Spitfire V Mustang
Cunning Artificer
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The very fact that you asked means you'll never understand
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Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder
Having read all the above thoughts mine are that the Spitfire, seen airborne, is marvellous and on the ground I prefer the Mustang. I am influenced by the recent Brietling adverts showing what I assume to be a Reno Air Race Mustang, totally chrome plated and well photographed to show it to best advantage.
Last edited by A2QFI; 5th Nov 2009 at 14:57. Reason: typos
"I'd bet that most pilots would prefer to fly a Spitfire for a display, but if going to war they would pick the Mustang."
GPMG - I was perched in the cockpit of a P-51 asking some lucky sod current on both types that exact question. His response was simple - take off, display, land with no holding on the ground or crosswind the Spit wins. However, any display away from Homeplate and he'd always take the P-51. It doesn't overheat on the ground, has excellent VFR reserves of gas, can be trimmed to fly hands-off and is much nicer in a X-Wind. Almost sounds like the different design philosophy between an interceptor and an escort fighter doesn't it?
Thread drift, I know, but as well as looks, what about the sound? The gunport shreik of the P-51 puts my hairs on end...
GPMG - I was perched in the cockpit of a P-51 asking some lucky sod current on both types that exact question. His response was simple - take off, display, land with no holding on the ground or crosswind the Spit wins. However, any display away from Homeplate and he'd always take the P-51. It doesn't overheat on the ground, has excellent VFR reserves of gas, can be trimmed to fly hands-off and is much nicer in a X-Wind. Almost sounds like the different design philosophy between an interceptor and an escort fighter doesn't it?
Thread drift, I know, but as well as looks, what about the sound? The gunport shreik of the P-51 puts my hairs on end...
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I think it's a bit like a programme I saw years ago (the world about us ??) about the Confederate Air Force - one of the 'Colonels' was asked the same question - his answer 'They are all like beautiful women, they're all beautiful - just in different ways'
I like that answer................
Arc
I like that answer................
Arc
Gnome de PPRuNe
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I am influenced by the recent Brietling adverts showing what I assume to be a Reno Air Race Mustang, totally chrome plated and well photographed to show it to best advantage.
Arclite01, I've just been given a poor quality DVD with what sounds like that programme on - I think it's called "Colonel Culpepper's Flying Circus" and was presented by Ian Wooldridge. Good programme.
It's interesting that the Spitfire, like most aircraft is generally regarded as having lost some if it's looks as the design developed. Yet the Mustang seems to have done the opposite.
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Fit for Purpose
Blame 'Jim' as I wasn't going to bite. R J Mitchell started with small flying boats with the Supermarine Baby in 1917. This was the forerunner, with a better engine and name, of the Sea Lion MkII which won the Schneider Trophy in 1922 as a single-seat biplane. While the move to float planes, with the S-6b in 1931, lead to the development of the Spitfire, 'RJ' also explored larger wooden-hulled flying boats. His Seal was renamed the Seagull and the MkIII was taken up by the Australian Fleet Air Arm in 1925. In the MkV, he added a one-step metal-hull, a pusher engine, retractable main wheels and the capacity to be catapulted from a ship. When the Aussies took 24 MkVs in 1934, even the Air Ministry took notice and the MkV became the Walrus.
Add impressive low speed handling and it explains how Walrus crews explored and developed the 'controlled crash technique' for SAR. This required the pilot to stall the seaplane onto a wave-top as close as possible to a survivor in the water, thus keeping the survivor in sight.
The 'Shagbat' was never pretty but I have met a Fulmar pilot who remained eternally grateful to one Walrus and its team that picked him out of the oggin, when no other ship was in sight. I believe that 'RJ' explored the edges of what was possible at the time and in the environment and I agree with Blacksheep. I suggest that it was this trait that he then applied to the Spitfire.
The Seagull V, appearance notwithstanding, was outstandingly manoeuvrable. "Mutt" Summers, Vickers' Chief Test Pilot, performed a full aerobatic routine including a loop at the 1933 Hendon display. It was discovered that the Seagull V had better water performance than any other flying boat, and could be operated in open ocean and rough seas one might not think such a small airplane could handle.
The 'Shagbat' was never pretty but I have met a Fulmar pilot who remained eternally grateful to one Walrus and its team that picked him out of the oggin, when no other ship was in sight. I believe that 'RJ' explored the edges of what was possible at the time and in the environment and I agree with Blacksheep. I suggest that it was this trait that he then applied to the Spitfire.
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on a purely subjective level,
to my eyes a spit (even late seafire variants) looks very much "of its time"
however, a late model mustang seems almost modern,
maybe a combination of the airscoop/teardrop canopy perhaps??
ohh, the F82 "twin mustang" is plain bonkers
to my eyes a spit (even late seafire variants) looks very much "of its time"
however, a late model mustang seems almost modern,
maybe a combination of the airscoop/teardrop canopy perhaps??
ohh, the F82 "twin mustang" is plain bonkers
Avoid imitations
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Damn- I left my map in the other cockpit... 
"I'd bet that most pilots would prefer to fly a Spitfire for a display, but if going to war they would pick the Mustang."
Only if they wanted to lose!
Range apart, the Spit IX (and subsequent Marks) had it all over the P-51D.
Manoeuvrability, armament (20-mm over 0.50 cal, please!), handling and battle damage tolerance.
The best US dogfighter of the War? The F6F Hellcat. How can I be so sure?
The SETP ran an interesting comparison between P-47, P-51, F4U and F6F, which were evaluated by modern TPs and the Mustang fared surprisingly poorly, with the unpredictable and vicious departure characteristics attracting negative comment, and the aircraft was rated as being a poor gunnery platform, too.
I'd kill for a photocopy of the article, or better yet a scan.....
"Couldn`t We create a hybrid of the two? Imagine that."
You don't need to imagine - the Spiteful was a Spit with a Mustang type laminar flow wing.
Only if they wanted to lose!
Range apart, the Spit IX (and subsequent Marks) had it all over the P-51D.
Manoeuvrability, armament (20-mm over 0.50 cal, please!), handling and battle damage tolerance.
The best US dogfighter of the War? The F6F Hellcat. How can I be so sure?
The SETP ran an interesting comparison between P-47, P-51, F4U and F6F, which were evaluated by modern TPs and the Mustang fared surprisingly poorly, with the unpredictable and vicious departure characteristics attracting negative comment, and the aircraft was rated as being a poor gunnery platform, too.
I'd kill for a photocopy of the article, or better yet a scan.....
"Couldn`t We create a hybrid of the two? Imagine that."
You don't need to imagine - the Spiteful was a Spit with a Mustang type laminar flow wing.
In terms of looks it's a no-brainer.
Think Ford Mustang (NA Mustang) v Aston Martin DB(any)(Supermarine Spitfire)
I'll take the Spit thanks!
In terms of everything else they are a gen apart but I would still take the Spit
Think Ford Mustang (NA Mustang) v Aston Martin DB(any)(Supermarine Spitfire)
I'll take the Spit thanks!
In terms of everything else they are a gen apart but I would still take the Spit
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Range apart, the Spit IX (and subsequent Marks) had it all over the P-51D.
Kinda difficult to separate that little characteristic from the overall performance.