The 'Great Debate' - Spitfire vs BF109

[Glider]

Originally Posted by Crumpp

Sure it is and you understand you don't fly in it for maximum turn performance.



Absolute 110% agree. You are absolute right.

It is easy to do in a stable airplane.

Clearly I have no experience in a Spit but I do have some in aerobatic gliders which are close to the edge. The best are borderline unstable as are fighters, it isn't difficult to recover and they also have very light controls. All you have to do is ease off the stick a touch and you will immediatly recover. Its an almost instinctive reaction.

Stable gliders and I assume fighters are hard work, the physical effort involved can be very tiring and that in itself can make flying close to the edge of the envelope difficult. Some of my first aerobatic lessons were done in a Twin Astir and you had to really haul it around, she was too stable. Close to the edge the lighter touch gives you a better 'feel' for what is going on with the aircraft.