Douglas A-26 Invader: Rate of Turn (This is Fascinating)

[pyro-manic]

Given that pilots can't sustain that sort of g-load anyway, is there much point in the maximums being that high?

[perttime]

Given that pilots can't sustain that sort of g-load anyway, is there much point in the maximums being that high?

" An un-trained individual not used to the G-straining maneuver can black out between 4 and 6 g, particularly if this is pulled suddenly. A trained, fit individual wearing a g suit and practicing the straining maneuver can, with some difficulty, sustain up to 9g without loss of consciousness."
(Wikipedia)
6 to 8 G for a trained person, for a short period is quite feasible for a "trained" person like a fighter pilot. Early G-suits were already in use during WW2, and were apparently actually working.

... and then you prefer your aircraft to be able to handle a little more before folding its wings ...

[Logan Hartke]

They were able to out-turn the P-38?

Yep. Northrop's Harry Crosby versus Lockheed's Milo Burcham.

http://youtu.be/Ej3ZOzVbHsQ?t=3m38s

Cheers,

Logan

[KJ_Lesnick]

perttime

P38 and P-51 were designed to 8g limit and 12g ultimate but in each case that was linked to a specific gross weight.

Correct, g-load is tied to lift and weight.

For the Mustang, limit load of 8G applied to 8,000 pound gross weight which was middle range for an XP-51 and P-51A.

I was under the impression that the P-51A was nearly maxed out at 8,000 pounds...

By the time the P-51D was operational a limit load for 10,000 pounds Gross weight was 6.4 G

The P-51D if I recall was around 9,200 pounds max and 11,200 or 11,600 with drop tanks...

At some point Bf 109 (F model?) were built to lower limits than needed, or with lower quality, and that caused some failures.

What variant was commonly seen when the A-26 entered service and what limits were the Me-109 variants built to

[PR19_Kit]

It is amazing to me that Navy carrier aircraft with folding wings can pull so many G's with a spar that has a intentional break in it and is held together with pins in flight...

Having examined a Buccaneer at close range, they're VERY big pins! 

[wuzak]

In some discussions I got the impression that British fighters were built to lower G limits than US designs.

Yes, in the sense that they were designed for lower ultimate limits rather than ower design limits. So while the Spitfire and Mustang were designed for 8g, the ultimate limit of the Spitfire was lower. (Not sure if the Spitfire was designed for 8g limit, would have to check sources.)

The "light weight" Mustangs were designed to the lower limits of the British - these were the -F, -G and -H.