It all started fine and dandy, but then... (new youtube movie by me)

[unreasonable]

Originally Posted by Freycinet

By the way, when did I turn into the fire of the 109? I felt I was just hunkering down behind the armour plating to be honest! (When I wasn't looking behind me... - I can guarantee I wouldn't have put my head out in the bullet stream in real life!)

At 17.34 and 20.02.

The first time was when you were first attacked by the 2nd 109 on your 6, slightly to your right. The tracers go past the cockpit on your right, you turn into them and are hit. You are now toast. The second occasion you get away with it as the the 109 looks as though it is firing a bit high.

On the radiator thing... I do not know exactly how much difference it makes on a Spitfire (I usually fly the 109s), but certainly a few mph, perhaps more at high speed. Higher speed = more airflow = more cooling, so the radiator can be progressively closed = less drag = higher speed!

Since speed = options there is really never any reason deliberately to slow right down in combat. Avoid overshooting by yo-yoing instead. You then get a series of deflection shots so you may not make the kill if you aim is off, but you always have the energy to break away if an unwanted visitor shows up.