Re: Response to Glider and Juha.
A couple of points.
It is a serious mistake to equate lower turn radius as being the same as agility, it isn't. In 1941 Fw 190's were all over the Spit V which clearly had the tighter turn radius.
Its also a mistake to only rely on calculations mentioned when thinking about turn rate as in the real world other factors come into play such as roll rate. Before you turn you have to lift the wings. An example, I flew gliders for many years and would defy any powered aircraft to stay with me in a turn. However the roll rate seemed to be almost as bad as an airliner so I would not be able to stay behind a Cessna as they would start turning well before me.
Another reason for not just relying on calculations when thinking about the real world is design. A bomber is designed to be stable and in particular an IL 2 that spent most of its time at very low altitude had to be stable in the rough air you get at that height. A fighter has a different basic design requirement, to be quick in responding to the controls and light to the touch.
Other factors important to agility include acceleration and drag, both of which I would expect to be in the Typhoons favour.
At the end of the day if you seriously believe that a Typhoon in less agile than an IL 2 then thats your choice
Speed of the attack. Interesting question but as most attacks were dive bombing attacks in an aircraft without dive brakes in an aircraft well known for its speed in a dive, you are going to be coming down at a rate of knots. Escape was at low altitude and at full boost after the dive so 400+ on the way out is understandable. I have read reports where a pilot realised that he was touching 500 mph in the dive which was unwise.
Do you know the attack speed of an IL 2? it would be interesting to know this.
Vulnerability to light AA weapons isn't known, but we do know that the 20mm would penetrate all areas of both aircraft with the exception of a high deflection hit on certain parts of the IL 2. I have admitted that the IL would probably be able to take more hits than the Typhoon but would be more likely to be hit.
Are you saying that you believe that on average the IL2 would take less hits than a Typhoon?
Which brings me on to the last point you made.
I believe that I said that I considered that the factors of higher speed vs slower larger targets would probably balance out. I certainly could be wrong on this, but its an unknown as they didn't fight in the same area of battle. It seems a sensible, fair statement, without bias to either aircraft which no one has questioned.
Do you have any views?
Edit
If it helps in tests between the Fw190 and the Typhoon there was little if any difference in their turn. Hope this helps
Last edited by glider1; 20th May 2011 at 23:37.
Reason: Turning ability of the Typhoon
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