Stability and Control characteristics of the Early Mark Spitfires

[Holtzauge]

OK, I see the problem now: What Crumpp fails to understand is that while the actual stick movement is small, figures 17 and 18 show that the pilot uses between 10-20 lb of pull to HOLD the turn. If one looks at the force histogram its apparent that a relatively constant pull force is needed to keep the plane in the turn. So no increased pull force no increased load factor. Wherein lies the big problem? What would be troublesome would be if there was a need to apply a push force or substantial unloading in order not to tighten up the turn once it had been initiated. However, the histogram shows no such tendencies i.e. the behaviour looks quite benevolent.

Maybe this is also why we on the one hand have numerous accounts from pilots who actually flew the Spitfire and appreciated it and on the other have a private pilot armchair expert who is of a different opinion based on a myopic and selective interpretation of data.