Stability and Control characteristics of the Early Mark Spitfires

[taildraggernut]

Originally Posted by ATAG_Dutch

Yes, but release the yoke and the Cessna returns to normal flight due to its stability.

exactly and you get very tired very quickly wrestling a stable aircraft around the sky.

Two of the most manoeuvrable fighters today are perfectly stables: Mig29 and Su27.

the 29 is practically obsolete, the 29's inherent stability is why it no longer competes against modern fighters, and the 27 is fly-by-wire.

I don't see why a pilot would want an unstable aircraft especially in pitch when you have to do lengthy flight in clouds, bad weather or simply T.O at dusk

mainly because it gives the edge in a dogfight because of the increased maneverability, I'm fairly sure flying in cloud is not a high priority in fighter design.