Tips on the P-47

[Soviet]

I'm currently good at the Ki-61, La-5FN, La-7. Yak-9U, F4u1D, Fw-190D-9, and the bombers.

I wanted to learn the P-47 next.  But i'm not really sure how to fight in the P-47s?

what are each of the variants? someone says use the D-11 but the view behind you is terrible!! you can't even move your head to a favorable position.  But i'm determined to learn the P-47 can anyone give me some tips to get me started?

Thank you

~Soviet

[Kweassa]

Nice to see you again Sovi.

 As a layman, I can only give you two-tips:
 
 Always be higher than your opponent.
 Nothing outdives a jug.  
 

 Once P-47 is over 18,000 ft, and has alt advantgae, it seems like a decent BnZ fighter. And I just fight the normal way any BnZ fighters might. But besides that I know zilch.. U should try personally contacting Drex, Lephturn, or guys of the 56th.

[Urchin]

I can try to give you some tips, I don't have a whole lot of experience with the plane though.  I've flown it some, it will handle a little like a 190A5, but it doesn't turn as well as the A5.  

Your acceleration is going to be slow until you get to about 300 mph, so if you are trying to dive away from someone, give your self some wiggleroom for when they outaccelerate you in the beginning (try to start diving when the enemy is at least d800 away, that way they'll never really get a good shot on you.  The climb rate on the Jug is fairly low, the zoom climb is actually about average when you stack it up against what it'll be facing in the MA.  It was historically known as a great zoomer, but the LA7, 190D9, 109G10, and N1K2 will zoom with it, and they are all fairly common planes.  

As far as tactics go, you'll want to make sure you are around friendlies, the P47 isn't really a good "lone-wolf" plane.  Also make sure that you are HIGHER than the plane you want to attack.  This is true for every plane, but doubly so for the P47.  Make a diving pass, then climb back up.  Your good zoom rate will let you stay above your target for a few passes.  If you target makes a lame duck break (at least a break turn you think you can follow)- you can follow him through it.  You WILL lose your speed advantage by doing this, but the P47 is a GREAT turner at high speeds.  Unfortunately, you only get one high speed turn, since the P47 bleeds speed off faster than any plane I've flown, other than the 190.  I wouldn't be afraid to go for the HO either- start shooting around d1.5 or so (your bullets will go out to d1.2 or so and the enemy will be flying into them).  Break off once you are at around d600, because that is when the cannon birds will start shooting back.

The best advice I can give is fairly simple.  Climb high, stay high.  Don't engage multiple bandits if you can help it.  Be very patient in your attacks, go for snapshots (you've got so much ammo you can fire if you think you might have a shot), don't get sucked into a turnfight with anything.

Hopefully Drex, Lephturn, or some of the 56th guys can come in and tell you how to deal with certain planes.

[-ammo-]

I will post something tonite. Just got up, gotta go to work...as usuall, the 3 day weekend waas wayyyy to short

[Sancho]

My advice: take a wingman, attack in numbers, keep your speed high at all times--above 200 IAS, optimally 250 IAS.  Don't fight on the deck in the MA. Climb up to at least 15k before entering fights and always leave yourself about 5000 feet to escape if you get in trouble.  Pick your fights well and know when to leave.

Resist the urge to turn hard--the jug has a poor sustained turn rate, but it turns very well initially at high speed. The drawback is it bleeds energy so fast and gets it back so slowly, once you turn you have lost your speed and are extremely vulnerable.

One final tip: learn to shoot well.  If you miss on your first attack in a jug, you often won't get a second or third chance.

[-ammo-]

Good advice from sancho.

The P-47's strengths are its relatively high speed..in this arena it is not that fast but in 1943, 1944 it was fast enough. It has a great dive, however if you are slow and enter your dive it is initially slow. You are vunerable at this time. But a little time and some altiutde bleeding away and you will distance alot of fighters. The P-47 is a great Boom and Zoom AC, but you gotta resist the urge to track the bandit. He will turn hard to get out of the way, and a poor P-47 driver will attemp to follow. Better to recover your altitude and setup another aggressive pass. Keep it up as long as you can and he will make a mistake. The P47 has a decent roll rate at high speed..250+. Use it to your advantage. Dont get into low alt furballs with the thing, it wont suit you.

best part, its guns great 50 cals will really shred a 109.

stay fast

[Soviet]

So what variant should i use? i heard the D-11 variant is best for fighting but i'm tempted to use the D-30 because of the superior visibility??

[-ammo-]

alll of them are close in p[erformance. The D11 is a little lighter and is less forgiving in a stall fight, however dont stall fight in it and expect much. Fly them fast in a boom and zoom stylle and this advice applies to all 3 variants. Best thing for you to do is fly all three variant for an entire tour. Learn the AC, expect some frustration, but call it fun and learning.

[SKurj]

I like the D25... dunno why..  It doesn't have the dive flaps, which would come in handy for my vertical buff attacks tho.


SKurj

[Sky Viper]

P47 is a nice ride...if you use it right.

Last night 3 of us from No. 54 Squadron (DEEJ, Booky, and myeslf) took to the skies over A19 in our P47D-25.
Loaded with nothing but guns and 100% fuel we climbed out to 18k.  Once on the scene at 19 we found that most of the enemy were low.

We chased down an F4U-1D and ate his lunch, then tag teamed an N1K that tried to help his fallen buddy.
Now at 3k, we climbed out and got back up to 10k or so before turning back into 19.
We took down at least 13 enemy and assisted on another 6-8.
I was the last one out of the area, but I flew for quite a while (maybe 30 min) without taking a single hit.
My wingmen were lost because they tried to turn after diving in on an opponent.  This is where the P47 goes bad.

I find that it bleeds energy (AKA E) rather quickly in a bank or climb, but holds rather well in a flat run with shallow moves.

As for the acceleration, I don't sweat the lack of it when engaged with Co-Alt/Co-E enemy.
If I get on the guns end of an enemy, I just put my her into a "ZERO G" dive and kick in the WEP.  Watching over my shoulder for tracers, I will roll lightly or feed light elevator motions to avoid getting hit. Around 450mph or so you will be pulling away from most planes (not all) in the arena. Level out and keep going until you are out of Icon range.  Then climb back up to safety.

If you want to do more turning, try the -11. I would still caution against turning to much.  It is easy to get trapped in a "Low E" state.

In summary, for all the Jugs, be patient and keep the speed up!  They do well at 300mph + and the 8x .50cals really put a hurt on at those speeds!  

Sky Viper
XO No. 54 Squadron
 

[Am0n]

would this information also apply to a F4? i havent had much success flying any p47, but im quiet keen on the F4 and they seem to be some what the same style of fighter.

Also what is (WEP)War emergency power?? i here people talk about it but how do you use it? what is it?


After hereing you guys talk about the jug i may have to try it with a more open mind. I think my biggest problem is that i have a tendincy(spelling) to want to follow the target when they turn on my dive, thus loosing energy and soon after my plane. I should be watching my speed to know when to stop correcting to kill and break away, but im a serious rookie.

[Lephturn]

The F4U will do everything the P-47 can do almost as well, and a lot of it better.  It's faster.  It dives as well.  It's almost as tough.  It has 2 less guns.  On the up side, the F4U turns better than the P47, and also bleeds less energy while maneuvering.

If you fly the F4U as recommended for the P47 above, you should do very well indeed.  The same energy fighting and boom and zoom tactics are required in both planes.  The Hog is just a little better at conserving it's energy.

[Am0n]

Lephturn could you (or anyone pls) tell  me what "WEP" is? (how u would utilize it)

thank you for the info

[Sancho]

WEP = War Emergency Power

This is a temporary boost of engine power to be used in combat.  You activate it with the "P" key--at least I think that is the default.

[Naudet]

All what i read here works also very well with the FW190.

It seems the main attribute a good BnZ fighter (P47, FW190, P38) should build up is patience andd his worst enemy is not the guy under the red dot but his on greedyness that will put him into trouble.

About the WEP issue.
As Sancho said it boosts ur engine power for a limited period (about 10 mins max).

But u also asked when to use it.
I am mostly fighting with the FW190D9 and i use it in almost any fighting situation. The D9 has MW50 boost that means compared to other WEP forms the engine doesnt heat up so fast.
Only fights i dont use it, is when i have plenty of alt to work with. cause than i have enough room to build up speed and regain alt without using WEP.

As one good example of how WEP works, here an incident that happened a while ago.

I tangaled with a P38 and we ended up in circles, my D9 was very light and the P38 seemed to be somewhat hvy, we had the exact turning circle for about 5-7 full 360 degree turns, than the P38 seemed to have used up its WEP and i slowy gaine, when my WEP to ran out. Again we were caught in those stupid low speed circles.
I had to break off due to fuel shortage.
But the thing is, if my WEP would have stayed on for just 30 secs more the P38 would have been shreddered.

simple formula:

WEP--> more power --> better overall performance --> better chances to be successful

[ 09-13-2001: Message edited by: Naudet ]