[pandacat]

Originally Posted by JtD

If you take a look at the performance of the 44'D-9 and P-51D and give the planes the same amount of fuel, you'll find that the P-51 has a very similar power loading and a lower wingloading than the Fw 190. It bleeds about the same energy as a Fw in a turn. It really depends on the altitude you're fighting at, the Fw's best altitudes being down low and between 4000 and 6000m, but between 1000m and 4000m, the P-51 is much better performing.
Weight with 500kg fuel: D-9: 4270, P-51D: 4420
maximum power output: D-9: 1750, P-51D: 1720
wing area: D-9: 18.6, P-51D: 21.4

But the main advantage, and the most important advantage to me, is the speed advantage the P-51D maintains at nearly all altitudes. It allows the pilot to engage and disengage at will. It helps to maintain high speeds after a dive, and thereafter, a better zoom climb. Not that a zoom climb with someone on your tail is a good idea, ever.

I've attached Il-2 compare data for a 44'D-9 and P-51D, both with 500kg fuel. Illustrates my points nicely (blue Fw 190, red P-51).

Hey Jtd. Are these charts from 4.11 or 4.10? I remember seeing a similar set posted by someone back in 2007 in 4.07. Those charts were vastly different from yours with P-51 significantly inferior to D9. Did you use Il-2 compare to graph the charts? Just curious.