Spit/109 sea level speed comparisons in 1.08 beta patch

[JtD]

Originally Posted by Kurfürst

That's an unsustained turn. What you forget that in an unsustained turn, the 109 will still loose less speed than the Spit at high speeds, because the basics (=more excess thrust) did not change.

No, this isn't necessarily an unsustained turn. The same way the 109 has to give up level speed to turn, the Spitfire has, and for each change in turn rate, the speed loss of the 109 is higher, or for each loss of speed, the Spitfires turn rate change is larger. If the 109 settles at a load factor or turn rate, the Spitfire can do the same, at a lower speed.

It really sums up to that the 109's biggest advantage is in flying straight and level, it will remain competitive throughout the high & medium speed range, with the advantage always decreasing. All this, mind you, at sea level against a 6.25lb boosted Spitfire I, which is as good as it gets for the 109.