P-47 Guide

[Delirium]

Would it be acceptable to add popular/frequent questions about the P38 to the discussion area of it's pages as well?

[Murdr]

Would it be acceptable to add popular/frequent questions about the P38 to the discussion area of it's pages as well?

AHWiki:Talk pages

A talk page is a space for editors to discuss improvements to articles and other pages.

Not really what the talk pages are for, but if you had a list of FAQ's and answers about a plane it could be edited into the appropriate page, or maybe even warrent its own new page if the content is broad enough.

There's also nothing sacrosanct about the "Flying the [plane] in AHII" sections of the aircraft pages.  Soda's evaluations were intended as a starting point for others to edit/add to.  Soda himself said he would be very interested to see what changes the community might make to his write-ups when he agreed to contribute his evaluations.

[Delirium]

I don't want to hijack this thread, I'll send you a PM, Murdr.

[ScottyK]

the one thing i didnt see in the bombing section is the use of dive flaps.  Tho not available in the N they are usefull to control your speed in the dive and to retract them as soon as u pickle off your bombs to gain speed on your exit

[budika]

Wait I always thought a tail heavy plane spins easiest. Did I read this wrong or do I need to check my meds?

EDIT: Should have read all the way through the posts first... sorry.

Please forgive me for coming to this thread late, but it's been a fantastic read so far, but I can't help but wonder: how in the world does one "choose" between fuel tanks? I was under the assumption that the order in which tanks were utilized was pre-determined.

Your tolerance for indulging this n00b is greatly appreciated.

[Rich46yo]

Please forgive me for coming to this thread late, but it's been a fantastic read so far, but I can't help but wonder: how in the world does one "choose" between fuel tanks? I was under the assumption that the order in which tanks were utilized was pre-determined.

Your tolerance for indulging this n00b is greatly appreciated.

Check your shortcuts page and you'll find the keyboard shortcuts to change fuel tanks.

[moot]

Shift-F and what Rich said.
http://trainers.hitechcreations.com/

[fyvsix]

We have bided our time waiting alone and in the dark. We of the 56th! We have pleaded for years! We have argued that a light N is not the pinnacle! We have dreamed! We have lusted! We now have conquered! The Thunderbolt Revolution is to begin anew with new rigor and zeal! Long live the M!

You have been warned!

CAVE TONITRUM

[Messiah]

We have bided our time waiting alone and in the dark. We of the 56th! We have pleaded for years! We have argued that a light N is not the pinnacle! We have dreamed! We have lusted! We now have conquered! The Thunderbolt Revolution is to begin anew with new rigor and zeal! Long live the M!

You have been warned!

CAVE TONITRUM

If you fly like you outlined in your original post I'm not the least concerned 

[crutch]

just remember this is a sim, not the 'real world'.  in the RW you could find just about any configuration of Jug as Republic produced 'kits' for use in the field to bring older AC closer to current marks.

probably what AH has done is use the 'factory' definition of a type for the game.

in the field toothpick props were replaced with paddle blades as they became available.

[W7LPNRICK]

My typical fuel loads:

D11  100% (almost always, regardless of mission type)
D25  75%
D40  75%
N     75%

If the fight is a little farther away, I'll bump the D25/D40 up to 100% internal.  Let's face it, unless you use WEP after takeoff, the Jug won't climb worth a darn anyway, so don't worry about takeoff weight.  Concentrate on being at "combat" weight once you're over the target.

Clarification: I like to carry 50% and one or two drop tanks in case I engage enemies on the way to a main target planned. Am I mistaken when I believe dropping ord and 25-50% of my fuel will help in an unexpected fight en-route to increase maneuverability and lighten the aircraft for tighter turns? Earlier you eluded that internal fuel vs drop tanks was a better idea/had negligible effect...?   

[Stoney]

Clarification: I like to carry 50% and one or two drop tanks in case I engage enemies on the way to a main target planned. Am I mistaken when I believe dropping ord and 25-50% of my fuel will help in an unexpected fight en-route to increase maneuverability and lighten the aircraft for tighter turns? Earlier you eluded that internal fuel vs drop tanks was a better idea/had negligible effect...?   

Well, typically, if I'm upping a jug, I'm pretty deliberate about setting up the takeoff field so as to not encounter any enemies until I'm at my desired altitude.  This will mean you have to fly a little farther sometimes.  However, your technique is perfectly logical in that you configure the aircraft to strip down to fighting weight instantly should an enemy appear.  Personally, I like taking the internal fuel and flying from a more distant takeoff field.  I don't like fighting the jug uphill in any circumstance (be it light or heavy), and I will exert some effort to prevent that.  That being said, it seems you have a workable technique for yourself--the ability to shrug off the extra fuel or ordnance will make the plane fight much better.

With respect to external fuel tanks versus internal, when I'm cruising to the fight, I like the plane to be clean.  I fight the Jug heavy, using altitude, and  having the plane free of any extra drag will optimize my cruise speed into the fight.  The Jug doesn't accelerate very well, and it can take the Jug a few minutes to accelerate and recover that 15-20 mph that the wing tanks steal.  But again, we're probably talking more in terms of personal preference rather than configurations that will either win or lose the fight for you.

[W7LPNRICK]

Well, typically, if I'm upping a jug, I'm pretty deliberate about setting up the takeoff field so as to not encounter any enemies until I'm at my desired altitude.  This will mean you have to fly a little farther sometimes.  However, your technique is perfectly logical in that you configure the aircraft to strip down to fighting weight instantly should an enemy appear.  Personally, I like taking the internal fuel and flying from a more distant takeoff field.  I don't like fighting the jug uphill in any circumstance (be it light or heavy), and I will exert some effort to prevent that.  That being said, it seems you have a workable technique for yourself--the ability to shrug off the extra fuel or ordnance will make the plane fight much better.

With respect to external fuel tanks versus internal, when I'm cruising to the fight, I like the plane to be clean.  I fight the Jug heavy, using altitude, and  having the plane free of any extra drag will optimize my cruise speed into the fight.  The Jug doesn't accelerate very well, and it can take the Jug a few minutes to accelerate and recover that 15-20 mph that the wing tanks steal.  But again, we're probably talking more in terms of personal preference rather than configurations that will either win or lose the fight for you.

Makes perfect sense. I have often been too low in the jug when I arrived at a fight. Even when the fight previously was near ground level, upon return there's always one or two high 38's or Ponies. I appreciate this thread. Lots of good info and angles to think thru, & as you pointed out we all find what works best for our tactics and when you read something new, you may not use it all, but there is almost always a piece or two you can add to your expanding abilities.   

[crutch]

tactially, I like arriving in a hot zone at 18K+ and down to about 50-75% internal fuel.

if there is a friendly field only 1 or 2 grids away that will give me 2-3K 'free' altitude, I will launch from there.
if I have a long way to go, I will change the climbspeed to 200.  that cuts mins off travel time and maintains a 2K+ climb rate.

I use field dar and sky scans to keep from being the 'swoopee'

[bj229r]

Another point towards Stoney's side--jugs ALwyas get 'main fuel' or oil, as initial major damage....taking more internal leaves you with more wing/aux gas to get home, depending on model