During the years I have read a lot of the Fw190’s. I have flown it quite a lot in IL-2. I have read UK test reports. I have seen reallife pilots tell about their impressions.
According to the UK test report the Fw190 have vicious tendcy to stall/snapspin without warning. This are replicated in IL-2. But other sources praises the handling qualities of the 190 and said it had no vices. Sources suggest that control rods of the UK captured model where not calibrated, which where very important.
(The reason why the 190 had so crisp controls where becourse it used control rods instead of wires. The rods where not susepteble to stress like wires.)
It all leave me with a great mystery and I have finally come the point where I will try get my question solved.
To solve this question I need to get in contract with a surviving 190 pilot or an owner of one of the rebuild new 190’s.
Anyone have any ideers or contacts?
Think I found the answer to your question.
In the book “Luftwaffe Fighter Ace” written by Norbert Hannig, former 190 pilot, I found the following quote.
…The Fw 190´s performance and flying characteristics were equally impressive. In a dive it could exceed 700 km/h. It was highly responsive around all axes, could be reefed into a tight turn, and gave its pilot ample warning of a stall by sharp, jerky aileron movements. If these were ignored, the machine would automatically go into a flick half roll, losing height and turning through 180 degrees in less time than it takes to describe here. This manouvre was virtually impossible for another pilot to follow. If you were in a dogfight, and had sufficient altitude, it was a sure way of getting an opponent off your tail. This “built-in” escape tactic was the saving of many a Forke (190) pilot who found himself in extremis.
Also if you are interested in the Fw190 I recommend getting the special issue “German Fighters” by Flight Journal. It has a big article about the different models and developments of the aircraft.