What Was A Better Plane Spitfire Or P-51 Mustang?

In most cases, the Spitfire had better performance as an all-purpose fighter. The all-important climb rate for a P51D sat at 3200ft per minute whilst the Spitfire could climb at an impressive 3650ft per minute. The maximum speed of a P51D was 437mph whilst the Spitfire was slightly faster at 448mph.

Was the P-51 Mustang the best plane in ww2?

The sleek P-51 Mustang is perhaps the best all-around fighter of World War II. In 1939, British officials approached North American Aviation in desperate need of additional aircraft for the war in Europe. Just 117 days after the order was placed, the first P-51 was rolled out of the factory.

Did the Spitfire and P-51 have the same engine?

Both the Spitfire and the P-51 Mustang, two of the best fighters of World War II, were powered by the iconic Merlin engine.

What was considered the best fighter plane of ww2?

The most capable fighter of WWII was the American F4U-4 Corsair carrier-based fighter-bomber, designed and produced by Chance Vought. Between 1942 and 1953 more than 12,500 aircraft were manufactured. The fighter combined good maneuverability, very dangerous armament (six .

Was the Spitfire the best plane?

The Spitfire is undoubtedly one of the most famous aircraft in the world. Commonly referred to as the plane that won the Battle and Britain, the Spitfire has earned itself, and their pilots, masses of respect.

What plane did German pilots fear the most?

They called it a ‘fork-tailed devil. ‘ Key point: The P-38 was a forerunner of modern multi-role fighters.

What was America’s best plane in ww2?

The long-range P-51 Mustang fighter was invaluable to the Allied victory, enabling resumption of strategic bombing after heavy losses suffered by unescorted bombers in 1943. Developed for export to Britain, models modified by the British to use Rolls-Royce Merlin engines became America’s most capable wartime fighters.

Which was faster Mustang or Spitfire?

The Mustang was also much quicker than the Spitfire, with a much longer combat range. The Mustang also flew much higher than the Spitfire, giving it a noticeable advantage. North American also equipped the Mustang with more weaponry, as well as a much faster climb rate.

What was the fastest plane in ww2?

Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet
Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet
The fastest aircraft to see any combat in WWII was the Messerschmitt Me 163, which set an airspeed record of 702 mph in 1944 (although this record was not recognized by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale due to its secrecy during the war).

What was Japan best fighter plane in ww2?

The Ki-84 is generally considered the best Japanese fighter to operate in large numbers during the conflict. The aircraft boasted high speed and excellent maneuverability with an armament (up to two 30 mm and two 20 mm cannon) that gave it formidable firepower.

What plane shot down most in WW2?

It is accurate to state that the P-38 did shoot down more Japanese aircraft than any other USAAF plane with 1,857, with the P-40 running a close second at 1,633.5.

What plane got the most kills in WW2?

What fighter plane has the most kills in WW2? The BF-109. It’s credited with at least 20,000 kills and could possibly be as high as 30,000.

What was the weakest WW2 plane?

The product of an ambitious designer and a doomed regime, the Bachem Ba 349 Natter was a radical idea that almost worked. In 1945 Austria, after the German surrender, a U.S. engineer lifts the hinged canopy of a captured Bachem Ba 349 to take a look inside the cockpit.

Did a Spitfire ever fight a zero?

RAAF, & I think RAF, Spitfires fought the Zero over northern Australia, e.g. at Darwin, & RAF & RIAF Spitfires fought the Zero in NE India & Burma. Initially, the Spitfires performed poorly. Their pilots were accustomed to being able to dogfight successfully, & it was unwise to engage in turning fights with Zeroes.

What was the most famous plane in ww2?

The P-51 is widely regarded as the finest all-around piston-engined fighter of World War II to have been produced in significant numbers. Approximately 1,500 Merlin-powered Mustangs were used by the RAF for daylight duties over Europe, and the plane was produced under license in Australia toward the end of the war.

What was the best German ww2 plane?

1. Messerschmitt Bf 109. By far the most successful German plane of the war, the Me 109 made up the plurality of German fighter planes throughout much of the war.

Who is the deadliest pilot in history?

Erich Hartmann
20 May 2022. Erich Hartmann, sometimes referred to as the ‘Black Devil’, is the deadliest fighter pilot in history, having downed 352 Allied planes during World War Two over the course of some 1,400 missions.

Who has shot down the most enemy aircraft?

Erich Hartmann is the most successful fighter pilot of all times – with 352 kills. A number that will never be surpassed.

What is the hardest plane to pilot?

The hardest planes to fly include personal aircraft such as the wildly popular Cessna 150/152, Cessna 162, and the Luscombe Silvaire. The hardest commercial aircraft to fly is the BAC Concorde. And the hardest plane to fly in the world is the US military-used U-2 Spy Plane.

What is the best war plane ever?

The 18 greatest fighter aircraft of all time

• F6F Hellcat.
• F-4U Corsair.
• MiG-15.
• F-86 Sabre.
• F-4 Phantom.
• MiG-21.
• F-14 Tomcat.
• F-15 Eagle. Eagles made dogfighting history during Operation Desert Storm, primarily because of their superior weapons suite, including state-of-the-art (at the time) identification capability.

How many P 51 Mustangs shot down?

Losses were about 2,520 aircraft. The 8th Air Force’s 4th Fighter Group was the top-scoring fighter group in Europe, with 1,016 enemy aircraft claimed destroyed.