Why is the Spitfire so loved?

A symbol of victory. The Spitfire is the most famous plane of World War Two. Its groundbreaking design and superior specifications gave the British a decisive advantage fighting the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain.

Why was the Spitfire the best?

The Spitfire's famous elliptical wing with sunken rivets to have the thinnest possible cross-section gave the aircraft a higher top speed than most other fighters of the time. These wings also made the Spitfire one of the most agile fighters in the sky, giving them the advantage with one-on-one battles.

Is the Spitfire the most beautiful plane ever?

SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE

Easily the most famous aircraft in the history of the British empire, it is our pick for the most beautiful airplane of all time. The Spitfire had a simple and spare fuselage, particularly the versions before the bubble canopy was added, but the wing's the thing—the Spitfire's trademark.

Why is Spitfire more popular than Hurricane?

It is pretty simple. Right from their inception, the Spitfire was a significantly more advanced platform than the Hurricane, having better initial all-around performance & hugely greater growth potential.

Why the Spitfire was the best fighter of WW2?

The Spitfire Mk. XIV was faster than any other piston engine aircraft bar the Ta 152, its manoeuvrability was outstanding, it could perform exceptionally at any altitude and its rate of climb was stupendous. Its short range made it unsuitable for escort missions but in a straight fight it was simply very hard to beat.

How The Spitfire Became An Aviation Masterpiece | The Birth Of A Legend | Timeline

Was the Spitfire the best fighter of WW2?

The Spitfire is the most famous plane of World War Two. Its groundbreaking design and superior specifications gave the British a decisive advantage fighting the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. But early models were often cruelly exposed in head-to-head duels with the enemy.

What was the most feared plane in WW2?

Junkers Ju87 Widely known as the “Stuka”, the Ju87 was one of the most feared aircraft during World War Two. It had a fearsome siren which terrified those who heard it.

What did Luftwaffe pilots think of the Spitfire?

After flying high over Britain in the Spitfire, Broch heaped praise on his former adversary's formidable fighter plane: “The Spitfire was greatly respected. With these machines you have a feeling of being free, and being able to do what you want.”

What was the fatal flaw of the Spitfire?

The Spitfire's original engine couldn't handle barrel rolls. The throttle valve would get flooded with fuel as the plane turned upside-down. German pilots quickly caught on to this particular flaw because black smoke would puff out of the Spitfire whenever it flipped over.

What was the best plane in ww2?

The Bf 109 was arguably the best fighter in the world in 1940. 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.

What was the coolest looking plane of ww2?

Supermarine Spitfire

One of the iconic symbols of WWII, thanks in no small part to its beautiful elliptical wings – the Spitfire was loved by its pilots. A beautiful machine. Built for speed, maneuverability and ease of flight, the Supermarine Spitfire's design also proved supremely adaptable.

What is the prettiest plane of all time?

Which plane was better Spitfire or Mustang?

In it's main role, the Mustang proved itself as a superb escort fighter in Allied bombing raids over Germany. For this role, the American aircraft didn't really need the Spitfire's versatile performance. Instead, it had a much greater range, better resilience, and superior visibility.

What do Americans think of the Spitfire?

American pilots admired the Spitfire a lot for its remarkable handling. The Spitfire had a long line of good breeding from the early years and the Rolls Royce Engine did not give that performance overnight.

What ww2 fighter has the most kills?

It is in this apparent absence of this vital information, people have laid claim that the better documented Mustang (attributed 5599 kills) and the Hellcat (a very precise 5173 kills) are the top-scoring aircraft.

What is a Spitfire woman?

noun. a person, especially a girl or woman, who is of fiery temper and easily provoked to outbursts.

Did the Soviets like the Spitfire?

Soviet pilots liked them but they did not suit Soviet combat tactics and the rough conditions at the forward airfields close to the front lines. Spitfires Mk. IXs were therefore assigned to air defense units, using the high altitude performance to intercept and pursue German bombers and reconnaissance aircraft.

What was the life expectancy of Spitfire pilots in ww2?

However, while it was the superior machine of the skies, the Spitfires would have been nothing without the brave members the Royal Air Force that piloted them. The average life expectancy of a Spitfire pilot during the Battle of Britain was just four weeks.

What was the Spitfires nemesis?

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was matched only by the Supermarine Spitfire. It was the Luftwaffe's only single seat fighter for the first few years of the Second World War and the RAF's nemesis during the Battle of Britain.

What plane did the Germans fear the most?

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

Who was the deadliest Luftwaffe pilot?

While serving in Germany's Luftwaffe in World War II, Erich Hartmann flew more than 1,400 missions in the Messerschmitt Bf 109, enabling him to score an astonishing 352 kills.

Was the mosquito faster than the Spitfire?

During its trials on 16 January 1941, W4050 outpaced a Spitfire at 6,000 ft (1,800 m). The original estimates were that as the Mosquito prototype had twice the surface area and over twice the weight of the Spitfire Mk. II, but also with twice its power, the Mosquito would end up being 20 mph (30 km/h) faster.

What was the worst fighter plane ever?

F7U Cutlass (320)

A wide but underpowered jet with an idiosyncratic tail design, the Cutlass was widely disliked by its operators. A quarter of the Cutlass production order were destroyed in accidents, costing the lives of dozens of pilots and crew.

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.