Spit IIa

[Crumpp]

The spitfire had issues but then so does every aeroplane.

Sure, no aircraft is perfect but very few safe designs have unacceptable stability and control. It is a fact that the stability and control of the Spitfire was unacceptable, resulted in fatalities, and bob weights were installed. Those issues should be modeled as they very much effect the relative dog fighting capability of these aircraft.

The major point being made on the stall is the engineering tradeoff for that large amount of stall warning in the form of early and hard buffeting is a reduction in turn rate before Clmax is reached.

The pilots notes (MKI anyway) mention is made in the Accelerated (or high speed) stall that if not quickly corrected could lead to structural damage.

A spin by definition requires an accelerated stall.

Err yes, 36 years professional flying,

How many different kinds of aircraft? Try to think of one that repeats the warnings found in the Spitfire Mk I Operating Notes. Those warnings are all characteristics of unacceptable stick fixed longitudinal stability.

Just because something doesn't comply to a standard doesn't mean it lacks merit, it just means it doesn't comply to a standard.

In this case the standard is a little higher. It is not about comfort but rather what will cause the death of a pilot and what will not.

The longitudinal stick fixed stability of the Spitfire was unacceptable because it could kill the pilot. In fact, it did kill and bob weights were installed on the aircraft in response.