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

What was better Hurricane or Spitfire?

For attacking formations of bombers, the Hurricane offered better visibility and much greater steadiness for shooting. The Spitfire was a slightly higher performance airplane-faster, a better rate of climb, and much more responsive to the controls, according to StanfordTuck.

Did the Hurricane shoot down more planes than the Spitfire?

The Hurricanes made an outsized contribution to the battle itself. More than half of the nearly 1,200 German aircraft shot down were by Hurricanes, but its impact has tended to fade into the background compared to the more graceful Spitfire. “The Spitfire had mystique about it,” Beaver says.

Did the Spitfire or Hurricane won the Battle of Britain?

Those who have previously studied the Battle of Britain have most often come the conclusion that, although the Spitfire was an integral part to the Royal Air Force's defense of Britain, it was ultimately the workhorse Hawker Hurricane that won the battle.

What was the most feared plane in WW2?

This plane came too late to have any effect on the outcome of the war. 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.

Hurricane vs Spitfire: a pilot's view

38 related questions found

Was the Spitfire a good plane?

Commonly referred to as the plane that won the Battle and Britain, the Spitfire has earned itself, and their pilots, masses of respect. ... The Spitfire's original design made it incredibly adaptable which meant there were constant alterations and changes to make it the most successful fighter in the sky.

What was faster Spitfire or Mustang?

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.

Who had more kills Spitfire or Hurricane?

The final proof is the Hurricane outscored the Spitfire in Battle of Britain kills. It was 55 %to the Hurricane versus 45% to the Spitfire. With the fog of propaganda now barely a mist, the truth of the Hurricane's role in our victory can be fully appreciated.

Are German planes better than Spitfires?

Similar to the case of the Hurricane the Spitfire was superior to the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter in a dogfight, since it had considerably better turning ability than its German arch rival. Example: ... The Spitfire turns as tightly to the left as possible which is more tightly, than the German Me 109 is able to do.

Is Spitfire better than BF 109?

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. ... The Luftwaffe started the Battle with about 1,100 Bf 109s and 906 pilots available.

Was the mosquito faster than the Spitfire?

The first flights of the Mosquito confirmed what the design team had hoped for – the fastest operational plane of its day. The Mks II, III ands IV could fly at 380 mph – 19 mph faster than the Battle of Britain Spitfire and 50 mph faster than the Hawker Hurricane. ... The Mosquito was used for a variety of tasks.

What was the best plane in WW2?

These Were The 10 Best Planes Of WW2

• 6 Focke-Wulf FW-190 - Best Fighter. ...
• 5 Boeing B29 Superfortress - Best Long-Range Bomber. ...
• 4 Supermarine Spitfire - Best British Fighter. ...
• 3 Avro Lancaster - Best Heavy Bomber. ...
• 2 North American P51 Mustang - Best Allied Fighter. ...
• 1 De Havilland Mosquito - Ultimate Multi-Role Aircraft.

Was Spitfire or zero better?

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.

What was the fastest plane in World War 2?

The 13 Fastest Planes of WW2

• Arado Ar 234 Blitz – (462mph)
• Dornier Do-335 A1 – (474 mph)
• De Havilland Hornet F1 – (475 mph)
• Heinkel He 162 – (495 mph)
• Messerschmitt Me 262 – (560 mph)
• Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star – (594 mph)
• Supermarine Spitfire – (606mph)
• Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet – (702 mph)

Was the Spitfire the best plane in WW2?

The Spitfire is most likely the most famous aircraft from the World War II era. It was the king of low-altitudes, it will be known forever as the plane that turned the tide in the Battle of Britain. ... In the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire gained fame by having the highest victory-to-loss ratio among British aircraft.

How much is a Spitfire worth?

1 Spitfires still able to fly today has sold for a record amount at Christie's auctions. The gavel fell at £3,106,500 (US$4,784,010) on the painstakingly restored RAF Spitfire P9374, far exceeding pre-auction estimates of £2.5m.

Did the Spitfire won the war?

The Spitfire, renowned for winning victory laurels in the Battle of Britain (1940–41) along with the Hawker Hurricane, served in every theatre of the war and was produced in more variants than any other British aircraft.

Who invented the Spitfire?

The prototype Spitfire was designed by R J Mitchell and first took to the air at Southampton Airport on 5 March 1936. With a powerful Rolls Royce Merlin engine and eight machine guns it was a formidable fighting aircraft. Sadly, Mitchell was to die before seeing the aircraft go into operational use.

Are Spitfires still being made?

Seventy years after the Battle of Britain, authentic Spitfires are still being produced on the Isle of Wight. ... The company has re-built over 40 airworthy planes from wreckage and genuine Spitfire spare parts. Each has "the heart and soul" of a Spitfire, according to managing director Steve Vizard.

How long did it take to train a Spitfire pilot?

At the start of the war it could be as little as six months (150 flying hours). On average it took between 18 months to two years (200-320 flying hours).

Was the p51 a British design?

P-51, also called Mustang, a single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft originally designed and produced by North American Aviation for the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and later adopted by the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF).

Why is French flag Spitfire?

It is the RAF fin marking. The French features a ligter blue.