Spitfire IX

[fiddlinjim]

WOW, I have been flying the Spitfire IX and when equipped with the optional clipped wings, gyro gun sight, mirror and the Merlin engine it is

a top notch fighter.   Looking forward to a career with it in Bodenplatte..  

 

[Jade_Monkey]

It's truly a joy to fly! The 2x 50 cals are really effective, i barely need the cannons.

 

It seems like a lot of people refer to the modification as "the merlin engine" when in fact both options are Merlin engines.

The default is the Merlin 66 for lower altitudes and the modification is the Merlin 70 for high alt.

[D3adCZE]

Frankly, as much as I'd love to love the spitfire, it is too slow for me and have too low E retention. When I try to use it like E fighter, every even mediocre skilled pilot in 109 G14 will make minced meat from me without problem. La5FN is much better in this regard, imho.

[Blackhawk_FR]

Spitfire is may be a bit slower but it keeps its energy very well and climb well also. A "mediocre" pilot on G14 will have a lot of difficulties against the Mk9.

 

Few days ago on Berloga I saw someone saying "it's way harder to fight with the Spitfire compare to 109". I laughed so hard  

[Finkeren]

The Spitfire does take some careful piloting. Especially when taking a shot. The pitch axis is so sensitive that you need a perfectly steady hand to be able to hit anything.

 

Still, overall there can be no doubt, that the Spit fits better with the way your average stick-yanking inexperienced sim pilot fights.

 

In a Spit mk. IX vs. 109 G14 scenario, I would say, that with two mediocre pilots, the Spit has a clear advantage, but with two experienced pilots the balance shifts towards the 109, because its overall greater performance begins to matter more. 

[HR_Zunzun]

1 hour ago, CSAF-D3adCZE said:

Frankly, as much as I'd love to love the spitfire, it is too slow for me and have too low E retention. When I try to use it like E fighter, every even mediocre skilled pilot in 109 G14 will make minced meat from me without problem. La5FN is much better in this regard, imho.

 

It is sensitive on the elevators but if you are careful it is superb in energy fighting. Climb performance is stellar and will make up any mistake you make in burning energy.

[FTC_Riksen]

Yup. The Spit is a great plane. In Berloga, it is really easy to get 3-4 kills before you either run out of ammo or have to ... errr ... bail. Anyways, I see a lot of Bf-109 pilots either have no ideia on how to use their planes, don't understand the concept of energy, or simply overestimate their machine. I'm not talking about Berloga here but it is very common to see 109s trying to turn fight spits and yaks, trying to climb on you with lower energy, or even diving when you arr already too close hoping to escape.

[Blackhawk_FR]

Berloga is a good sandbox to try things like find out how to dogfight a Spitfire (not with B&Z I mean). 

 

Well, I find out it's impossible. While you can still do something against Yak.

[Stryker07]

I love the Spit 9, it seems like a more powerful but slightly less nimble (relatively speaking) version of the Spit 5. The weapons are potent, and double the load of 20mm ammo is a welcome addition. I do find the both of them insanely difficult to land well, but I am getting better will lots and lots of practice. 

 

With the average fight being down low, I am of the mind the P-38 is going to surprise people. It's happy place is med altitude, and it's got combat flaps to help with the instantaneous turn rate, and it's center mounted guns are going to be an absolute beast. I don't have as much hope for the Mustang or Thunderbolt in this regard, mixing it up down low. Not counting Russian birds, the Spitfire, Tempest, and P-38 will be the mounts of choice in the low-med altitude realm.

[Eicio]

There will be no reason for high altitude fights since there is no bombers involved and I bet that most of the fights will occur at low alt and medium alt since it's always good to have more energy than the ennemy. I guess that, in MP, the p38 will be found at high altitude, eager to surprise the 109s that like to have the highest "ground", the P38 will have to get the energy advantage if it wants to survive.