Author Topic: What plane for buff hunting?  (Read 3075 times)

Offline mna78

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What plane for buff hunting?
« on: January 03, 2008, 07:40:20 AM »
As per the title really, my usual turn planes are not the best for this kind of flight, what would be a good choice?

Obviously criteria would be: good fuel loadout, decent amount of ammo, cannon's preferable, strong and fast up at 15k.

My intial thoughts would be for the P51D or FW190-A8 anyone got any input on this?
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Offline Sindon

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What plane for buff hunting?
« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2008, 07:51:33 AM »
A8 would be a good choice with the 30mms.  It also has an A2A rocket capability that is fun but hard to use.  If you intend to stay high and want to cruise a long way, the TA152 is a good choice also.

For .50 cal birds I'd take the 47N over the 51 for bomber work, 8 x 50 cals is a hoot and the N shines up high.

Offline Xasthur

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What plane for buff hunting?
« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2008, 09:09:23 AM »
If you can handle the slow speeds and climb rate (if you're chasing buffs up) the 190 A8 is the best.

If spot buffs in the tower and want to catch them as they come back or run them down on their way home, the 109 K4 is the best.

Should only take you about 3 minutes to climb past 10k with WEP off.
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Offline trotter

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What plane for buff hunting?
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2008, 09:15:50 AM »
Or 190D

20mm cannons, good climb rate to 15k, decent performance at altitude, good armor for attacking buffs

Offline Geary420

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What plane for buff hunting?
« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2008, 09:18:05 AM »
152 or a G14 with Gondolas gets my vote.  In Mid-War I like the Yak9T, fun plane, big gun.

Offline Krusty

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What plane for buff hunting?
« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2008, 09:20:13 AM »
P-38. Good guns package, fast, climbs better than 190s, 2 engines to help you land after the single-ping-engine-death phenomenon.

190As are often just too slow to catch a bomber. If you're patrolling for them, already at alt, it's great, but not if you have to give chase.

109 G14 with gondolas also is good, as is the typhoon, tempest, la7 (but very short range), mosquito, and if you're patient (because it's slow) the 110G.

Offline Lusche

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What plane for buff hunting?
« Reply #6 on: January 03, 2008, 09:35:22 AM »
The perfect buff hunter would have:

- good rate of climb and reasonable high speed to get into position
- heavy armament to ensure quick kills
- a radial engine because you will be shot in the face and a radiator hit ends all your attacks in a few moments
- sturdy airframe and / or good armor
- no perk tag, so you can afford it ;)

There is no ideal plane in the set, but we have a many which come close in some respects.

If you go out on anti buff patrols: 109A8, all P47's, the F4U's (especially the -C). All are durable (radial engines) and have ample firepower. The A8 is maybe the best dedcated bomber killer of them all: Small size, heavy armor and excessive firepower.
If you expect the buffs to be really high (25K and above), go for the Ta-152 or P-47N. The Spit 14 has similar good high altitude eprformance, but it's short legs and somewhat lesser armament make this plane more suitable for intercept missions (and it's perked).
Other interceptors: 109K-4 (no plane climbs faster to altitude and still has enough WEP for combat), G-14 with gondolas.
Typhoons & Tempest have speed & firepower for this job, but they are quite vulnerable, they easily lose their radiator.
Ultimative buff hunter is of course the 262 :t

But of course there are many more capable planes. Actually you can kill buffs in most of the planeset. Setting up your attacks properly is ten times more important than choosing the "best" plane for the job.
« Last Edit: January 03, 2008, 09:38:46 AM by Lusche »
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Offline Krusty

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What plane for buff hunting?
« Reply #7 on: January 03, 2008, 09:59:24 AM »
The P-47s and the typhie have been mentioned, but in hindsight I think I'd lump them with the 190As. They're good if you're already up and searching for something to kill, but their really pathetic rate of climb makes them less than satisfactory for scrambling and chasing bombers

Offline Lusche

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What plane for buff hunting?
« Reply #8 on: January 03, 2008, 10:03:56 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Krusty
The P-47s and the typhie have been mentioned, but in hindsight I think I'd lump them with the 190As. They're good if you're already up and searching for something to kill, but their really pathetic rate of climb makes them less than satisfactory for scrambling and chasing bombers


This exactly why I put them under "anti buff patrol" and not under "interceptor" in my post...
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Offline trigger2

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Re: What plane for buff hunting?
« Reply #9 on: January 03, 2008, 02:10:01 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by mna78
As per the title really, my usual turn planes are not the best for this kind of flight, what would be a good choice?

Obviously criteria would be: good fuel loadout, decent amount of ammo, cannon's preferable, strong and fast up at 15k.

My intial thoughts would be for the P51D or FW190-A8 anyone got any input on this?


P51 would be good, if it wasn't for its 50 cals...

Go with the FW190 (that includes the TA-152)
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Offline Lusche

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Re: Re: What plane for buff hunting?
« Reply #10 on: January 03, 2008, 02:11:32 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by trigger2
P51 would be good, if it wasn't for its 50 cals...

 


6 .50cals put every bomber out of service quickly. Even the B Pony will do.
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Offline BaldEagl

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What plane for buff hunting?
« Reply #11 on: January 03, 2008, 02:19:16 PM »
Here's my list of preferred buff hunters:

Bf 109G-14
Bf 109K-4
Bf 110G-2
F4U-1C
Fw 190A-5
Fw 190A-8
Me 163
P-47D-25
P-47D-40
P-47N
Ta-152H
Tempest Mk V
Typhoon Mk I
Yak-9T

Generally, I leave buffs alone if I'm in anything else.
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Offline bushi

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What plane for buff hunting?
« Reply #12 on: January 03, 2008, 03:16:57 PM »
When I hunt buffs I dedicate that flight to positioning to intercept buffs. For a buff patrol, the jugs rule with ponies coming in up close second. It's really easy to cockpit shot buffs from 800 out with the .50's once you learn your angles.

Offline Motherland

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What plane for buff hunting?
« Reply #13 on: January 03, 2008, 03:47:51 PM »
Any German plane, with the exception of the 109E and the 109F, and the 109G2 w/o gondolas, would be fine for buff hunting.

Offline Krusty

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What plane for buff hunting?
« Reply #14 on: January 03, 2008, 03:48:59 PM »
I dunno... I once bagged a full formation of B-17s in a 109E, and had 24 20mm rounds left over when I landed.... This was a little while before the 109s were redone.