Spitfire supposed to dive better than the 109?

[ATAG_Dutch]

Originally Posted by jf1981

It should be stated that apparently, the controls were too heavy at such high speed, one could get out of the dive through use of the trim tab.

Originally Posted by ATAG_Snapper

Dutch gave me the heads up that the Spits can now go in excess of 420 IAS without falling apart, which I'll have to try out.

Both true. In fact when I did my dive tests, I pulled out using the trimmer exclusively. In the high speed dives, I need a lot of down trim and a lot of rudder trim, but got up to at least 440mph, maybe 450, but by that time I was more concerned with where the ground was.

P.S. I also brought prop pitch down to fully coarse, i.e. lowest revs.

[jf1981]

Originally Posted by ATAG_Dutch

Both true. In fact when I did my dive tests, I pulled out using the trimmer exclusively. In the high speed dives, I need a lot of down trim and a lot of rudder trim, but got up to at least 440mph, maybe 450, but by that time I was more concerned with where the ground was.

P.S. I also brought prop pitch down to fully coarse, i.e. lowest revs.

Yes but I think they messed also on the aircraft, there's no reason to need rudder trim in such a dive.

[SG1_Gunkan]

The real 109 just need to roll during a normal dive and the Spitfire couldn't follow him. Was so hard for spitfires pilots that they even need using the rudder. But, at the same time this was dangerous and some pilots died because the wings twisted and broke.

I remeber have read too some problems with fabric controls surfaces.

Please correct me if i am wrong or inaccurate.

[CaptainDoggles]

Originally Posted by SG1_Gunkan

The real 109 just need to roll during a normal dive and the Spitfire couldn't follow him. Was so hard for spitfires pilots that they even need using the rudder. But, at the same time this was dangerous and some pilots died because the wings twisted and broke.

I remeber have read too some problems with fabric controls surfaces.

Please correct me if i am wrong or inaccurate.

I think the wing-flexing issue was corrected in later marks.

[Triggaaar]

The 109 was quicker into a dive than the Spit, but the Spit wasn't known for breaking up at high speed.