Thoughts on the F4u

[Hornet]

Looking for guys impressions on the new f4. Looks to me like a lighter a/c with better turning performance. How does it compare in dive/climb/zoom ability to the later versions?

I know there has been some mention that the f4u1d don't zoom like it should so wondering if this corsair does.

[Westy MOL]

Hey Hornet!  The F4U (any version) has been a bit of problem for me. Always had been but it seems to be more so lately with the changes in the latest versions ( I think they underwnet flap work).  I love the plane until I get dumb and get too slow with it.  At some point in a turn fight I often lose control and get a nasty flip when I stall that gets me into a spin. Which 90% of the time I cannot recover from. Keeping the plane in trim the whole time doesn't seem to have helped. I've gone in from 1,000 ft as wel as 15k.
 So beware the flip and spin  

  Westy

[Ripsnort]

I haven't noticed any change to the zoom capability, but the -1A certainly can turn the best out of the bunch, in a pinch, its not a bad turn and burn, but I would choose B and Z over T and B if given the choice.  -1A is a great perk-gathering plane (that is, if you are getting kills in it)

[Bozon12]

I flew the -1 quite a few times since it came out.
main reason was the beautiful paint work. that must count for somthing  
second, it has one of the longest fuel-time among the fighters (almost like a jug). check out my flight tests link.
third, and that i don't like, it climbs like a hog... 2.5kft/min, i think worse than the jug. take a DT and it drops to 2.2. Also there is no point taking it above 20-25k.
result is that you really must be carful with E. once you lost it you won't get it back so easily.
fourth, it rolls with some additional slide effect with combat trim, so adding rudder is needed sometimes. do some right/left winging and level - you'll see the nose still swinging from side to side violently (fuel in wings effect?).

A pretty plane and good practice for your SA.

Bozon

[Hornet]

heyas Westy thxs for the info, noticed its nasty flip at the end of a great scissors yesterday, kind of like the f6 had.

cyas up

[Hornet]

gotta agree w/ya on the paintjob Bozon  

Couple questions, have you run the prop-hang test since1.08? Would be interesting to see how the -1A compares to the D&C model.

Good point on the yaw effect, will try burning off the fuel on the wings first see if that helps. Perhaps its opposite of the pony's aux, seems counter-intuitive but will give it a go.

[Bozon12]

Couple questions, have you run the prop-hang test since1.08? Would be interesting to see how the -1A compares to the D&C model.  

F4UDOA posted a nice document describing tests of the -1, D, -4 models and comparisons. check it out:
http://www.geocities.com/slakergmb/id63.htm
It says that the -1 should be a tad faster then the D on the level  

I didn't do the prop-hanging test again since 1.07, but I'm sure all F4U's will have slightly better results. Not something that would change the picture though.
also, about zoom differences among diff F4Us, at the conditions of the experiment, there should be no real difference since power/weight ration is not that different betwin D and -1, and drag should be about the same. But havent tested it yet.
If you do test it, make sure to use the same amout of fuel, the -1 main tank is the same as the D so you have to empty wing tanks before the experiment (and perhaps changing CG) or calculate the same amout of fuel (check figures on my tests pages).
let me know if you do try it.

Bozon

[F4UDOA]

Heyas,

There are a number of things about the F4U in 1.08 that are interesting.

1. I was doing turn time testing in the F4U-1 and it took me 20minutes of testing before I gave up. It is impossible to do a max performance 360 degree turn at sea level without augering. The stall is vicious compared to other AH birds.

2. When flying the -1 remember that it has at 100% fuel more than 25% fuel than the -1D. So a 50% load in the -1 is roughly 65% fuel in the -1D. Also the -4 carries slightly less than the -1D. So if your going far bring a DT.

3. Flaps have been fixed. Due to poor climb in F4U-1/1D I wouldn't bleed speed below 200MPH for to long but 2 notches of flap will shock a Spit, NIK2 or even a Zero for about 1 full turn.

note: At the same indicated fuel level. 50% the F4U-1D will out turn the -1 because the -1 carries more fuel and the -1D accelerates better. So make sure you burn the fuel before you go knife fighting.

4. Bug I think. When using the F4U-1 the stall will naturally occur to the left. By burning the fuel in the left wing tank first it is possible to lesson the effects dramatically and increase turn performance. HOWEVER!! When you switch tanks in flight your engine will stop as soon as each wing tank empties. I have had this happen to me on many occassions with a full main and wing tank. So manual control is truely manual.

5. With 100% fuel the F4U-1 is the worst climbing A/C in AH to 20K(Non-Buff). Even the Mosquito and P-47D-11 will beat it easily. 100% fuel is like carrying DT's. 75% is good for almost all missions.

[Ripsnort]

I lost ya here F4UDOA, you said:

 

1. I was doing turn time testing in the F4U-1 and it took me 20minutes of testing before I gave up. It is impossible to do a max performance 360 degree turn at sea level without augering. The stall is vicious compared to other AH birds.

Then you go onto say:
 

3. Flaps have been fixed. Due to poor climb in F4U-1/1D I wouldn't bleed speed below 200MPH for to long but 2 notches of flap will shock a Spit, NIK2 or even a Zero for about 1 full turn.

So, you can, or cannot do a full 360 turn?

[ 10-30-2001: Message edited by: Ripsnort ]

[Boozer]

So, you can, or cannot do a full 360 turn?

 He can but then he augers  

[F4UDOA]

Hehe,

OK, have fun at my expense, I can take it.

I was testing at 100FT. test criteria accllerate to 200MPH, hit WEP half roll left pull untill I hear the stall buzzer and ride it 360 degrees without gaining or loosing any alt. I could not accomplish this in the F4U-1 in any cordinated manor without augering. It is just to sensitive on the edge of a stall. I genrally repeat the test twice to verify my result. I just couldn't get it together on that bird.

However when I fly it in the MA I am generally starting from speeds in excess of 200MPH and when my speed bleeds down to 200MPH I drop 2 to 3 notches of flap and I can get around very quickly using nose low turns. This works well as an offensive maneuver to close a kill. Defensively scissoring works well because the -1 bleeds E so quickly with flaps and is slow to acclerate. I have been able to get a couple of Yak kills this way.

In any case if someone could complete the test and post their results it would save me some time