Fear the Spit 16!

[Sloehand]

Originally posted by BaldEagl
I used to fly Spit XVI's exclusively and I'd say it's the best all around fighter in the game but not the best all-around plane.

It's really got a great balance of speed, manouverability, firepower, climb rate, dive rate, roll rate and acceleration allowing it to perform in any and every style of fighting.  Among those tools there is something there to defeat any opposing aircraft.  Also among those traits there is something that will allow any opposing aircraft to beat the XVI if the XVI pilot's not aware of his opponents strengths.

The only thing that keeps the XVI from being the best overall aircraft is it's lack of ord loadout and that moves it into a pure fighter catagory IMHO.  Due to that the F6F-5 is the best overall plane in the game followed closely by the P-38G but that's just my opinion.

I think the Niki is the best overall, all-mission fighter.  This doesn't require it excells in every, or any, specific category, it must just be all-round efficient and effective more situations.  In most flight characteristics it is average to a bit above average.  You're not going to chase down many planes, or out climb a few, but otherwise it can hold it's own when flown properly.  

It's great advantage is it's versitility for many types of missions - Base CAPs, Air Superiority, Long Distance NOE Mission Escort, Base Defense, Air-2-Ground Attack including anti-GV, Base de-acking/porking, Town Attack, Medium Alt Bomber Escort.

Aside from pure fighter characteristics the Niki-

- carries enough fuel, at a good burn rate, and a drop tank for long endurance missions.

- carries 4x 20mm cannons as opposed to guns with just about the third largest ammo load out.  Not the best 20mm in the game, but thoroughly effective for plane kills, buff kills, ground kills, etc.

- carries 2x 250kg bombs, (eqiv. 550 lbs.) for use against buildings, ord, barracks, radar, etc. and can take out any GV.  This is in ADDITION to the extra drop tank.

- has just about the best oil-loss endurance I've seen after a hit to the engine.

The only mission where it is limited is the very high alt intercept/escort.  Up to nearly 20K it's fine, but definitely not above that.

If I don't know exactly what to expect, or there is no single mission requirement that outweighs all others and a better plane is needed, (i.e. highest speed to reach fight quickly), then the Niki is what I'll take.

[SgtPappy]

Hey, all! good to see you all again.

I should be studying for exams but what the heck...

I find that the Mk.XVI's flat, turning radius is a little overmodelled.

Not sure, but I'd like to know. The Mk.XVI was an LF.IX with a Packard-built Merlin 66 dubbed the Merlin 266. Otherwise, the two aircraft were generally the same. In-game, our Mk.XVI has the 'E'-type wing - ea/ loaded with 20mm cannon (120 rpg; 135 in real life) and a fifty cal (250 rpg).

From what I've heard the 'E'-type wing was heavier than the 'C'-type, universal wing of the in-game Mk.IX. Though our Mk.IX is a Merlin 61-equipped plane, that version was lighter than the LF.IX with the 66.

Here are my weight tests:

Mk.XVI
full ammo/full fuel - 7241 lbs.
light (no fuel, ammo) - 6329 lbs.

Mk.IX
full ammo/fuel - 7303 lbs.
light (no fuel, ammo) - 6455 lbs.

With less wing area and similar weights, it should really turn worse than the IX at most speeds. Also, it should be heavier than the IX and therefore turn yet even worse.

[SlapShot]

Originally posted by Sloehand
I think the Niki is the best overall, all-mission fighter.  This doesn't require it excells in every, or any, specific category, it must just be all-round efficient and effective more situations.  In most flight characteristics it is average to a bit above average.  You're not going to chase down many planes, or out climb a few, but otherwise it can hold it's own when flown properly.  

It's great advantage is it's versitility for many types of missions - Base CAPs, Air Superiority, Long Distance NOE Mission Escort, Base Defense, Air-2-Ground Attack including anti-GV, Base de-acking/porking, Town Attack, Medium Alt Bomber Escort.

Aside from pure fighter characteristics the Niki-

- carries enough fuel, at a good burn rate, and a drop tank for long endurance missions.

- carries 4x 20mm cannons as opposed to guns with just about the third largest ammo load out.  Not the best 20mm in the game, but thoroughly effective for plane kills, buff kills, ground kills, etc.

- carries 2x 250kg bombs, (eqiv. 550 lbs.) for use against buildings, ord, barracks, radar, etc. and can take out any GV.  This is in ADDITION to the extra drop tank.

- has just about the best oil-loss endurance I've seen after a hit to the engine.

The only mission where it is limited is the very high alt intercept/escort.  Up to nearly 20K it's fine, but definitely not above that.

If I don't know exactly what to expect, or there is no single mission requirement that outweighs all others and a better plane is needed, (i.e. highest speed to reach fight quickly), then the Niki is what I'll take.

The F6F does all that and more ... the only thing is the cannons vs .50 cals ... but the .50 cal ammo load on an F6F is substantial enough to score many kills and from long distance where the N1K needs to get closer.

Don't get me wrong, the N1K is a very versatile airplane, but it doesn't quite match up to the F6F's versatility.

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by SgtPappy
Hey, all! good to see you all again.

I should be studying for exams but what the heck...

I find that the Mk.XVI's flat, turning radius is a little overmodelled.

Not sure, but I'd like to know. The Mk.XVI was an LF.IX with a Packard-built Merlin 66 dubbed the Merlin 266. Otherwise, the two aircraft were generally the same. In-game, our Mk.XVI has the 'E'-type wing - ea/ loaded with 20mm cannon (120 rpg; 135 in real life) and a fifty cal (250 rpg).

From what I've heard the 'E'-type wing was heavier than the 'C'-type, universal wing of the in-game Mk.IX. Though our Mk.IX is a Merlin 61-equipped plane, that version was lighter than the LF.IX with the 66.

Here are my weight tests:

Mk.XVI
full ammo/full fuel - 7241 lbs.
light (no fuel, ammo) - 6329 lbs.

Mk.IX
full ammo/fuel - 7303 lbs.
light (no fuel, ammo) - 6455 lbs.

With less wing area and similar weights, it should really turn worse than the IX at most speeds. Also, it should be heavier than the IX and therefore turn yet even worse.

The Spitfire LFIXe and XVIe were the same bird except for the engine, either the Rolls Royce Merlin 66 for the IXe or the Packard Merlin 266 for the XVIe.

The boost available for the XVI in the game is higher then that available for the earlier FIX we have I believe.

I also believe that flown by equal caliber pilots, the VIII will out turn the XVI due to the extra wing area.

[2bighorn]

Originally posted by Guppy35
I also believe that flown by equal caliber pilots, the VIII will out turn the XVI due to the extra wing area.

In AH spit VIII airframe weighs 290lb more than airframe of mark XVI.
At 50% fuel load the weight difference increases to 428lb due to larger fuel tanks, which translates (roughly) to 6% difference in weight and offsets the difference in wing area/wing loading.

That said, lighter aircraft with the same controls usually respond faster, coupled with the better roll rate, IMO advantage goes to mark XVI.

[dedalos]

Originally posted by 2bighorn
In AH spit VIII airframe weighs 290lb more than airframe of mark XVI.
At 50% fuel load the weight difference increases to 428lb due to larger fuel tanks, which translates (roughly) to 6% difference in weight and offsets the difference in wing area/wing loading.

That said, lighter aircraft with the same controls usually respond faster, coupled with the better roll rate, IMO advantage goes to mark XVI.

Maybe, but with your reflexes, the Lanc will kick your . . . .

[2bighorn]

Originally posted by dedalos
Maybe, but with your reflexes, the Lanc will kick your . . . .

I gave up on Lancs anyways. Thanks to HTC, I've got windmills to shoot at...

[dedalos]

Originally posted by 2bighorn


I gave up on Lancs anyways. Thanks to HTC, I've got windmills to shoot at...

Hmmmm, isn't there a story about a guy fighting windmillzzzzs?

[2bighorn]

Originally posted by dedalos
Hmmmm, isn't there a story about a guy fighting windmillzzzzs?

LoL, yeah, and he's about my age too

[toonces3]

Originally posted by bj229r
Hmmm..spit, SUCH a tough plane.... lets see, do I yank stick HALFway back, or ALL the way back....sooo many decisions to make

HAHAHA!

[SgtPappy]

Originally posted by Guppy35
The Spitfire LFIXe and XVIe were the same bird except for the engine, either the Rolls Royce Merlin 66 for the IXe or the Packard Merlin 266 for the XVIe.

The boost available for the XVI in the game is higher then that available for the earlier FIX we have I believe.

I also believe that flown by equal caliber pilots, the VIII will out turn the XVI due to the extra wing area.

That's right. It's the 'E' type wing that's different in addition to the + 18 lb. boost Merlin 266 of the XVI compared to the +16 lb. boost of the Merlin 61 of the in-game IX. The IX however, should be lighter, and with that extra wing area should turn better in comparison the XVI than it currently does. Because of this lightweight Mk. XVI, we got it outturning other planes it should not be outturning.

[B@tfinkV]

I took the Mk16 up in the MA the other day.

Its extremely easy to BnZ and get easy kills by basically flying like a score dweeb.

On the other hand, as a furballer, its totaly rubbish compared to the Mk5/8/9.



i think the dweebs are the ones who fly it like a P51, only from advantge and only when they know they cant be shot.
As a furballing and turn fighting craft, it really is just another spit.

[SlapShot]

On the other hand, as a furballer, its totaly rubbish compared to the Mk5/8/9.

Like I said before ... in a straight up fight (Co-alt / Co-E) ... the Spit V will eat the 16's lunch all day long.

[B@tfinkV]

but of course slap,  spit5 is the best turn fighter in the game!

EVAR!

[2bighorn]

Originally posted by SgtPappy
compared to the +16 lb. boost of the Merlin 61 of the in-game IX.

I've thought Aces High mark IX had only 15lb of boost. When they did change it to 16lb?