Author Topic: FM2 - Help requested (Read 654 times)

ded · « **on:** May 22, 2006, 03:25:43 AM »

I hopped into an FM2 for the first time tonight and managed to make a fairly good showing for it. I'd like to learn how to fly it better. I have just over 2 weeks flying in AH2 so my bad habits should be minimal if someone would like to teach me a few things.

Any help would be ace.

Max · « **Reply #1 on:** May 22, 2006, 08:08:24 AM »

ded do a search for TequilaChaser and PM him a request for some training help.

TexMurphy · « **Reply #2 on:** May 22, 2006, 09:33:30 AM »

You should be carefull about flying the FM2 if you are a new pilot as it can give you VERY bad habbits.

The worst habbit you can get as a pilot is flat turning.

The FM2 has a very tight turning radius and hence invites to flat turning.

I dont know how much you know about Energy and Energy management but basicly here is a short version of what it is about... if you feel that you need to know more please post so and I will elaborate more.

*Energy is the combination of speed and altitude.

*Speed can be converted into altitude.

*Altitude can be converted into speed.

*All manouvers cost energy

*Manouvers with vertical movement convert speed into altidue or vise versa.

This means that a flat turn costs energy while it alters your direction of flight.

This also means that a immelman does convert speed into altitude while it reverses your heading.

A High YoYo convets speed into altidue and back into speed while it reverses your heading.

Flat manouvers do nothing but cost you energy. Vertical manouvers cost less energy and often reverse your heading FASTER then a flat manouver.

Why am I saying this?

Its because I do think that you should FIRST learn a plane which forces you to learn energy management and doesnt tempt you to just flat turn, like the FM2 does.

I would recommend (if you wana fly USN planes) that you first learn to fly the F6F and then move over to the FM2.

The F6F will force you to learn your Air Combat Manouvers (ACMs) and good energy management. Its very rewarding and efective when flown right but doesnt have any forgiving "easy out" characteristics (high speed, uber climb or very tight turn radious).

Then once you learn the F6F you fly the FM2 in the exact same way and you will be a VERY lethal FM2 pilot.

Tex

SlapShot · « **Reply #3 on:** May 22, 2006, 11:00:15 AM »

The FM2 can do alot of good things beside flat turn ... it's an excellent stall fighter and dives well. Flap usage is huge in the FM2. If you fly the FM2, don't expect to "get out of dodge" when things get hot ... it's not a speed demon by any stretch of the imagination ... you have to fight to the death ... yours or theirs.

As with anyone new to this game or genre ... once they figure it out, and realize that the horizontal plane is not the only plane, and begin take advantage of the veritcal plane, then things begin to happen ... and it doesn't matter what plane they are flying.

I have to agree, the F6-F is an excellent plane to start with ... it is probably the most versatile and fightable plane in the hangar.

TexMurphy · « **Reply #4 on:** May 22, 2006, 12:25:52 PM »

Speakin of "getting out of dodge"...

Dont rush into a fight.

Be patient.

Live at the perimeter of the fight. Avoid the center. Always have your back clear, by that I mean you are between the enemy and your home base and not the enemy between you and your home base. This is very important in slow planes.

If you get into the fight, win it then you do want to have a safer area towards which you can extend and rebuild E.

If you keep your back clear you will always have a direction towards which you can extend once you have killed your enemy.

Tex

Phtom · « **Reply #5 on:** May 26, 2006, 12:05:02 PM »

I love the FM2, P40E, F4F, and fly them regularly. Some of the early birds can be used very well to kill, but, it always seems that a spit16 or La7 runs me down on my way home...usually salty that they had died earlier to a early war plane

Phtom · « **Reply #6 on:** May 26, 2006, 12:06:30 PM »

Also Agreed the F6 is a versatile killing machine.
To learn E management...I think any model Corsair makes you do that. Low flat tturn in a Corsair always cost me a plane

pellik · « **Reply #7 on:** May 26, 2006, 05:36:06 PM »

I always thought of the FM2 as the best plane you can get on a CV.

It has only one weakness -- thrust.
The FM2 can dive with anything. It has decent E retention, although not great. The guns arn't superb, but if you're careful with convergence they are adequate.

This plane shines in aggressive defense. The rudder authority is what you'd expect from a navy bird, so dipping in and out of stalls to convert position is quite plausable. The stall characteristics allow this bird to compete with turners like the hurri and zeke despite lacking behind them in pure turn rate.

Learning to fly the FM2 is accomplished by keeping two considerations in mind: Using a vertical scissors to compensate for not having enough E to sustain a turn, and knowing when to commit to a turn. Stay light on the stick and keep a large turn radius while you have adequate positional advantage, taking advantage of the fact that few pilots know what the FM2 is really capable of. When they start winning they pull harder, and you can blow your E for some fantastic turns. Then you're both slow and they can't escape.

Attacking is also a matter of knowing when to turn hard. If you cut throttle and pull then the FM2 slows in a hurry, if you stay light it holds E well due to high weight. This means that you can take straifing runs on lower cons until they get low and slow, and you can cut throttle and drop in behind them without fear of them running. If they can run don't chase. You're in a defensive bird anyway.

Xjazz · « **Reply #8 on:** May 27, 2006, 01:35:36 AM »

Super-Brewster… err, FM2 like to fly sideways pretty much and that cause a lot of drag.

Remember to pay enough attention to the slip-ball and correct with rudder.

Phtom · « **Reply #9 on:** May 27, 2006, 02:18:23 AM »

Pellik

Looks like you enjoy the FM2 the way I enjoy the P40. People often underestimate these planes. Just the other day I had a TA152 drop in on the 6 of my P40. I nosed over and rolled away..losing about 1,500 feet but maintaining E. I find a lot of people don't realize how well the P40 can handle a dive and turn in it. The 152 underestimating the early bid flat turned to head towards me..costing him speed, and when he missed the HO he flat turned again to get behind me. We were both about 6K at this point. As he came at me dead six, I rolled over letting him pass by, then watched him pull straight up when he passed me. Knowing he flat turned 2x and pulled straight up, I was able to pull up and loop inside him.
One TA152 gets you about 12 perks in a P40

Oleg · « **Reply #10 on:** May 27, 2006, 05:37:34 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Phtom
To learn E management...I think any model Corsair makes you do that. Low flat tturn in a Corsair always cost me a plane

Only few best turners can stand against Corsair in turnfight.

pellik · « **Reply #11 on:** May 27, 2006, 09:46:55 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Phtom
Pellik

Looks like you enjoy the FM2 the way I enjoy the P40.

The P40 and FM2 have a lot in common during normal flight. The P40 has those high speed combat flaps and can out perform most anything in a dive. The FM2 has good elevator authority and high drag, which lets it bleed E nearly as well. The FM2 however has vastly superior stall characteristics and is much more dangerous on the deck when E runs out.

They are both fun planes.

pellik · « **Reply #12 on:** May 27, 2006, 09:48:36 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Oleg
Only few best turners can stand against Corsair in turnfight.

Seriously. I've taken down some talented and well known spit pilots in on the deck stallfights flying the F4U4. Damn that plane can scissor.

hubsonfire · « **Reply #13 on:** May 27, 2006, 09:51:13 AM »

Ded, Filth's pretty good in an FM2, but I can't recall any other folks I normally run into in one. It's a great plane for fighting, if that's what you want to do.

Widewing · « **Reply #14 on:** May 27, 2006, 11:26:12 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by pellik
Seriously. I've taken down some talented and well known spit pilots in on the deck stallfights flying the F4U4. Damn that plane can scissor.

Indeed, the F4U-4 is absolutely remarkable with its combination of turning, rolling and vertical performance. It retains E as well as anything, but can dump E faster than anything else, save another Corsair model. No other fighter has as many great attributes and no genuine weaknesses.

On the other hand, you want to avoid stall fighting with several types, such as the Niki and the newly uber 109F-4.

As to the FM-2 discussion.... Do not spend much time with the flaps down. Once the FM-2 gets slow its turn rate is very slow, and despite a very tight turn radius, it's an easy target.

Where the FM-2 truly excels is on the merge. Very few fighters can beat the FM-2/F4F-4 on the reverse. This is the case because few fighters scrub E faster or have a more impressive instantaneous turn rate.

For example, the FM-2 beats the 109F4 on the reverse without much sweat. So, the smart 109F driver doesn't reverse until about 1.5k out, and he reverses to gain an altitude advantage. If the FM-2 climbs to meet it, it will be dead in 10 seconds. If it doesn't, it will likely be dead anyway. However, should the 109F driver try to beat the FM-2 with an immediate reverse off the merge, the FM-2 will get an easy shot.

Knowing the capabilities and weaknesses of the enemy fighters is essential to success. Forcing the other guy to fight against your strengths is a key to winning. If you're going to fly the FM-2 a lot, learning methods of equalizing E states is really important, just as important as knowing how to conserve your own energy. Simply yanking and banking will not be enough.

My regards,

Widewing