The Warbirds Climb Performance Charts compares the climbing ability between the Warbirds' planes.
The methodology used was: Load each plane with 10 minutes worth of fuel. Attain 200mph, 1,000ft. Go to full WEP, activate auto-speed (with default speed), and time how long it takes to get from 1,000 to 5,000 then from 5,000 to 10,000 then from 10,000 to 15,000. For Zoom Climbs, go to 1,000ft at 300mph and 400mph, activate WEP, and slowly pull into a 90 degree vertical climb. Note how much altitude is gained when speed drops through 100mph.
Note that initial speed is 200mph in all cases, thus the 1,000ft to 5,000ft is a mix of zoom climb and sustained climb. This explains the high rate-of-climb values, if they seem high. The 5,000ft to 10,000ft and 10,000ft to 15,000ft times are more representational of sustained climbing ability.
Climbing Performance represents to a large degree vertical maneuvering performance. A plane that doesn't climb well probably won't do well in the vertical and vice versa. Zoom Climb performance is more representational of vertical maneuvering performance, as it shows how high a plane can zoom with a certain amount of speed.
Climbing Performance starting at 1,000ft at 200mph, climbing to 15,000ft, by plane:
| Plane | 1,000ft to 5,000ft | 5,000ft to 10,000ft | 10,000ft to 15,000ft |
| F6F | 46s 5,220ft/min | 73s 4,120ft/min | 77s 3,900ft/min |
| F4F | 81s 2,960ft/min | 122s 2,460ft/min | 136s 2,210ft/min |
| FM2 | 57s 4,210ft/min | 97s 3,090ft/min | 114s 2,630ft/min |
| F4U | 47s 5,110ft/min | 76s 3,950ft/min | 74s 4,050ft/min |
| A6M2 | 62s 3,870ft/min | 92s 3,260ft/min | 98s 3,060ft/min |
| A6M3 | 52s 4,620ft/min | 75s 4,000ft/min | 86s 3,490ft/min |
| A6M5 | 53s 4,530ft/min | 79s 3,780ft/min | 90s 3,330ft/min |
| Ki43 | 52s 4,620ft/min | 71s 4,230ft/min | 80s 3,750ft/min |
| Ki84 | 41s 5,850ft/min | 56s 5,360ft/min | 70s 4,290ft/min |
| Bf 109E4 | 49s 4,900ft/min | 72s 4,170ft/min | 74s 4,050ft/min |
| Bf 109F4 | 48s 5,000ft/min | 63s 4,760ft/min | 61s 4,920ft/min |
| Bf 109G6 | 48s 5,000ft/min | 66s 4,550ft/min | 65s 4,620ft/min |
| Bf 109G6R6 | 54s 4,440ft/min | 76s 3,950ft/min | 75s 4,000ft/min |
| Bf 109K4 | 43s 5,580ft/min | 56s 5,360ft/min | 61s 4,920ft/min |
| Bf 110C4 | 54s 4,440ft/min | 84s 3,570ft/min | 100s 3,000ft/min |
| Bf 110G2R3 | 56s 4,290ft/min | 87s 3,450ft/min | 95s 3,160ft/min |
| Fw190A4 | 46s 5,220ft/min | 83s 3,610ft/min | 95s 3,160ft/min |
| Fw190A8 | 50s 4,800ft/min | 86s 3,490ft/min | 102s 2,940ft/min |
| Fw190D9 | 45s 5,330ft/min | 77s 3,900ft/min | 87s 3,450ft/min |
| SpitIa | 51s 4710ft/min | 78s 3,850ft/min | 80s 3,750ft/min |
| SpitV | 50s 4,800ft/min | 72s 4,170ft/min | 70s 4,290ft/min |
| SpitIX | 44s 5,450ft/min | 65s 4,620ft/min | 66s 4,550ft/min |
| HurriI | 66s 3,640ft/min | 112s 2,680ft/min | 130s 2,310ft/min |
| HurriIIc | 62s 3,870ft/min | 101s 2,970ft/min | 119s 2,520ft/min |
| P38F | 62s 3,870ft/min | 103s 2,910ft/min | 107s 2,800ft/min |
| P38J | 47s 5,110ft/min | 69s 4,350ft/min | 69s 4,350ft/min |
| P38L | 47s 5,110ft/min | 71s 4,230ft/min | 72s 4,170ft/min |
| P39D | 52s 4,620ft/min | 84s 3,570ft/min | 84s 3,570ft/min |
| P40E | 70s 3,430ft/min | 106s 2,830ft/min | 119s 2,520ft/min |
| P47D | 66s 3,640ft/min | 94s 3,190ft/min | 94s 3,190ft/min |
| P51D | 49s 4,900ft/min | 74s 4,050ft/min | 77s 3,900ft/min |
| D3A2 | 65s 3,690ft/min | 87s 3,450ft/min | 92s 3,260ft/min |
| B5N2 | 92s 2,610ft/min | 128s 2,340ft/min | 150s 2,000ft/min |
| SBD-5 | 99s 2,420ft/min | 149s 2,010ft/min | 163s 1,840ft/min |
| Ju88A4 | 89s 2,700ft/min | 157s 1,910ft/min | 187s 1,600ft/min |
| B25J | 90s 2,670ft/min | 141s 2,130ft/min | 161s 1,860ft/min |
| B25H | 112s 2,140ft/min | 178s 1,690ft/min | 209s 1,440ft/min |
| B17G | 116s 2,070ft/min | 174s 1,720ft/min | 175s 1,710ft/min |
| TBF | 117s 2,050ft/min | 221s 1,360ft/min | 290s 1,030ft/min |
Graph:
Sorted by 5,000ft to 10,000ft range:
| Plane | 1,000ft to 5,000ft | 5,000ft to 10,000ft | 10,000ft to 15,000ft | |
| #1 | Bf109K4 | 43s 5,580ft/min | 56s 5,360ft/min | 61s 4,920ft/min |
| #2 | Ki84 | 41s 5,850ft/min | 56s 5,360ft/min | 70s 4,290ft/min |
| #3 | Bf109F4 | 48s 5,000ft/min | 63s 4,760ft/min | 61s 4,920ft/min |
| #4 | SpitIX | 44s 5,450ft/min | 65s 4,620ft/min | 66s 4,550ft/min |
| #5 | Bf109G6 | 48s 5,000ft/min | 66s 4,550ft/min | 65s 4,620ft/min |
| #6 | P38J | 47s 5,110ft/min | 69s 4,350ft/min | 69s 4,350ft/min |
| #7 | P38L | 47s 5,110ft/min | 71s 4,230ft/min | 72s 4,170ft/min |
| #8 | Ki43 | 52s 4,620ft/min | 71s 4,230ft/min | 80s 3,750ft/min |
| #9 | SpitV | 50s 4,800ft/min | 72s 4,170ft/min | 70s 4,290ft/min |
| #10 | Bf 109E4 | 49s 4,900ft/min | 72s 4,170ft/min | 74s 4,050ft/min |
| #11 | F6F | 46s 5,220ft/min | 73s 4,120ft/min | 77s 3,900ft/min |
| #12 | P51D | 49s 4,900ft/min | 74s 4,050ft/min | 77s 3,900ft/min |
| #13 | A6M3 | 52s 4,620ft/min | 75s 4,000ft/min | 86s 3,490ft/min |
| #14 | F4U | 47s 5,110ft/min | 76s 3,950ft/min | 74s 4,050ft/min |
| #15 | Bf 109G6R6 | 54s 4,440ft/min | 76s 3,950ft/min | 75s 4,000ft/min |
| #16 | Fw190D9 | 45s 5,330ft/min | 77s 3,900ft/min | 87s 3,450ft/min |
| #17 | SpitIa | 51s 4,710ft/min | 78s 3,850ft/min | 80s 3,750ft/min |
| #18 | A6M5 | 53s 4,530ft/min | 79s 3,780ft/min | 90s 3,330ft/min |
| #19 | Fw190A4 | 46s 5,220ft/min | 83s 3,610ft/min | 95s 3,160ft/min |
| #20 | P39D | 52s 4,620ft/min | 84s 3,570ft/min | 84s 3,570ft/min |
| #21 | Bf 110C4 | 54s 4,440ft/min | 84s 3,570ft/min | 100s 3,000ft/min |
| #22 | D3A2 | 65s 3,690ft/min | 85s 3,450ft/min | 92s 3,260ft/min |
| #23 | Fw190A8 | 50s 4,800ft/min | 86s 3,490ft/min | 102s 2,940ft/min |
| #24 | Bf 110G2R3 | 56s 4,290ft/min | 87s 3,450ft/min | 95s 3,160ft/min |
| #25 | A6M2 | 62s 3,870ft/min | 92s 3,260ft/min | 98s 3,060ft/min |
| #26 | P47D | 66s 3,640ft/min | 94s 3,190ft/min | 94s 3,190ft/min |
| #27 | FM2 | 57s 4,210ft/min | 97s 3,090ft/min | 114s 2,630ft/min |
| #28 | HurriIIc | 62s 3,870ft/min | 101s 2,970ft/min | 119s 2,510ft/min |
| #29 | P38F | 62s 3,870ft/min | 103s 2,910ft/min | 107s 2,800ft/min |
| #30 | P40E | 70s 3,430ft/min | 106s 2,830ft/min | 119s 2,520ft/min |
| #31 | HurriI | 66s 3,640ft/min | 112s 2,680ft/min | 130s 2,310ft/min |
| #32 | F4F | 81s 2,960ft/min | 122s 2,460ft/min | 136s 2,210ft/min |
| #33 | B5N2 | 92s 2,610ft/min | 128s 2,340ft/min | 150s 2,000ft/min |
| #34 | B25J | 90s 2,670ft/min | 141s 2,130ft/min | 161s 1,860ft/min |
| #35 | SBD-5 | 99s 2,420ft/min | 149s 2,010ft/min | 163s 1,840ft/min |
| #36 | Ju88A4 | 89s 2,700ft/min | 157s 1,910ft/min | 187s 1,600ft/min |
| #37 | B17G | 116s 2,070ft/min | 174s 1,720ft/min | 175s 1,710ft/min |
| #38 | B25H | 112s 2,140ft/min | 178s 1,690ft/min | 209s 1,440ft/min |
| #39 | TBF | 117s 2,050ft/min | 221s 1,360ft/min | 290s 1,030ft/min |
Zoom Climb, by plane:
| Plane | 300mph | 400mph |
| F6F | 3,300ft | 5,100ft |
| F4F | 2,900ft | 4,300ft |
| FM2 | 3,000ft | 4,700ft |
| F4U | 3,100ft | 5,300ft |
| A6M2 | 2,600ft | 4,400ft |
| A6M3 | 2,900ft | 4,900ft |
| A6M5 | 3,000ft | 5,000ft |
| Ki43 | 3,100ft | 5,100ft |
| Ki84 | 3,700ft | 5,800ft |
| Bf 109E4 | 3,100ft | 4,600ft |
| Bf 109F4 | 3,600ft | 5,500ft |
| Bf 109G6 | 3,500ft | 5,600ft |
| Bf 109G6R6 | 3,300ft | 5,200ft |
| Bf 109K4 | 3,600ft | 6,100ft |
| Bf 110C4 | 3,100ft | 4,700ft |
| Bf 110G2R3 | 3,000ft | 4,900ft |
| Fw190A4 | 3,600ft | 5,400ft |
| Fw190A8 | 3,600ft | 5,400ft |
| Fw190D9 | 3,700ft | 5,800ft |
| SpitIa | 3,200ft | 4,700ft |
| SpitV | 3,300ft | 4,900ft |
| SpitIX | 3,400ft | 5,300ft |
| HurriI | 2,900ft | 4,200ft |
| HurriIIc | 3,200ft | 4,600ft |
| P38F | 3,100ft | 4,700ft |
| P38J | 3,200ft | 5,400ft |
| P38L | 3,200ft | 5,300ft |
| P39D | 3,300ft | 5,100ft |
| P40E | 2,900ft | 4,900ft |
| P47D | 3,300ft | 5,400ft |
| P51D | 3,300ft | 5,400ft |
| D3A2 | 2,500ft | - |
| B5N2 | 2,200ft | - |
| SBD-5 | 2,300ft | - |
| Ju88A4 | 2,900ft | - |
| B25J | 2,600ft | - |
| B25H | 2,600ft | - |
| B17G | 2,500ft | - |
| TBF | 2,400ft | - |
Graph:
Zoom Climb, sorted by 300mph zoom:
| Plane | 300mph | 400mph | |
| #1 | Ki84 | 3,700ft | 5,800ft |
| #2 | Fw190D9 | 3,700ft | 5,800ft |
| #3 | Bf109K4 | 3,600ft | 6,100ft |
| #4 | Bf109F4 | 3,600ft | 5,800ft |
| #5 | Fw190A4 | 3,600ft | 5,400ft |
| #6 | Fw190A8 | 3,600ft | 5,400ft |
| #7 | Bf109G6 | 3,500ft | 5,600ft |
| #8 | SpitIX | 3,400ft | 5,300ft |
| #9 | P47D | 3,300ft | 5,400ft |
| #10 | P51D | 3,300ft | 5,400ft |
| #11 | Bf109G6R6 | 3,300ft | 5,200ft |
| #12 | F6F | 3,300ft | 5,100ft |
| #13 | SpitV | 3,300ft | 4,900ft |
| #14 | P39D | 3,300ft | 5,100ft |
| #15 | P38J | 3,200ft | 5,400ft |
| #16 | P38L | 3,200ft | 5,300ft |
| #17 | SpitIa | 3,200ft | 4,700ft |
| #18 | HurriIIc | 3,200ft | 4,600ft |
| #19 | F4U | 3,100ft | 5,300ft |
| #20 | Ki43 | 3,100ft | 5,100ft |
| #21 | Bf110C4 | 3,100ft | 4,700ft |
| #22 | P38F | 3,100ft | 4,700ft |
| #23 | Bf109E4 | 3,100ft | 4,600ft |
| #24 | A6M5 | 3,000ft | 5,000ft |
| #25 | Bf110G2R3 | 3,000ft | 4,900ft |
| #26 | FM2 | 3,000ft | 4,700ft |
| #27 | A6M3 | 2,900ft | 4,900ft |
| #28 | P40E | 2,900ft | 4,900ft |
| #29 | F4F | 2,900ft | 4,300ft |
| #30 | HurriI | 2,900ft | 4,200ft |
| #31 | Ju88A4 | 2,900ft | - |
| #32 | A6M2 | 2,600ft | 4,400ft |
| #33 | B25J | 2,600ft | - |
| #34 | B25H | 2,600ft | - |
| #35 | D3A2 | 2,500ft | - |
| #36 | B17G | 2,500ft | - |
| #37 | TBF | 2,400ft | - |
| #38 | SBD-5 | 2,300ft | - |
| #39 | B5N2 | 2,200ft | - |