A newbies impression of the 109 and spit

[NZtyphoon]

Originally Posted by BlackbusheFlyer

Sorry Kurfurst but you are wrong about the spit elevators, they were sensitive yes but can in no way way be classed as ultra sensitive. I am a real world aerobatic pilot generally flying a Pitts special, and have flown many aerobatic types. The elevator on these aircraft IS sensitive, much much more so than the Spit. The Spitfire that went into service was and always has, been described as having well balanced controls (a twitch elevator would not accord this distinction!).

Henshaw: "Compared with the Compar Swift, de Havilland T.K.4 or the Mew Gull the elevator controls on the Spitfire were quite heavy. To the young pilot trained on Tiger Moths or Magisters, however, the Spitfire elevators would indeed feel light, so that time and experience would be needed to get used to the feel." (AM September 1995 p. 55)

Quill on the prototype:
"The A&AEE pilots remarked also that the elevator was too light and too powerful and they recommended reducing the gear ratio between the elevator and the control column. I suspected at the time, and later with more experience and understanding of the problem I became quite convinced that they were wrong in blaming the elevator for being too light. This was much too simplistic a conclusion. The aeroplane was on the borderline of instability and making a heavier elevator, or even a smaller one, would have been no solution." cf his comments about further development increasing the stability margins. (Spitfire:ATPS p. 231)