Flying light bombers as fighters
One of my favortite things to do in the MA from time to time is to take up a single-engine dive bomber or light bomber and use specifically as a fighter.
Typically, I include the SBD-5, TBM-3 and IL-2 in this group.
Last evening, I flew an SBD defending a base against a steady stream of incoming enemy fighters and bomber formations. Generally, I'll climb out to about 8,000 feet and await the incoming aircraft.
I managed to kill a Spit16 and a Niki, both being easy kills as they attempted to turn with the SBD. Unless you are flying a Zero or Hurricane, don't do that.... I added an assist on a Tiffie and had killed an Ostwind prior to that.
Later, I went offline and tested the SBD and the TBM for turn radius and turn rate. MOSQ had tested the SBD recently and with full flaps generated a turn radius of 397 feet, at 17.3 degrees/second @ 82 mph.
I believe that MOSQ had allowed his speed to degrade too much. I was able to generate a radius of 387 feet at 19.3 degrees/second @ 89 mph.
With four notches of flaps, I saw 405 feet at 19.9 degrees/sec ond @ 96 mph.
For the TBM with full flaps, I recorded 391 feet at 20.2 degrees/second @ 94 mph. The TBM has over 600 more horsepower than the SBD, and this added thrust shows up as an advantage in turn rate.
Compare those numbers to the Spit16: 450 ft, 19.9 degrees/sec @ 107 mph. The Niki can do at least 414 ft, 22.5 degrees/sec at 111 mph.
Many players see planes like the SBD and TBM and assume they will be easy kills. If they fail to maintain a significant speed advantage, they can find themselves in deep trouble.
My regards,
Widewing