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Top speeds of WWII Fighter Planes.
- Thread starter Doc
- Start date
I’d have never guessed the Corsair to be so fast. I would have presumed the P51 would have out paced it by a long shot.
Back in the old days I loved building plane models of the WWII fighters. Never realized how wrong I was on the speeds. Didn’t know any of them would break 400mph, least of all one with a big fat beak.
Back in the old days I loved building plane models of the WWII fighters. Never realized how wrong I was on the speeds. Didn’t know any of them would break 400mph, least of all one with a big fat beak.
What gets my attention is that the 4 fastest birds were all from the United States of America!!!! 
PJL
Well-known member
In the battle of Britain the Germans had very limited fuel once they were over England. The Brits could rearm and refuel very quickly.
The Hurricanes could turn tighter than the 109's.
That and Hitler was running the show and he knew nothing about military tactics. Luckily for the Allies.
The Hurricanes could turn tighter than the 109's.
That and Hitler was running the show and he knew nothing about military tactics. Luckily for the Allies.
There is nothing more vicious than a man defending his home and family. Hitler underestimated the stubborn grit of the British airmen defending their homelands. The ME 109's were faster and more maneuverable. Except coming in hampered with the weight of bomb loads. But the Germans had to face clouds of determined Spitfires as they entered, and as they left England.
The attrition, on both sides, was enormous.
The Spitfire held the advantage, More HP by almost double, and higher operational ceiling. A faster climb rate despite being being heavier. In truth, the better aircraft in a dog fight.
Stats here
Spitfire vs Bf-109 – Comparison – BVR – Dogfight (aviatia.net)
A good analogy would be road rage battle between a one ton Dodge diesel pickup and a Ford Mustang convertible.
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Just curious, was that in wide use by the British military in the later years of the war? I wonder if the chart, which really is very basic, is providing data for the most common model? The initial model produced, etc?
Kurgan
Member
Absolutely. But the difference is still very impressive. Especially for the Zero which was so feared in its heyday. Something else comes to my mind now. How many kills, per produced aircraft. ChatGPT tells this and it's almost reversed speed list.