FSO: 1000 Miles (Aleutians) - P39D

[ghostdancer]

Okay Gentlemen,

The P39D is out along with the new patch version. It is Wednesday night so I will evaluate the plane tonight and make a decision on whether the allies get it or not in limited numbers.

I am a little leery of having large numbers of it in Frame 2 basically because it such an unknown quantity to all pilots. It could hold its own in this event, it could do well, or could be slaughtered. I really won't have an idea until I test it out and then make a decision if it is okay to use when possibly quite a few allied pilots will be getting into it the first time in the event.

[ghostdancer]

The gunsight for the P39D seems to be fine.

The 37mm cannon is not particular accurate. Haven't been able to hit anything in the air with it. However the 2 x .50s and 4 x .30s are very nice and I have been able to shred things with it. Plus massive ammo load of 1000 rounds per .30 and 200 rounds per .50.

It is much faster than the A6M2 but the A6M2 has a better climb rate.

Not sure how the turn rates stack up but I would assume the A6M2 has the advantage.

Best performance area seems to be 12K and 15K for the P39D.

I am incline to let the allies use this plane instead of the P40E.

[trax1]

Rgr that, I will incorporate the P-39 into our plans.

[ghostdancer]

Please use the 37mm cannon version. The 20mm seems to be rather inaccurate also but as far as I can tell there were no P400s in the Aleutians (the American designation for the P39 with the 20mm cannon).

[trax1]

Will do.

[ghostdancer]

Additional testing by myself and Sled show that the P39D has good stall characteristics. The climb rate between the P39D and A6M2 are pretty close up to 15K. The P39D definitely has a speed advantage up to 15K. Above 15K .. woah does performance go down.

The 37mm is hard to hit things with. The 20mm (not used in this event) seems to a low velocity gun.

However, the 2 .50s and .30s are nice ... and with the ammo loads I think are the equal if not better than the P40B.

Turn rate is okay and actually pretty good at medium speeds.

[Imoutfishing]

Hmmm from what I see from flying it I think it will give the A6M5b's fits.  I would hold off a frame and do some more leg work.

MGD

[ghostdancer]

I had a good match up against the A6M2 with it. The P39D is faster at low to mid alt (15K). Climb rates are basically equal. The A6M2 is more maneuverable by far (flaps really bleed energy in the P39D). The P39D can outdive the zeke  .. but so can the P40B.

The 37mm is next to useless in air to air, it has a massive and I mean massive drop off. In a dogfight against an A6M2 .. you are either luck or really, really good shot to hit with the 37 mm.

The rest of the gun set is the same as the P40B except that the 4 .30s have a boat load of ammo (1000 rounds each). The .50s have 200 each .. so it looks like you have a ton of machine gun ammo at 4400 rounds on your counter but at the the 3200 round mark you are down to just 4 .30s.

But I have kept its numbers restricted in frame 2. Depending on things turn out in frame 2 I might enable more in frame 3.

[WOLF359]

I see the cannon being useful against bombers but that is about it.