Stability and Control characteristics of the Early Mark Spitfires

[Sandstone]

Originally Posted by Crumpp

In fact, the Hurricane was the real workhorse and an airplane the Bf-109 pilot should respect. Why?

The Hurricane was a very stable and maneuverable aircraft. Air combat is not about fancy flying on a warm sunny day. It is about getting bullets on a target. The Hurricane did not have the convergence issues and was an airplane the average pilot could quickly get guns on target as well as accurately shoot from to destroy his opponent.

Air combat is often about speed and climb rate. The Hurricane was effective against bombers but less so against the Bf-109 simply because it was significantly slower and had a poorer rate of climb than the German aircraft. I hope you aren't trying to argue that the pitch sensitivity of the early Spitfire actually made it less effective against fighters than the Hurricane. That would be a very odd thing to be claiming.