[TheGrunch]

It seems like you're right. With various contemporary models of Spit and Fw 190 I found about a 0.5-1G advantage to the Spitfire (about, of course, it's hard to gauge, but holding for example the Spit LF IXc 25lbs at 8-8.5 Gs didn't tend to overstress over a period of just a few seconds where 8.5+ Gs did, while the Fw 190 A-9 overstressed at 8-8.5 Gs every time over similar periods of just a few seconds (2-3s) at these Gs. The Spit can hit higher Gs more easily accidentally with its lighter elevator, and regardless of this the Spit will eventually hear the overstress sound if 8+ Gs is held long enough. It's very hard to gauge, though, since these maneuvers must be very short and unsustainable by nature, and the sensitivity of the Spit's elevator makes it hard to hold a particular G loading. I was testing by diving to 650kph TAS from 5000m and pulling out.