P-61 Black Widow

[uberslet]

Japs hated the p-61 due to the color.  they fear the color black.

if i go to japan ill wear black  P61 would be fun, but really only on Christmas eve when it truly gets "dark" if thats the case. I havn't flown one yet

[DREDIOCK]

Repeating something I posted a couple weeks ago...
You guys do realize that the radar on the night fighters of the period was extremely short-ranged don't you? Hell, the Black Widow's radar (which was a pretty big airborne radar for the time) only had a range of 5 miles.  That's less than the visual range we have now. Like uberslet said, it would only be useful on Christmas Eve, and then only with ground-based radar or a controller to get you in the ball park.
I guess we could microwave squeekers with it.

As cool as the P-61 is, and it is very cool (those spoilers give this big boy a nasty roll rate ), it would be all but useless in AH.

you do realise that the radar on almost all other planes in WWII had a range of...0 miles.
Cause most WWII aircraft didnt have radar like we do in the game 

[Cthulhu]

you do realise that the radar on almost all other planes in WWII had a range of...0 miles.
Cause most WWII aircraft didnt have radar like we do in the game 

No, but they were in radio contact with radar operators & controllers on the ground. The point was that the Widow's radar would add nothing to the game (an observation with which you obviously agree).

[Ack-Ack]

you do realise that the radar on almost all other planes in WWII had a range of...0 miles.
Cause most WWII aircraft didnt have radar like we do in the game 

The 10- centimeter SCR-720 (British designation Mark VIII and X) airborne radar had a 6.5 mile range.


ack-ack

[lyric1]

If this is the same thread that asked if the widows had ord prior to the BBS crash. I just got this book In the book it mentioned that some squadrons did not have any enemy aircraft to shoot down so they put bombs rockets & napalm on them & were used for day time attacks for the most part. There is a number of pictures showing these planes.

[Peeweesp]

heres a cool link

http://www.maam.org/p61.html

They have been restoring one since the early 90's.

it would be awsome to see one in game.

[Cthulhu]

If this is the same thread that asked if the widows had ord prior to the BBS crash. I just got this book In the book it mentioned that some squadrons did not have any enemy aircraft to shoot down so they put bombs rockets & napalm on them & were used for day time attacks for the most part. There is a number of pictures showing these planes.

Yeah, I was asking about that. Good find lyric1.

[100goon]

if i go to japan ill wear black  P61 would be fun, but really only on Christmas eve when it truly gets "dark" if thats the case. I havn't flown one yet

i has been getting darker i have noticed all most pitch at around 3:30-5:30 pm est { estern standard time }

[Cajunn]

I would like to see it in too...always did like that plane for some reason even though its ugly as sin!

[Noir]

Remember, the versions that saw service in WWII were the A and B with the 366mph top speed.

It would be fun, yes, but it isn't going to be the 430mph monster some hope for.

Hardly worth our time...too slow to intercept anything, big target, easy kills for fighters.

[Widewing]

Hardly worth our time...too slow to intercept anything, big target, easy kills for fighters.

It's worth my time... 25 mph faster than the A-20G, turn radius superior to the F6F and the most potent gun set in the game. Four bombs of up to 1,600 lb each (6,400 lb total). I'd be happy to fly this beastie. It was more than a night fighter, being used frequently for interdiction and ground attack. With nearly full-span flaps, its power-on stall speed was as low as 65 mph...

Think about it... Compared to the current Mosquito in the game, the P-61B is only slightly slower at 335 mph at sea level. The Mossie climbs better by about 400 fpm. The P-61B offers 3 times the bomb load, superior gun package (secondary of four .50s vs four .303s), superior turn radius and durability of not having radiators. Plus, there's a rear gunner who can use the upper turreted four .50s to defend against fighters. 800 rounds of 20mm, 2,240 round of .50 cal. Turret automatically set to fire forward unless over-ridden by the gunner.

Yeah, I'd welcome the Black Widow.

My regards,

Widewing

[lyric1]

Some pics of widows & ord.             

[Cthulhu]

Here's some informal data I just Google'd up and openly plaigarized:

"I would speculate that the claims of the Black Widow being very maneuverable and having high performance are limited to the P-61C model. It was some 60+ mph faster in level flight (430 mph/30’ K) than the P-61B, had an 8,000’ higher service ceiling (41,000’), and was powered by 2,800wep hp turbo-supercharged engines fitted with wide chord paddle blade props, vs. 2,250wep hp; both engine setups used two stage, inter-cooled supercharging systems.

The upper wing surface spoilers of the P-61B were replaced by very large, four-segment (two above and two below each wing), perforated, powered, fighter/air/speed brakes – these last, combined with the use of differential engine power (to aid in turning) probably account for most of the maneuverability claims. Certainly, using the speed brakes differentially, along with the ailerons, would improve the roll rate over the P-61B, and the turn rate must have been very fast. When the speed brakes were used together, the P-61C was able to slow rapidly, so as to not over run its target. The P-61C did not see service during WWII, but served postwar until 1949."

If it's bogus, I suspect Widewing will drop the hammer any minute now.

[Widewing]

If it's bogus, I suspect Widewing will drop the hammer any minute now.

Pilot reports show that the P-61 could out-turn the F6F-5. All P-61s had a very tight turn radius.

When I see someone admit to speculating ("I would speculate that the claims of the Black Widow being very maneuverable and having high performance are limited to the P-61C model"), it means that they didn't bother to do any serious research. Performance was mediocre, but handling was terrific.

My regards,

Widewing

[Karnak]

P-61 would be a fun airplane, no doubt.  I just think there are other things that should have higher priority to be added.