What was the better plane Spitfire or zero?

They found that the Zero had a lower rated altitude than the Spitfire, 16 000 feet against 21 000 feet, which delivered the Spitfire a good speed advantage at height – it was 20 knots faster at 26 000 feet. The height advantage of the Spitfire VC was also shown by the British machine’s superior operational ceiling.

Why was the Spitfire so successful?

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.

Do fighter jets still use guns?

How often do modern fighter jets use their cannon? Almost never. Training is still done using them, but in air combat they are almost never used anymore. Missiles are far more practical with better range, accuracy, and damage.

Is the fw190 better than the Spitfire?

The new fighter outperformed the Spitfire Mk. V, the then top-of-the-line RAF fighter, in all aspects except turning radius. The Fw 190 was considerably better in firepower, rate of roll, and straight-line speed at low altitude.

Was the Spitfire better than the hurricane?

The Spitfire and Bf 109E were well-matched in speed and agility, and both were somewhat faster than the Hurricane. However, the slightly larger Hurricane was regarded as an easier aircraft to fly and was effective against Luftwaffe bombers.

Why was the Spitfire better than the Messerschmitt?

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. However, the Messerschmitt did not have the range to fly beyond London and carried only seven seconds worth of cannon ammunition, which limited its operational usefulness.

What weapons did the Spitfire have in WW1?

The Mark V Spitfire was equipped with eight 7.7mm machine guns, standard fighter weapons of the early war. But armor and self-sealing fuel tanks on German planes made heavier weaponry necessary. The Mark IX had four .303 machine guns and two 20mm cannons, whose explosive shells could counter German protection.

Why was the Spitfire so popular?

His masterpiece, the Spitfire, proved to be not only a beautiful plane much loved by its pilots, but also a robust and adaptable design. It was, in fact, so adaptable that it was the only fighter in production before, through, and after the war.

How many guns does a Spitfire have per wing?

In each case the number of guns indicates the total for the fighter, not the total per wing. “a” wing. The Spitfire I was originally armed with eight .303in Browning machine guns, each with 300 rounds.

What do the different wings of a Supermarine Spitfire mean?

Supermarine Spitfire – the gun wings. The Supermarine Spitfire was fitted with a series of different wings during its service career. The type of wing generally indicated the armament of the fighter, or the range of guns that a particular aircraft could carry, and was combined with the Mk number to produce a full designation – Mk IIb or Mk Vc.