What was the problem with the Fw 190?
As mentioned before, the small wings gave the Fw 190 poor high-altitude performance, which made the A series inefficient against Allied heavy bomber formations. Experiments to fix the problem led to the short-lived B and C, and eventually the successful D-series. The Focke-Wulf FW-190 was widely believed to be the best fighter aircraft of World War II.
Was the Focke-Wulf 190 better than the Spitfire?
When it was first introduced in August 1941, it quickly proved to be superior in all but turn radius to the Royal Air Force (RAF) front-line fighter, the Spitfire Mk. V variant. The 190 wrested air superiority away from the RAF until the introduction of the vastly improved Spitfire Mk. Luftwaffe fighter pilots feared the Spitfire most, the Mk V entered service in early 1941, the first P 51 in 1942 and it was inferior, the P 51 D not until mid 1944, by then there were other Spitfires, the Mk IX and XII in 1942, the Mk VII, VIII and XIV in 1943, these were all better than the P51D.
Why was the Focke-Wulf 190 so good?
The Fw 190 had greater firepower than the Bf 109 and, at low to medium altitude, superior manoeuvrability, in the opinion of German pilots who flew both fighters. It was regarded as one of the best fighter planes of World War II. Currently, there is only one fully restored and flying Fw 190 in the world. Flying Heritage Collection in Washington has a Fw 190A-5 that was assigned to JG 54 near Leningrad during WWII.
What did German pilots think of the Spitfire?
During WWII Axis pilots tested captured Allied aircraft: they deemed the Spitfire a miserable fighter, the LaGG–3 poorly maneuverable and the P-51 disconcerting. The Spitfire is often considered the more maneuverable of the two, able to twist and turn with incredible grace, but it lacked the long range needed for deep escort missions. The P-51, with its sleek lines and low drag, could fly farther and faster, making it ideal for long-range bomber escort.