A pilot compares cockpits between the Spitfire and the 109

[Zatoichi_Sanjuro]

Thanks for vids,

he's more than a little biased but interesting all the same.

Does anyone remember what documentary concludes with the guy holding up the BF109's cannon round and comparing it to the Spitfires?

[Gilly]

Originally Posted by Zatoichi_Sanjuro

Thanks for vids,

he's more than a little biased but interesting all the same.

Does anyone remember what documentary concludes with the guy holding up the BF109's cannon round and comparing it to the Spitfires?

It was on during the BoB series late last year. Think it was either 'the gathering storm' or the 'south coast trail'. BBC history website should have them both somewhere although BBC 4 are repeating a fair few at the minute.

www.bbc.co.uk/history/battle_of_britain

Great video on there of Douggie Bader and Paddy Barthrop in a bar discussing the BoB. Bader answers the question of 'what did you think of them as you dived in for attack' with beautiful aplomb!!!

[QBlackDeathQ]

Originally Posted by FOZ_1983

Miserable sod seems to complain about them both!!

A narrow target is a hard target to hit! The smaller the target you present to the enemy the harder you are to hit. Prone position versus the standing position. fighter planes have become smaller rather then larger. F-22 raptor is big unlike the Chinese version that is much smaller. bigger is not always better! Pilot is what makes the fighter work, not the plane!

[Cryptic Phant0m]

Originally Posted by Zatoichi_Sanjuro

Thanks for vids,

he's more than a little biased but interesting all the same.

Does anyone remember what documentary concludes with the guy holding up the BF109's cannon round and comparing it to the Spitfires?

Here is an image that was posted before on 1C forums.

[Aquila chrysaetos]

Wow, nice image! Which reminds me never to go head on against Fw190

Thanks for sharing this,

PSN: PlaviKit

[bobbysocks]

nice pic cryptic! give a lot of insight as to what kind of damage should be inflicted by each ac.

[FOZ_1983]

Hmmmm I don't see the nasty round that the hurricane Mk IV used..... The 40mm cannon from the vickers S gun

[winny]

Originally Posted by FOZ_1983

Hmmmm I don't see the nasty round that the hurricane Mk IV used..... The 40mm cannon from the vickers S gun

Just for you Foz

The Vickers 40mm is the 2nd from the right.
It's so big they stuck it in a photo with naval and artillery rounds.. Ouch.

[FOZ_1983]

Sweet mercy!! What a shell!! It's massive!! If I was in a vehicle and saw any aircraft ready to strafe with that thing then I don't care what my orders are, I'm running away...... Screaming like a little girl.

[bobbysocks]

the 37mm in the p39 and some of the yaks is just about as intimidating. they must have shook the plane like hell.

besides the cockpit the biggest drawback of the 109s were they had no trim tabs! that surprised the heck out of me when i read that. that means you had to provide rudder pressure to some degree or another. after flying you would have one sore leg....after months you would have one leg that looked like Popeye's arm! and to fly several sorties a day???!!!