How to beat the f4u ?

[hlbly]

Any tips on how to beat the f4u,s vs. spit 8 9 14 16 ? especially with equal or roughly equal E states .

[Yenny]

Take em vert=)

[BnZ]

To expand on what Yenny said, the Spit will turn better than the Corsair when both airplanes have their flaps up. The Spit also has a big advantage in thrust-to-weight vs. every Corsair except the F4U-4. The Corsair can start turning a smaller circle than the Spit by deploying flaps, rolls faster, and can can dump speed faster. But flaps increase the drag and cost E the F4U can't get back easily. So use turn fighting on the Corsair until it start using flaps to compete, then start climbing against it.

[Saxman]

The problem comes in if you're up against a Hog stick who knows how to maintain his E and position. An experienced Corsair pilot knows not to scrub his E to turn against a Spit for the exact reasons described by BnZ. He'll keep the fight more open, where the Spit is at something of a disadvantage.

Co-E, or even at a small disadvantage the Corsair is by far superior in the zoom, so can actually catch or lose a Spit in the initial part of the climb. Additionally, while the F4U has various tricks to dump E more rapidly her greater mass ALSO allows her to hold on to energy better as well (thus the better zoom, which may be one of the best of any ship in the game). The Corsair remains controllable at airspeeds the Spit can only dream of. While acceleration in the initial part of the dive the F4U needs a little breathing room, once she starts to wind it up the Spitfire will find it very difficult to keep up. The Hog's rate of roll is spectacular at all speeds so can be difficult to keep in-phase to begin with, but this actually IMPROVES as airspeed piles on. Don't be surprised to see a Hog in trouble point that big nose down and start rolling like mad to throw you out of plane. Chasing the F4U through a zoom climb can be a very dicey proposition. Besides the fact she'll open a bit due to her superior zoom, you MUST watch for wing-overs at the top of vertical extensions. The Corsair has a VERY effective rudder (rudder authority in the F4U is one of the best of any other ship in the game) and can haul herself over almost instantly and give you a face full of .50cal.

You also have to concentrate your fire. The Corsair won't soak up ammo like some aircraft, but she's still a tough bird and if you're not hitting her consistently and in-convergence she can be frustrating as she flies through a hail of machine gun and cannon fire and escapes a little dinged up, but intact. The horizontal stabs, outer wing panels, the fuselage immediately aft of the cockpit and engine are all particularly vulnerable to fire, and are your best aim points (this is in opposition to the Spit, which will fall apart when hit pretty much anywhere). Don't count on one-pass kills unless you're able to really get saddled up.

[hlbly]

Take em vert=)

When I try that I get popped !

[BnZ]

You also have to concentrate your fire. The Corsair won't soak up ammo like some aircraft, but she's still a tough bird and if you're not hitting her consistently and in-convergence she can be frustrating as she flies through a hail of machine gun and cannon fire and escapes a little dinged up, but intact. The horizontal stabs, outer wing panels, the fuselage immediately aft of the cockpit and engine are all particularly vulnerable to fire, and are your best aim points (this is in opposition to the Spit, which will fall apart when hit pretty much anywhere). Don't count on one-pass kills unless you're able to really get saddled up.

Unless you get in the mysterious one-ping-from-any-angle-Pilot-wound-despite-the-big-plate-of-metal-behind-pilot's-head shot in on the Corsair.  

[hlbly]

Co-E, or even at a small disadvantage the Corsair is by far superior in the zoom, so can actually catch or lose a Spit in the initial part of the climb

how long/hi will the f4 climb better ? And with that huge radial engine shouldn't a climbing spiral make it bleed enough E that it cant keep up ? Especially vs. a Mk.14 ?

[Yenny]

=D 5-10 20mm rounds to the wing rule still apply to F4U ! 1 shot wonder w00t!

[BnZ]

When I try that I get popped !

You can't just pull up and vertically outrun a Corsair with a full head of steam in any aircraft except the  163... and then it might be close

You have to get the Corsair slow before the engine thrust of the Spit gives an advantage in vertical fighting.

Complicated isn't it?  

And oh yeah, the Corsair can extend just about anytime it has the diving room to get up to speed, and thus holds the best trump card one airplane can hold vrs. another-the ability to engage and disengage at will.

See why people like the Hogs so much yet?  

[Blooz]

how long/hi will the f4 climb better ? And with that huge radial engine shouldn't a climbing spiral make it bleed enough E that it cant keep up ? Especially vs. a Mk.14 ?

It's the same difference between throwing a whiffle ball and a real baseball. A real baseball will travel much farther. The Corsair weighs twice as much as the Spitfire and it's inertia is what gives is a good zooming climb.

In a sustained climb the Spitfire will easily outclimb the Corsair. You need to have a nice head start in case the Corsair has alot of excess speed built up or he will catch you going up.

[hlbly]

It's the same difference between throwing a whiffle ball and a real baseball. A real baseball will travel much farther. The Corsair weighs twice as much as the Spitfire and it's inertia is what gives is a good zooming climb.

In a sustained climb the Spitfire will easily outclimb the Corsair. You need to have a nice head start in case the Corsair has alot of excess speed built up or he will catch you going up.

So throwing a spiral in wont help ? I understand the size difference like a 5.56 round versus a 7.62 round ,heavier will carry farther . however doesn't a dart fly better than a brick ? doesnt that radial create huge drag especially when turning . Isnt that why the germans tried a cowl on the 190 ?

[moot]

The main thing that'll slow down and hamper a hog is its weight, even if it's a -4 thrusting itself around like a big bull despite low speeds.  Inertia will slow it down below rhythms that a spitfire can easily sustain in low speed stall fights.  In a spit, you can basicaly dance around the hog as it tries to keep up with you.

[BaldEagl]

So throwing a spiral in wont help ? I understand the size difference like a 5.56 round versus a 7.62 round ,heavier will carry farther . however doesn't a dart fly better than a brick ? doesnt that radial create huge drag especially when turning . Isnt that why the germans tried a cowl on the 190 ?

Yes, a spiral climb will help because it bleeds E like crazy but if the Hog as a lot of E to begin with and starts far enough back to not have to turn much to follow your spiral then it won't help.  Spiral climbs are always a judgement call.

[Yenny]

Yea, basically break it down. Kill its E, then take it up.

[BnZ]

Keep in mind guys, it is weight-to-drag ratio that counts. If airplanes are bullets, some have a better ballistic coeffecient than others.A Jug is even more massive than a Hog, but doesn't zoom quite as welll, because it is somewhat draggier. A Pony is lighter, but will regain about as much alt in a zoom climb because the drag is so low.

Now some technical questions: Since drag is proportional to velocity squared, and prop effeciency goes down at higher speeds, would that mean that the airplane with the better weight/drag ratio would have the advantage in the vertical at higher speeds. But the airplane with the better weight/power ratio would have the advantage in the vertical as speeds got lower? Or am I totally off-base on that?