New And Can't Decide: P38L or Me109k-4

[Fianna]

For better or worse, I agree with Benny. I never flew spits to start, and, IMO, they won't teach you anything but to flat turn. Other planes force you to learn something in order to survive. Spits teach you how to pull the stick back.

It's up to you in this regard. None of us can pretend to know your mentality, so do what you think would be best for you.



And, after thinking about this for more than 15 seconds, I say take the K4. The 38 is big, and while it's not slow, it's definitely not the fastest. For a guy just starting, the speed of the K4 gives you a much better chance at surviving. If you find yourself surrounded by 2-3 bad guys, you can most likely just fly away.

Once you get the basics down, such as flap usage and energy management (which you'll need to learn to be successful in 109's and 38's), then you might want to try the 38. But until you get used to using flaps and energy, and unless you've flown other simulators, the 38 will just feel big, slow, and clumsy.







With all that being said, the plane is only part of the equation. If you want to learn and progress as a cartoon airplane driver, 95% of it is on you. Learn how to use your flaps ASAP!! Don't HO (you will learn absolutely nothing) and don't run from a 1 vs 1 fight (1 vs 1 is a really good oppurtunity to learn). Schedule time with a trainer.

[Guppy35]

And I'll go with AKAK on this one.  Unless you are a fantatic for a particular bird, or you are stubborn to the point where you won't get frustrated at dying a lot, I wouldn't start anyone in a 38 until they know the game a bit and how the flight model works.

The transition to a tougher bird can be hard because you die a lot and with the 38, it tends to be an awfully big target.  And, in particular if it's a G or a  J folks often will go for it first with a crowd figuring the guy flying it might have a clue.  I pay the price for being clueless and flying the 38G all the time as I get hit early and often  

Bottom line whatever you do, is it has to be fun.

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by Guppy35

Bottom line whatever you do, is it has to be fun.

That's the best tip in this entire thread.


ack-ack

[Bronk]

Originally posted by Fianna
For better or worse, I agree with Benny. I never flew spits to start, and, IMO, they won't teach you anything but to flat turn. Other planes force you to learn something in order to survive. Spits teach you how to pull the stick back.

It's up to you in this regard. None of us can pretend to know your mentality, so do what you think would be best for you.



And, after thinking about this for more than 15 seconds, I say take the K4. The 38 is big, and while it's not slow, it's definitely not the fastest. For a guy just starting, the speed of the K4 gives you a much better chance at surviving. If you find yourself surrounded by 2-3 bad guys, you can most likely just fly away.

Once you get the basics down, such as flap usage and energy management (which you'll need to learn to be successful in 109's and 38's), then you might want to try the 38. But until you get used to using flaps and energy, and unless you've flown other simulators, the 38 will just feel big, slow, and clumsy.







With all that being said, the plane is only part of the equation. If you want to learn and progress as a cartoon airplane driver, 95% of it is on you. Learn how to use your flaps ASAP!! Don't HO (you will learn absolutely nothing) and don't run from a 1 vs 1 fight (1 vs 1 is a really good oppurtunity to learn). Schedule time with a trainer.

Not to disagree with a fellow SAPPer.  But the spitfires Mk. V pre-nerf and the Mk.IX post were my main ride. While they didn't teach flap use, they did teach everything else.

I will say this though since switching to the 38. I think the 38 teaches good habits. By that I mean better energy management, which carries over to all AC.

Bronk

[Major Biggles]

i learned in a spit5, it was almost all i flew for ages.

it certainly didn't stunt my learning. i fly everything nowadays, and i'd like to think i'm pretty good in pretty much all of them. flying a spit while you're new is a GREAT way to learn ACM


learn to fly first before you learn to specialise.

since they neutered the spit5, try a spit8 donkey, it's a great plane, it's not too hard to fly, and it does everything fairly well.

after a month or so of getting used to the flight model, reach out and fly whatever you like don't resign yourself to flying just one plane though, fly em all. that way you'll know how to kill everyone else.

[DoLbY]

Best advice I could give is to just fly whatever you are most comfortable with. I am so, in the 51D because I like the speed and shooting with 50s is more challenging than with cannon planes IMO

[DoNKeY]

Cool thanks guys.

[Raptor]

Krusty I am sorry if that seemed like a personal attack, do realize I take nothing seriously in Aces High. As a constructive criticism though, you do not need to reply to any and every thread. Let the P38 jockeys explain how the P38 handles, let the Terrain guru's explain the terrain editor. I don't get involved in technical discussions for a reason (a recent example is the F4U flaps thread). And I only go to the computer help forums when I need help. I wouldn't trust me fixing someone elses computer (I only trust me fixing mine when someone tells me step by step thouroughly what to do:D )

You do have a wide range of knowlege, but you have some stronger points than others.

Bronk, as far as the P38 teaching you to fly smart... tell that to the 80th:lol
Where we would rather be fought over than fight for an assist:aok

[Pannono]

Originally posted by DoNKeY
Do the planes keep on flying without both wings and the tail just so you can get more gunnery practice?

yes

[Bronk]

Originally posted by Raptor


Bronk, as far as the P38 teaching you to fly smart... tell that to the 80th:lol
Where we would rather be fought over than fight for an assist:aok

I didn't say fly smart. I said it teaches good habits.
I still fly like a fool straight into a mess.

Bronk

[Cobra44]

Donkey,
 
   I prefer to use the 109 as a bomber interceptor (I myself fear the 109 when I'm in bombers). Most of the time I fly P-38s when I'm flying with a squadie.Not into a massive furball-It's suicide.

 I think that the P-38 is a fun-to-fly plane,but one hit from a cannon or 50.cal round on your tail boom,and it breaks off.(I've learned this the hard way from experience )  
 
   Good luck with your research.

                Cobra 44 ***THE LYNCHMOB***

[Mobius_1]

I would say learn the 109, but do not start with the K-4.  The reason i say this is because if I were new again I know it would be for me.  I would suggest starting in either the 109-g2, g6 or f4 because you will learn acm and figure out what the 109s are all about.  But i am also a fan of flying a few different aircraft.

[Fulmar]

Yeah I wouldn't start out in the K-4.  It depends on your fighting style and what the situation call for.  Turn in burn take the F-4, but its slower than most of the planes in the furballs.  Its a great plane to rack up perk points in however.  Shoot an La7 down and get 6 perks before the multiplier (granted that you land).  As you go up in models in the G's, you'll progessively become more BnZ dependant.

[JBA]

pick the one you prefer to die in.   JK.

[Krusty]

I'd suggest the G2 or F4 simply because of the 20mm guns (much easier to learn to shoot with those than with the horrible horrible 30mm on the K-4)