Originally posted by Benny Moore
That's quite impossible. Not only is the F6F far too slow to be a "best" fighter, but the F4U, as Saxman pointed out, does everything better.
I think you will have to quantify that by being specific as to which F4U we are talking about. The Hellcat carries the same ordnance load as the F4U-1D and climbs much better when fully loaded. That means you will have more altitude when heading from a CV to a target. Especially when the field is hot with enemy fighters.
Then again, I have some issues with the flight modeling. The F6F-5 is at least 20 mph too slow at its best altitude (should be neck and neck with the F4U-1D at 20k). There is a serious dynamic instability in the roll axis at high angles of attack. On the contrary, the F4U, which should be notably less stable than the Hellcat, is rock steady under those conditions and a paragon of genteel handling. Our F4Us display none of the vices known in the RW. The F6F-5 has vices that didn't exist in the RW. If they ever fix the F6F, it'll move up in the standings. It should also be able to carry the centerline tank AND 2 bombs, or 3 bombs (as should the F4U-1D).
Turning circles are virtually identical.
I'll take the F6F-5 over the F4U-1 as it is better in the vertical. I'll take it over the F4U-1C as a dogfighter (although those 4 Hispanos can make up for its reduced agility in many instances).
As favorites go, I like them in this order:
1) F4U-4
2) F4U-1A
3) F6F-5
4) F4U-1C
5) F4U-1D
6) F4U-1
7) FM-2
8) Seafire Mk.II
9) A6M5
10) F4F-4
11) A6M2
12) TBM (similar turn radius to Hurri IIC)
13) SBD-5 (decent dogfighter when required)
14) D3a (very agile, but almost worthless in firepower)
My regards,
Widewing
