Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Six Nifty .50s
Air resistance varies according to height and which greatly affects speed and acceleration. Different results were obtained when diving planes from 28,000 feet as opposed to 40,000 feet. There is nothing ridiculous about it.
|
Speed of sound is constant and always Mach=1. It is a proportion of speed of desired object to speed of sound at given parameters - u/a.
Aim of tests was to find an aircraft with highest speed it could achieve in relation to speed of sound , ie. Mcr. So if aircraft achieved its Mcr at dive from 28,000 ft, putting it on 40,000 ft would not change anything.
Quote:
|
Yet in actual combat the Spitfire's dive acceleration and ability to overtake a German fighter was much inferior to the Thunderbolt. I've yet to find a single German pilot who said otherwise.
|
Perhaps, but analysis of known records concerning 1943 combats does not support thesis of Thunderbolt's superiority.
Quote:
|
Again this is misleading. Any fighter, including jets, could be caught from behind in a dive if the attacker's speed was higher before the victim tried to escape.
|
Nope, I am not talking about surprising attack but prolonged chase.
Quote:
|
Many RAF and Luftwaffe aces who commented on escape tactics said that diving was the most common and successful means of escape from a pursuing Spitfire. I've yet to find any pilots who disagreed with their consensus, which was backed up after the British tested captured German fighters.
|
It was occassionally reported by pilots that the German aircraft are not that fasr in dive, eg. during Circus 138, Sgt(?) Karol Sumara of 316 Sqn noted that F.W.190 cannot outdive Spitfire - it was him, who was bounced.
A very interesting is analysis of pilots' opinions after test flying of clipped wing Spitfire. It shows, what is the value of accounts and opinions in general.