Glitched P-51 compared to FW-190 and Spitfire

[David603]

Originally Posted by Prowlinger

Here are the core statistics -- (Shows 2 P-51 versions). Notice that there is something really wrong with the speed of the P-51 in game. It should out perform the FW and the Spitfire overall...


P-51D Mustang

Performance.........

Full marks for knowing how to copy and paste off wiki.

If you want to compare aircraft though, a more useful way of doing this might be to pick either a), planes we have in the game or b), aircraft that were contemporary to each other.

The P51D first saw service in 1944, so if you want to compare it with its contemporaries you should pick the Spitfire XIV and Fw190D9. Alternatively you could go with what we have in game, which would mean using a Spitfire XVI instead of the Griffon engined Spitfire XIV.

So just the straight line speed and climb rates for these planes,

P51D
Top speed: 437mph at 25,000ft (362mph at sea level)
Climb rate: 3,500ft/min at 8,000ft (3,200ft/min at sea level)

Spitfire XIV(Griffon)
Top speed: 448mph at 25,000ft (360mph at sea level)
Climb rate: 5,000ft/min at sea level

Spitfire XVI
Top speed: 408mph at 21,000ft (345mph at sea level)
Climb rate: 4,600ft/min at sea level

Fw190D9
Top speed 429mph at 17,500ft (375mph at sea level)
Climb rate: 4,100ft/min at sea level

I've been able to get the P51D up to a sustained speed of 360mph at low level, agreeing with the P51D's historical speed at that altitude, therefore I don't think the flight model is slower than it should be.

However, the P51D's top speed is granted by good aerodynamics, not a good power to weight ratio, so even though the top end speeds are similar the other three planes have much better acceleration. Therefore getting up to high speeds will take longer, and if you are trying to chase or break away from one of these planes with both you and your opponent starting at low-medium speeds you will get the impression they are considerably quicker, especially with the Fw109D9 and Spitfire XIV.