Kurfürst - Bf 109 Performance Resource site UPDATEs

[ICDP]

Kurfurst is a great source for material for the 109 and Spitfireperformance is a great source period. The problem is that both sources are provided by blatantly biased people. The best course of action is to find many sources and come to your own conclussions. Be carefull reading books that don't show the original source, they tend to guote the same source (usually a wrong one). For example the Bf109G6 in clean condition should reach about 400mph but is very often shown as having a top speed of 386mph.

From my experience over the years on various sites Buzzsaw is blatantly biased (think Red Kurfurst). He is one of those people who makes ridiculous claims that in genreal Allied AC in IL2 are porked and Axis AC are overmodelled (see above for evidence of this). Remember to filter out the massive bias some people have on these forums and you can use their sources with other sources to make an informed opinion.

The truth is that ALL aircraft in IL2 have problems that are nothing to do with conspiracy theories or bias from the developers. The simple answer is that there are so many AC in IL2 that people will always find fault and conclude their favourite plane is porked on purpose. One of the biggest mistakes is to read one or two pilot reports that show little or no detail more than "I easily turned inside the 109 with my P51 and shot it down" and expect the exact same outcome every time in IL2. This is a bad move because from the original report you need to know the following. At what alt was the engagement? At what speed was the engagement? What type of 109? What was the relative pilots capabilities? (something that can rarely be known). Did the 109 have gunpods? On many occasions in IL2 I outturned a 109 in a P51, or a Spitfire in an Fw190A but I know that that is only possible given the right set of circumstances and in no way does it make it always true. So if you get outturned or outclimbed in a suposedly inferior AC then ask three simple questions. 1. Did I missjudge our relative energy states. 2. Did I underestimate the other pilot? 3. How did I mess up? This is easier said than done bcause the natural reaction is to never blame yourself for losing!

In short, read many different sources to eliminate natural bias. Learn to recognise bias (not everone is as blatant as Kurfurst or Buzzsaw). Pilot accounts are a great read but tell next to nothing about relative performance because most variables are left out.