but it's further from it's takeoff weight (Yes.. we're now in this region as I hinted before) than the spit, so it can probably be pulled harder.
The thing in the spits advantage is it's power-to-weight ratio which could help it in the climbing turn, but is an inline engine more advantaged against a radial at low speeds. From what I can see and have read, the inline is a bugger to control at low speeds.
I'm willing to take a bet that the Spit had very little advantage (if any) over the FW and such low speeds, which would account for Gastons 'research results'
Your turn  |
Take it down to stall and lose your bet.
Your 'givens' about the Spitfire are wrong. Why not just say the Spitfire won because it bestowed 'gifts' upon the British pilots, or some other statement made from denial?