Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXc

Plane: Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXc

Mass: 3424kg

Engine: 1,720hp Merlin 66

Horsepower:  1720hp max brake horsepower

Wing Area: 22.5 meters^2

Weapons:

Ammo belting:

7.7mm MG: ap, ap, ap, ap, tracer

Hispano Suiza Mk II: he, tracer, ap

Stall Speed: 142kph(88mph) clean/126kph(78mph) dirty

Best Climb Speed IAS: 266kph(166mph) IAS

Maximum Reasonable AoA: 12.0 degrees

Top Speed Chart:

WEP Top Speed: 545kph(301mph)

Climb Rate chart:

Roll Rate:

Turn Rate: (sustained) Flaps Up:   205kph(127mph), 132(433ft) radius, 25 deg/sec

Turn Rate: (sustained) Flaps Down:  Accelerated stall not possible with flaps down

Visibility:  Good, except for behind.   

Control Feel vs Speed:  Good

WEP power boost percent: 2%

Safe WEP time: Over 10 minutes

General Comments:

The Spitfire Mk IX was rushed into service to combat the Fw190a4.  With the Mk IX, the Merlin engine reached its apogee, attaining 1700hp.  This is the same engine that found its way into the P51 Mustang, and is a showcase for British engine technology.  No German WW2 aircraft was able to achieve a similar power per cubic centimeter of engine swept volume at anywhere near the altitudes the Spitfire Mk IX's Merlin was capable of.

The particular sub variant of Mk IX that finds its way into WW2OL is the low altitude version.  Two engines were used in large numbers in the Spit9, the Merlin 66 and the Merlin 70.  The Merlin 66 sacrificed a bit of high altitude performance for considerable low altitude gain.  The Merlin 70 had poorer low altitude performance but was better at higher altitudes.  Fortunately for the British in WW2OL, most combat occurs down low, thus the pick of the Merlin 66 version for WW2OL is a good thing for their side.

There is no better energy fighter than the Spitfire Mk IX in WW2OL.  The Spitfire outclimbs the Bf109F4 by nearly 900ft/min below 13,000ft (4.5m/s below 4km in the Metric system), and has a thrust to weight advantage of 15%.  No other plane can stick its nose in the sky and climb over its opponent like a Spitfire Mk IX can.  It is also very fast, 15kph faster than the Bf109F4 on the deck, however, it's still 30kph slower than a Fw190a4 at that altitude.  Use spiral-climb rope-a-dopes liberally.

However, all that power means that the Spitfire will get fast and get fast quick.  All the old problems with high speed maneuverability are still there, and this plane will lock up pretty good at high speeds in the roll axis.  This makes for an interesting situation.  The Fw190a4 cannot compete with the Spitfire in a co-energy dogfight except for rolling/flat scissors, yet the Spitfire cannot easily chase down a fleeing Fw190a4 that's using rolling evasive maneuvers.  Against a good pilot, all the Spit9 driver can do is deny the 190 driver free access to operate in a particular area.  However, the advantage of the Spit9 is that if the 190 makes a mistake, the Spit9 can make life miserable for the 190 driver, while a Spitfire pilot has many more options (other than running) when in a bad situation vs the Fw190.

With this plane's awesome climb, there is no reason not to be above an opponent.  If you see one approaching from higher up, stick the nose up and start grabbing altitude until he gets close.  Nothing can slash an energy deficit like a Spitfire Mk IX. 

In addition, the ammunition load for the cannon was doubled.  This gives a much larger reserve of cannon rounds, meaning more time in combat, and the option to take more shots with the cannon.

Specific Matchup Comments:

Spit9 vs Bf110C:  Target practics.  Need I say more?.

Spit9 vs Bf109E4: More target practice.  Remind those Luftwaffe pilots why they should consider more modern rides. 

Spit9 vs Bf109F4: The Spit9 continues the tradition of Spitfire dominance of last-generation German airplanes.  The Spit9 does everything better than a Bf109F4.  Ironically, the only area the 109F can compete on even terms in is flatturning.  Watch out if the 109F starts to flatturn with you.  If he starts to drop flaps (the signal is he's gaining angles when you're both slow on the deck), roll upwards and use that huge power advantage to  do high yoyos.  You will soon appear on his six forcing him to scissors you.  Keep going high to stay behind him and soon he will be headed to the ground at an unnatural angle.  Keep in mind that above 4.5km your advantages vs the Bf109F4 go away.  Except for speed, the 109F can fight the Spit9 quite effectively at high altitudes.

Spit9 vs Fw190a4:  This is the most challenging plane the Spit9 driver will fight.  The trouble is that the 190 drivers have a plane that performs much better than the Spit9 at high speeds where acceleration is not as much an issue.  The speeds at which the 190 thrives will find you puffing away trying to muscle your control stick sideways in an attempt to roll your aircraft.  Not only does it outrun you, but you cannot easily match his maneuvers while he runs away, meaning you cannot reliably kill him except for the occasional lucky hit.  It's best to climb instead and let him get away, because if he reverses too early you will own him.  Otherwise he'll have to fly so far away to safely get altitude back that he is effectively out of the picture.  In addition, this keeps you from being picked off from the 190's favorite tactic:  Drag 'n' Bag (where one 190 encourages you to chase him while his buddy flies up your six and blows you away)  Most of your 190 kills will be either to ignorant pilots who don't know how to fight the Spit9, or those that somehow end up low and slow (usually the result of a prolonged multi-vs-multi dogfight).  If you find yourself with a 190 (or two) above you, climb.  Dodge their passes, then resume climbing.  The goal is to a) stay alive, and b) nullify their energy advantage.  When Booming and Zooming it's hard to acquire more overall energy due to the nature of that tactic, so if you can get some serious altitude in between passes you can equalize the situation and force them to either run away or fight you on your terms.  Of course, the better situation is to not let them get above you in the first place.  Use your ride's superior climbing ability liberally.