Well, after a duel with -aper- <S>, I gained back confidence in 109. Maybe he can explain it better, but I will try. This experience is gathered under "enemy" handle, Hristo is too careful for such things
Compression is 109s worst characteristic. However, it is a kind of E preserving mechanism too, IMHO. 109 won't let you do stupid moves. When flap and gear deployment limits get modeled, it might be even better. No more unrealistic slowing down to make a kill, just to find yourself low and slow for other cons
Trim tabs are enough to control high speed dives.
TnB is generally unwise, because someone else always shows up. E fight is much better choice.
If the P 51 is co-E, just watch your G meter and build up E advantage. However, too much E is not good for 109. Compression makes safe BnZ unsuitable, you have to do tight BnZ. Reversal timing is important - he must be slow, but if you wait too long he will have time to dive away. Smart P 51D will run away from any co-E 109 he sees. Its aerodynamics and weight will help it in a dive. If you try to run away from P 51, don't dive. It will catch you. You have to either flat outaccelerate it, or outclimb it.
At the merge pick up speed and go under them - fake low E state. 9 out of 10 Ponies will Split S to lead turn you. Immelmann or chandelle under low G and dictate the fight after. Many of those Ponies will try HO before they go for Split S - even better.
If they do an Immelmann, you can start shallow climb and get above them. Immediate Immelmann might put you in their guns range at HO, which they will probably take.
Some of them have favourite way to do Split S and come back up in HO. just wait up there and pounce them when they top out slow. Don't take the HO.
If you TnB, make the fight as slow as you can (IAS wise, of course). At low speed 109 really beats the UFO. Try to fight them at higher alt - low IAS, better for 109. At very low IAS 109 outrolls Pony. You can use that too.
Use 109 to sucker Ponies to climb to you. Don't get suckered in compressed dives.
Also, rudder is a great 109 quality. Some great moves can be done with it (ask aper
). The one you described is probably most effective, kind of vertical scissors, combined with hammerheads.
As for turning, I would not mix up P 51 high speed turns with stick forces. It should outturn 109 at high speed. Elevator was lighter at those speeds, as far as I know.
At low speed P 51D is a pretty good turner, but coordinated 109 turner can beat it. Pursuit curves are a big factor though. Still, no sign of Pony dropping out of turn and reversing when pushed too far (didn't Robert Shaw mention something like that ?).
As for P 51 FM characteristics, you already know my opinion (high AoA/low speed handling and acceleration). Seems it has automatic hammerhead maneuver programmed in, it does it better than 109 at this point. Control feeling makes it fly like a toy
. It will surely be interesting to see how it does after the FM revision.
Disclaimer: These are only my opinons, and are writen in 10 minutes.
[This message has been edited by Hristo (edited 12-25-1999).]
