What makes a "good" plane....?

[StarOfAfrica2]

Depends on several things, most especially what I want to accomplish.  If its carrier ops, I want an F4U-1 or an F4U-1D (for the rockets and bombs).  Going hunting in an area I already know is overpopulated with La-7's and P-51's?  I'll up a Ki-84.  Close base defense?  Bf 109F-4.  General hunting, always the Ki-61.  Jabo missions it has to be a P-47D40 loaded for bear.

[Guppy35]

It's the plane that fits for you.  Being a history nut, with a long time passion for Spits, just hopping in a Spit ties me into what I've read or learned.

I haven't been a 38 nut as long, but it's my second favorite and I'm only flying that now.  And again it has everything to do with connecting to the history interest.

Nothing seems quite as nice as hooking up with another 38 driver.  Looking out and seeing another bird of the same type off my wing, also adds to the immersion.

Can't wait for that 38G for the same reason.

Dan/Slack

[Sikboy]

Originally posted by humble
certainly a better overall performer than the Ki

No no, the other Yak The "T"

-Sik

[indy007]

190A-5 when I'm hunting bombers or feel like BnZ. I love the firepower. Just takes awhile to get to a useful alt.

For generic, low alt furball, LA7. It just has so much going for it. Great vis, great power, great handling, good gun packages.

When I feel like flying something more difficult, I up a 109G10. The limited 30mm rounds makes me pay more attention to my gunnery... ended up giving me a few % accuracy boost after awhile... the compression isn't even bad as long as you trim your way out of a dive. Still haven't ripped the wings off one.

For JABO, I always run a -51D. It's just so well rounded, and *feels* good to fly. Now if I could just get a cannon armed version...

For the sheer joy of it, the ME262. Power to the speed junkies! Now if I could just get that variant with the 50mm MK14 in it...


...I just re-read this & realized how addicted to cannons I am..

[Kweassa]

Couldn't disagree with you more....but to each there own.

 It's true.

 Like for instance, I see Shane's operating in the sector with a mid-war plane.

 Being the slobberdonkey I am, if I'm in a Lgay7 I would just ram the throttle and run away full speed. And then, when I see him being engaged by six friendlies since he's not a slobberdonkey, I can merrily join them and take a poke at him.. even shoot him down if lucky.

 When the odds go bad and Shane kills all other six friends, I can then just run away again.

 A dweeb and a slobberdonkey and a suckey pilot I am, but Shane's not gonna be shooting me down, at least not until he decides to grab a plane of same calibre.

 Man, what kind of plane would ever be better than that?

[vorticon]

"Man, what kind of plane would ever be better than that?"

ah yes, but if you wernt in the plane to run away, it would promptly fly into the nearest mountain...and if you didnt run away, a good pilot would beat you, or if you were a better pilot you would beat them...


then theres always bombers, which are utterly reliant on decent gunners...


as far as im concerned, and this is what makes this game great, is that with practice all planes are good, no starting off with a rusty dagger that you cant use and ending with a machine gun that you dont really need, quite the opposite rather, starting off with a machine gun and you still have a helluva time killing the vet with a rusty dagger...

[Redd]

the blue ones are good , pretty much all of them

[aSTAR]

A GOOD PILOT !!!!!

[KurtVW]

I like wicked guns.. I'm not good at deflection shooting so I need those few bullets I hit you with to really stick... For this reason I like the German birds.

I mostly fly in order of preference...
Spit9
109F-4
190A (5 or 8)
Ki84
Hellcat

But for specific missions I will switch up.. For instance, if I am upping to defend from the ground I often take an LA7... If I'm defending from the base next-door, I'll show up in a Spit5, or KI84..

But I don't know squat... I'm mostly a bomber pilot and we all know it.

Most importantly, I need to die with honor... You just need to die quickly.

[Halo]

A good plane is the perfect companion for the pilot.  Like getting married.  All about compatibility, trust, instinct, capability, and reliability.  

A good plane and a good pilot best realize their potential with each other.

[Mak333]

Zero <------- Very good plane

[AKFokerFoder+]

A good plane is the perfect companion for the pilot. Like getting married. All about compatibility, trust, instinct, capability, and reliability.

A good plane and a good pilot best realize their potential with each other.

Wow, I couldn't have put it better!

Each pilot has strengths, and weaknesses, and quirks.  Just like the planes.

So what is your flying style?  BNZ?, knife fighter? TNB?

And what plane fits your style?  Cannons for buffs?  50 cals for eaze of lead?  30mm?  JABO?

When you flind your bird it is trully a great thing.  Kinda like finding the girl of your dreams.

For me she'll be fast, pretty, long legs, packs a punch, handles well at speed, hottern' a two dollar pistol, and razor-totem mean when she needs to be.  You know, the kind of girl you want to take downtown, not the kind you want to take home to mother

For me that is the FW-190A8.

For you it may be something else

[Karnak]

I liked the Mossie in AH1.  Haven't really had a chance to get to know an AH2 aircraft really well.

Sikboy,

I took an NS-37 hit while flying a Spitfire Mk XIV once.  Tore one of my radiators off though, barely made it home.

[Blooz]

What makes a good plane is having at least one characteristic that is better than all the rest then be able to exploit that characteristic to your advantage.

Climb, roll, dive, turn or speed demon doesn't matter. If you can do one of these things better than everyone else and can use it to advantage, you will consistently come out on top.

[guttboy]

C-47!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!