The best fighter of WWII

[taildraggernut]

Originally Posted by Moggy

If memory serves it was ease of use, it's a long time since I've seen the magazine. Perhaps someone still has the magazine, I remember it was an American publication.

Originally Posted by SiThSpAwN

I am sure some planes were better designed for pilot function than others, I am sure that's what they mean with that.

Yes that does make sense thanks.

[mazex]

Originally Posted by taildraggernut

Explain this one, I thought if it had a seat and controls it was pilot compatible.

Now you think like Willy Messerschmitt

/mazex

[tintifaxl]

Of course it was the Tempest! Clostermann flew them.

[6S.Manu]

Originally Posted by Moggy

It all depends on what you want to do with the aircraft. According to 1 magazine I read a few years ago, they came up with the P-47 (based on 4 mission criteria) as the best overall aircraft of the European theatre and the Hellcat in the Pacific theatre.

I found the list and the criteria...

Constant production improvement in combat capability
Four mission capability (air to air, air to ground troop support, bomber escort and photo recon)
Pilot compatibility
Service record

7. P-38 Lightning
6. BF-109
5. Yak-1 and Yak-9
4. P-51 Mustang
3. Spitfire/Seafire
2. FW-190
1. P-47

I agree with this list but I would ignore the service record (who's the enemy?).

But I don't see the Tempest, that in IL2 1946 it's probably the best plane out there.

And before anybody comes claiming the uber IL2's 109s, think about the G6...

[pstyle]

This reminds me of those silly "10 most dangerous fish" programmes on discovery channel

[fruitbat]

Ha, if you went by il2, then it would be the La7B20

[CWMV]

Originally Posted by 6S.Manu

,,,

And before anybody comes claiming the uber IL2's 109s, think about the G6...

Oh man.
I love me some 109's, but that G-6...it makes baby jesus cry.

[fruitbat]

yeah, but its extra satisfying when you shoot down someone flying a spit25lbs in one

[carguy_]

Originally Posted by CWMV

Oh man.
I love me some 109's, but that G-6...it makes baby jesus cry.

The G6 is known for separating men from boys. You don`t like the plane, so you know who you are

[klem]

I met Eric Brown about a month ago, what a remarkable, unaffected and nice man. In the time available he took us from late war aircraft through to post-war. He told us, unprompted, "if I had to choose which of all the WWII propeller aircraft to fly [in combat] it would be the Spitfire MkXIV, the FW190D-9 then probably the Mustang IV in that order". In the link he says P51D but he told us Mustang IV. He did also mention "the beautiful Macchi C205".

I asked him what made the difference for him between the Spit and the FW. He said "the maneouvrability of the Spitfire, but the FW had a very high rate of roll" which old IL-2 '46 hands here will already know. He had previously mentioned the stall/spin characteristic of the FW.

It was hard to believe I was talking to the man who had flown so many aircraft including first Wildcat carrier landing for the RAF, deck-landing Mosquitos (!! approved, but too late for WWII/Jets), Me262, Me163, Me162... most get a mention in that link......and on and on. You may have seen the demonstration on 'Discovery'/'History' channels of the German scientist dropping a single drop of both T-Stoff and C-Stoff onto a small dish and the resultant explosion. He said the demo he was given blew the pipettes out of the scientists hands. This was the mixture that powered the Me163.

I'm halfway through his book at the moment. Signed of course

My overfall best Aircraft? Me262 if it could have been reliable. I think that was Eric's feeling too subject to the realities of engine life, slow acceleration making it vulnerable around the airfields, etc.. As he said, it was 100mph faster than any allied aircraft, what could you do?

Best propeller aircfraft? I'm not going to argue with Mr Brown. I was very fond of the FW190D-9 in IL-2 and we often made low level fast GA runs in the Mustang IV.