Is the Messerschmitt better than the Spitfire?

Is the Messerschmitt better than the Spitfire?

It was faster than the Spitfire at high altitude, could dive more rapidly and carried a more effective armament of two cannon and two machine guns. However, the Messerschmitt did not have the range to fly beyond London and carried only seven seconds worth of cannon ammunition, which limited its operational usefulness.

Are Spitfires easy to fly?

If everything is done correctly, the Spitfire is one of the easiest aircraft to start. The engine usually fires within two blades and runs like a clock. While the Merlin-engine versions run very smoothly, the larger Griffon-engine machines feel as if they are angry.

How long did it take to learn to fly a Spitfire?

On average it took between 18 months to two years (200-320 flying hours). The pathway taken to becoming a pilot also changed during the course of the war.

What speed does a Spitfire fly at?

369 mph
Supermarine Spitfire/Top speed

What fuel does a Spitfire use?

As far as WW2 is concerned the Spitfire (or rather its Merlin engine) used 100 or higher octane fuels. The use of 100 octane fuel, with certain restrictions, was approved for the Spitfire on 24 September 1938, a year before the war.

How far could a Spitfire Glide?

The spitfire has one of the best lift to drag ratios in the world, and a glide ratio of around 13:1. That means it can travel 13 meters forward for each meter it falls, when gliding. That means that a Spitfire at low altitude, ie, a km or three high, could glide for 10, 20, 30km before landing.

What was the Messerschmitt Bf 109 used for?

Messerschmitt Bf 109. The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a German World War II fighter aircraft that was, along with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, the backbone of the Luftwaffe’s fighter force. The Bf 109 first saw operational service in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War and was still in service at the dawn of the jet age at the end of World War II in 1945.

What was the difference between the Spitfire and the Bf 109?

The Spitfire’s advantages were its tighter turning circle and faster turn rate, which allowed it to outmanoeuvre the Bf 109 in the horizontal plane. But the Bf 109, owing to its higher climb rate, could sustain climbing turns that the Spitfire was unable to keep up with.

Why did Messerschmitt put guns in the nose of the plane?

Willy Messerschmitt always wanted his fighter to be “a true application of light construction principles”. By mounting the guns in the nose and attaching the cantilever undercarriage to the fuselage rather than the wings, he could make use of a small, simple, low-drag wing that could be detached easily for maintenance and road transport.

Why did Spitfires not fly in cold weather?

The Spitfire’s machine guns tended to freeze solid from the cold at high altitudes (this issue also affected Hurricanes). Initially, Fighter Command had Spitfires take off with adhesive tape covering the gunports in order to prevent the condensation from entering and icing the gun barrels. This did not always work.