Originally posted by Furball
yeah, its a perk plane, so everyone within 25 miles gets $ sign eyes and chases you trying to kill you, dont get stupid in it unless you dont mind losing the perks....
It has awesome zoom climb, awesome speed below 22k or so, awesome guns, awesome dive ability. Its turning ability is rather average.
Tempest is possibly the best aircraft in aces high in my opinion.
There's no doubt that the Tempest is formidable. But, so is the Spitfire Mk.XIV. Indeed, at medium altitudes the Griffon Spit is the Tempest's worst nightmare. Then again, so is the P-51B, a much underused and underrated fighter of tremendous capability, especially at 10k-15k where it is the equal of any perk fighter.
My choice for best fighter is seldom used. In AH1 it wasn't nearly as capable as it is in AH2. That would be the F4U-4.
This late-war Corsair outclimbs the Tempest at any altitude. Acceleration isn't as good down low, but superior above 10k. It turns better (a lot better with one notch of flaps), rolls nearly twice as fast and hopelessly out-classes the Tempest in low-speed stability.
Don't pay any attention to the old AH1 climb charts, they do not reflect the changes in AH2, some of which (as in the case of the F4U-4) are substantial. In AH2, both the Tempest and SpitXIV took performance hits, but the F4U-4 finally matches the performance it should have had all along.
To confirm what I suspected with the AH2 F4U-4, INYO and I flew them head to head in the TA. After the merge, the F4U-4 could gain an advantage quickly, simply because it can be reversed faster. In climb comparison, we started out with the F4U-4 in the lead by 200 yards. We both went to full power with WEP and engaged auto-climb. By 15k, the F4U-4 was 3k distant. In level acceleration at 10k, the F4U-4 walks away. Down on the deck, the Tempest wins.
For passing and deflection shots, the F4U-4's stronger rudder provides yet another advantage.
Since we don't have the F4U-4B, with its four Hispanos, the Tempest easily wins the firepower comparison.
For general MA use, the F4U-4 is a more versatile fighter. It can haul more ordnance and being a carrier fighter, it can show up anywhere. Because it doesn't have a radiator, it is also the more durable of the two.
Those of you who are not familiar with the AH2 F4U-4, drop by the TA and take one up. Bring a friend or squadie to fly the Tempest. I believe you will be amazed at how good the F4U-4 really is and how much better it is than the AH1 version.
My regards,
Widewing