Widewing, try determining the e-retention of the n1k on high-g turns and its ability to maintain perfect control when on wep , nose 90 degrees up and below 50mph.
It has been my experience, both flying the thing and fighting against it, that this plane was either designed by super genious and did perform in WW2 as it does in AH or somethign IS out of whack in this plane in the game.
I dont understand how a plane with such a monstrous engine, on WEP can fly below 50mph and still be able to maintain the same control as if it was flying straight and level. No twisting, no stall behaviour.. its really really weird. A few months ago I did a series of tests with my then TED squaddies.. the n1k hung on prop chasing a p-38 and a 109g10..and no, it did not zoom better than these 2 planes did..but what really stands out in this scenario is that when the 109 and the 38 finally stalled, the n1k was still..pointing..nose .. UP. FULL control.
But that could be attributed to SA and E differences.. pilot's perceptions of speeds ...but get this: the n1k that hung on prop (me on its controls), seeing the 109 / 38 flip over, merely nosed down to level flight , banked and TURNED with nose slightly below horizon.. perfect control. No forces giving you any kinds of problems to make the plane do what you wanted. THAT is really weird. (and yes, n1k still on wep). And this is the source, imo, of the n1k-whining: you out-fly the pilot in the n1k but the plane's weirdness defeats you..not the pilot in it.
The LA7 has a similar thing: its incredible acceleration saves a lot of low skill pilots.. but the LA7 has horrid turn rate, even worse guns and has a rather nasty stall behaviour and low speed handling. OTH, the n1k has average acceleration, but its incredible turn rate at both high and low speeds and its nonexistent stall behaviour gives any low skill pilot the upper hand.. and then add into it 4 cannons that are just a tad worse than the hispano cannon (trajectorywise) and you get yourself a plane that technically can be flown like any Wing-Commander game and come out on top.
HISPD and a few of the Nip pilots in this game are true masters in milking the N1k's advantages AND using ACM. Interestingly enough, I lasted a LOT longer when fighting these guys because they actually use ACM manouvers...resulting in a spectacular kill (me). And you compare it to well known pilots that cant get a kill unless they fly this plane, and you just see them pulling G's like crazy and spraying..with no stalls.
