Author Topic: P-51b (Read 1659 times)

Rafe35 · « **on:** June 21, 2004, 05:47:22 PM »

Got any tips for P-51B? Cuz I suck flying on P-51B and willing need training.

Rafe35 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 21, 2004, 08:48:29 PM »

fuzeman · « **Reply #2 on:** June 22, 2004, 11:54:13 AM »

Fly it like the D model , just pretend your spelling is bad.
Now the serious answer. I think you would actually fly it like the D model. Of course you have 1/3 less firepower so you have to consider that. Altitude would also have an effect on plane performance. I know in real life the B didn't fare to well at higher altitudes, at least the tv shows and stuff mention that.

RTR · « **Reply #3 on:** June 22, 2004, 12:48:29 PM »

The B model is a bit lighter I believe as well. It will turn better than the D model, and I think outperforms it below 15K (although could just be my opinion).

Rafe, as for flying it I think Fuze is right. Fly it like the D model, but realize that it's not going to have the performance at higher altitudes, but turns much better. Use it as an energy fighter. Fly the angles. You will find that it does turn remarkably well (though not in the class of the SpitV or IX, or N1K etc.)

cheers,

RTR

Rafe35 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 22, 2004, 10:31:04 PM »

Thanks, guys.

Soulyss · « **Reply #5 on:** June 22, 2004, 10:58:53 PM »

damn I forgot some of the info I found on the B... basically it is a little lighter than the D with a silghtly different engine. At some alititudes the D outperforms the B and visa versa. If memory serves the B outclimbs the D starting at about 8K. The B is also faster between 9 and 14k and again at high alts (somthing like 27K).

I'm generally a little more agressive in the B and willing to mix it up more. Maybe it's just perceived but I find the B to be more manuverable.

J_A_B · « **Reply #6 on:** June 23, 2004, 12:22:07 AM »

"I know in real life the B didn't fare to well at higher altitudes, at least the tv shows and stuff mention that."

This is completely wrong for the model of P-51B we have in AH. Far from being bad at high altitude, the P51B we have in AH is actually far superior to the P-51D at above 25K or so. In fact, incredible performance at over 20K is the P-51B's most noticable asset in AH, being one of the very best fighters in the game at 30K (better than a 190D-9, better than a 109G-10, better than a Tempest, better than virtually anything with a prop that we have in AH at that altitude). At 30K the P-51B has over twice the climbrate of the P-51D and is faster too.

Later in the production run, P-51's received a different engine that improved performance at low altitudes at the cost of reducing performance at high altitude. Later model P-51B/C's and ALL P-51D/K's had that lower-rated engine, which was NOT viewed as an improvement by a majority of pilots (although it gives the P-51D a marked edge over our early-model P-51B in the low altitudes of the MA).

The only versions of the Mustang that was truly bad at high altitude were the various Allison-powered versions, none of which are represented in AH. It is highly likly that the producers of that T.V. show confused the Allison Mustangs with the early P-51B's.

The moral of the story? Take anything you see on T.V. with a grain of salt!

J_A_B

o0Stream140o · « **Reply #7 on:** June 23, 2004, 12:55:10 AM »

Rafe,
Think of it as hunting and not dogfighting. Stay above your enemy, use your speed and roll rate advantage over him. "When your not fighting, your climbing." Never make level turns always keep your nose pointed up. Keep your speed up... Learn to roll your way out of things other than just banking the plane.

Most important of all... get seat time in it.. learn it... learn how it reacts to certian situtations...

That is what has helped me... and I am by no means a great pilot on here...

fuzeman · « **Reply #8 on:** June 23, 2004, 12:15:07 PM »

J_A_B, thanks for correcting me. I should know anything using TV as a reference has some bs involved.
I shall remember this.

J_A_B · « **Reply #9 on:** June 23, 2004, 01:57:02 PM »

Oh and as for actually flying/fighting in the P-51:

First of all, and most importantly, you do not HAVE to be the highest/fastest plane around. You do not HAVE to always stay fast. Flying like that will only cause you to be timid and an excessive runner, which probably describes most of the P-51's you encounter in the MA.

Avoid very low altitudes if you can in a P-51B because, frankly, it sucks in the weeds. Its engine is tuned for high altitude flying. It isn't completely helpless on the deck, but is decidedly out of its element. Terrains with a high "deck" level, like Mindanao, or Pizza or parts of Trinity, tend to be good for the P-51B. staying above about 5K will do much to keep you alive in a P-51B.

Properly loaded, the P-51 is perfectly capable of dogfighting against things like the 190's, F4U's, and Yak-9's. LA7's tended to beat me more often than not in a slow fight under about 7500 feet--but I had a bad habit of running into the better LA7 pilots.

There is over a 600 FPM in difference between a light and a fully-loaded P-51D in climbrate at low altitude, not even acconting for external stores. The P-51B is equally as weight-sensitive.

Do not overload the Mustang. Flying around with 75% fuel, full ammo, and rocket tubes (in the case of the B) will result in you being a SLUG. A light enough P-51B can hold its own against even things like P-38's and F6F's, but Spits and N1K2's will always eat you alive in a dogfight. Be more aggressive as your plane gets lighter. I would avoid doing much slow fighting if I had more than about 75% fuel in my wing tanks or ANYTHING in the AUX tank. Always, ALWAYS drain that AUX tank first, even if you have droptanks. Even a little gas in that tank can mess with the stability of the P-51 and it rapidly becomes annoying in a dogfight.

Always maintain good SA, but that is true for any aircraft. Do frequent S-turns to check your rear blind spot in the P-51B.

In the P-51B, be a good shot. 4 guns are adequate, but you don't get as much ammo as you do in the other American fighters. I always liked the B because it is a very stable gun platform, noticably more stable than the -D.

J_A_B

Rafe35 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 24, 2004, 11:07:21 PM »

Thanks, guys and I fly P-51B really well

DipStick · « **Reply #11 on:** June 25, 2004, 06:45:36 AM »

Get with jonnyb. Not sure he stills flies it but he's the best I've ever seen in it.

simshell · « **Reply #12 on:** June 28, 2004, 02:16:15 PM »

the P51B is not a good turn and burn sure its better then the D but it just runs out of E and cant replace

the YAK kills the P51 b or d with ease its just better to boom zoom the yak with a big E over it or you well die unless you are facing a dweeb or have a very bigg E over it

jonnyb · « **Reply #13 on:** June 30, 2004, 05:03:37 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by DipStick
Get with jonnyb. Not sure he stills flies it but he's the best I've ever seen in it.

Thanks for the compliment. I feel there are far better sticks in the bravo than I, but I can certainly hold my own.

J_A_B sums things up well in his posts. The things I've learned in my time with the bravo are as follows:

1) Set your convergence to no more than 250. Don't take shots outside your convergence as the 4 M2s simply don't pack enough punch to do anything more than annoy your target at long range (unless you get lucky and hit him in a critical location). Pick a point on your target and concentrate fire there. Because of the 4 guns, make the burst solid, at convergence, and on a single point.

2) The bravo turns better than most people expect, especially with a notch of flaps and elevators trimmed up. At best cornering speed the bravo will outturn most of the true turn-n-burn planes. This doesn't mean you can get cocky because that advantage is quickly lost once the energy is gone.

3) She's a fun ride. It doesn't feel as heavy as the delta, even when comparably loaded. Below 10k, the delta will outclimb you, but above 14k you'll own the shiny one. You'll outturn the delta at all altitudes, and outrun her above 25k.

4) Learn to check your 6 often by using swooping S turns. The blind spot is pretty large thanks to the razorback.

Things in AH2 are mostly the same except for the gunnery. With AH1 I used to take down heavies with ease. Now with the revamped hit model things are quite a bit tougher. Just the other night I dumped most of my ammo into a formation of JU88s. The result was two of them down and the third flying away (damaged, but still airborn). I'm sure this will work itself out with practice, but for now it's a learning curve.

Hope this helps.

Soda · « **Reply #14 on:** June 30, 2004, 05:17:41 PM »

I'm not sure if the AH2 P-51B flight model has changed much from the AH1 version but you can take a look at my AH Aircraft Pages for my tips/tricks/suggestions:

Soda's Aircraft Evaluations

I'll have to get into updating the pages with the new AH2 model info. It'll take me a few months to get some stick time in each to see how they may, or may not, have changed.