Help with plane stats

[Inkpaduta]

Where can I go online to find information on WWII planes dealing with speed, altitude and armament?

Thanks

[Cubs]

I'd start with Wiki.

[Inkpaduta]

I did. Usually long lists of information but not always giving what I am looking for.

[zippyfusenet]

You asked for "...speed, altitude and armament?" In my experience, Wiki usually covers these. Can you clarify what you need that you haven't found on Wiki?

[Inkpaduta]

I don't know. I looked up a number of planes. Some came with long texts with tons of information so it was not very easy finding what I was looking for. Some did not have the information. I did not find it a good source without a lot of digging and then at times not finding what I was looking for.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

I don't know. I looked up a number of planes. Some came with long texts with tons of information so it was not very easy finding what I was looking for. Some did not have the information. I did not find it a good source without a lot of digging and then at times not finding what I was looking for.

I can see what you mean.

Evidently those who compile the pages for aircraft have a different view to those who compile the pages for say, tanks.

I did a search for the Supermarine Spitfire.
Within the main article there is plenty of information, but not much on the what the original poster was looking for.

However, there was a link to https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Spitfire_variants:_specifications,_performance_and_armament

Which I suspect will contain the requested information.

I then had a look at the Hurricane. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Hurricane
This has no obvious table of information, however this was a rather "end of pier"  reference.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Shilling%27s_orifice

For a comparison, here is the Wikipedia article on the Matilda tank.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilda_II
This does have (roughly) the equivalent information. It must however be noted that there is not so much variation as there is with the Spitfire.

So on this brief survey, Wikipedia is not quite the one-stop-shop for aircraft stats.

As an aside, and if Annie is reading this, maybe Beatrice Shilling deserves recognition in the form of a figure.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatrice_Shilling

[Cubs]

Huh, that is weird. Sorry 'bout that, I assumed it would be in a little box on the right like it is with tanks and such. Thought about getting a cheap book?

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Huh, that is weird. Sorry 'bout that, I assumed it would be in a little box on the right like it is with tanks and such.

Me too, hence my surprise ^__^.

Thought about getting a cheap book?

If you are in the UK, The Works is worth a look (other discount book shops are available).
https://www.theworks.co.uk/
They have a surprising range on line:
https://www.theworks.co.uk/c/non-fiction-books/military-books

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Not sure if this is of any use:
https://www.fighter-planes.com/
No idea on their accuracy.

[zippyfusenet]

Hm. At the end of the Supermarine Spitfire Wiki entry, just before the 'See Also' links, I find the following:

Specifications (Spitfire Mk VB)

The Spitfire's performance improved greatly as WWII progressed, for more information see Supermarine Spitfire variants: specifications, performance and armament.
Spitfire VB of 222 Squadron, 1942

Data from Spitfire: The History[189] and Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II[190]

General characteristics

    Crew: one pilot
    Length: 29 ft 11 in (9.12 m)
    Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
    Height: 11 ft 5 in (3.86 m)
    Wing area: 242.1 ft2 (22.48 m2)
    Airfoil: NACA 2213 (root)
    NACA 2209.4 (tip)
    Empty weight: 5,065 lb (2,297 kg)
    Loaded weight: 6,622 lb (3,000 kg)
    Max. takeoff weight: 6,700 lb (3,039 kg)
    Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Merlin 45[nb 16] supercharged V12 engine, 1,470 hp (1,096 kW) at 9,250 ft (2,819 m)

Performance

    Maximum speed: 370 mph (322 kn, 595 km/h)
    Combat radius: 410 nmi (470 mi (756 km))
    Ferry range: 991 nmi (1,135 mi (1,827 km))
    Service ceiling: 36,500 ft (11,125 m)
    Rate of climb: 2,600 ft/min (13.2 m/s)
    Wing loading: 27.35 lb/ft2 (133.5 kg/m2)
    Power/mass: 0.22 hp/lb (0.36 kW/kg)

Armament

    Guns:
        A wing
            8 × .303 in Browning Mk II* machine guns (350 rounds per gun)
        B wing
            2 × 20 mm Hispano Mk II (60 rounds per gun)
            4 × .303 in Browning Mk II* machine guns (350 rounds per gun)
        C wing
            4 × 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannon (120 rounds per gun)
        C wing (Alt.)
            2 × 20 mm Hispano Mk II (120 rounds per gun)
            4 × .303 in Browning Mk II* machine guns (350 rounds per gun)
        E wing
            2 × 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannon (120 rounds per gun)
            2 × .50 in M2 Browning machine guns (250 rounds per gun)

Seems to cover the key points for the Spit V, and offers suggestions for tracking down other Spit models. I find similar sections in every Wiki entry for WWII warbirds. That said, I own several warbird handbooks and encyclopedias by such authors as William Green and William Gunston, because they're convenient.

Yeah, there's a similar data section in the Wiki for the Hurricane Mk. IIC. But it's true that you have to web search each airplane, which I find less convenient than a handbook:

General characteristics

    Crew: 1
    Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
    Wingspan: 40 ft 0 in (12.19 m)
    Height: 13 ft 1.5 in (4.001 m)
    Wing area: 257.5 sq ft (23.92 m2)
    Airfoil: root: Clark YH (19%); tip: Clark YH (12.2%)[164]
    Empty weight: 5,745 lb (2,606 kg)
    Gross weight: 7,670 lb (3,479 kg)
    Max takeoff weight: 8,710 lb (3,951 kg)
    Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Merlin XX V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 1,185 hp (884 kW) at 21,000 ft (6,400 m)

Performance

    Maximum speed: 340 mph (547 km/h; 295 kn) at 21,000 ft (6,400 m) [N 12]
    Range: 600 mi (521 nmi; 966 km)
    Service ceiling: 36,000 ft (11,000 m)
    Rate of climb: 2,780 ft/min (14.1 m/s)
    Wing loading: 29.8 lb/sq ft (145 kg/m2)
    Power/mass: 0.15 hp/lb (0.25 kW/kg)

Armament

    Guns: 4 × 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano Mk II cannon
    Bombs: 2 × 250 or 500 lb (110 or 230 kg) bombs

[gweirda]

This is far from a 'quick and easy' reference, but might be handy...

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/

[Ultravanillasmurf]

@zippyfusenet , true but it is a bit like having the stats for a Crusader to cover all British Cruiser tanks A9 to A41.

^___^

[gweirda]

... it is a bit like having the stats for a Crusader to cover all British Cruiser tanks A9 to A41.

True, and like any period/genre-specific inquiry, far too broad.

I guess the true question for the OP is: Why/What do you want to know?

To state the obvious (because, you know...internet) there is a great deal of difference between what a corps-level gamer and what a plane-v-plane gamer needs to know as far as stats/data.

[Inkpaduta]

Thanks everyone.

I did find one online that is perfect for what I need.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Thanks everyone.

I did find one online that is perfect for what I need.

Are you going to share it with us ^___^.