The hog series (Apart from the perked one the U4)

[iTunes]

I've noticed that this crate gets almost the same amount of devoted flyers to the 38 series. Hardly ever flown it before, I usally fly the 109 set, the hog looks big and heavy compared to the 109 series, I know it can dive well, but from what I've seeen of it, it doesn't do too well in a slow, low type of fight, Well not the one's I've come accross anyway, I know it rolls well and that I'm presuming is what gets you hog guys out of trouble? Is it faster than a pony in a dive? Just what is it about the hog that makes you regular guys fly it so much? Please don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking it any shape or form, we all have our different flying styles and taste, I'm just trying to understand what makes it stand out for you.
I've also come against some good hog sticks also, I noticed that the roll came into play there, very easy to get out sync with one if your not careful. But I keep going back to the thought of having to climb again or try and take something up into the vertical.
Anyway, like I said earlier, not knocking it or the sticks who fly this plane, just trying to get to the bottom of what makes it tick.
Cheers
iTunes

[E25280]

So you haven't encountered the magic hoverflaps?

[iTunes]

So you haven't encountered the magic hoverflaps?

lol, na not yet, at those sort of speeds I usually get a chance to get a crosshot in and then with the tater it's game over.

[Gooss]

Lots of good write ups in the BBS on the F4U series.  Look for MtnMan and TequilaChaser as spokespilots.

I fly the hog because I like the feeling of "Your plane is faster, or turns better, or climbs better, or has cannons.  My plane is big, blue and has gullwings. Fight me."

HONK!
Gooss

[Saxman]

High speed maneuverability is second to none and one of the best in the mid-speed range. Exceptional zoom and E retention. High rate of roll. Control responsiveness is excellent at all speed ranges. Excellent gun package. Good dive acceleration. Sturdy airframe so she's unlikely to loose important bits in dives (though birdcage is somewhat more prone to shedding landing gear in extended dives). Tough to bring down without concentrated fire. Good ordinance load on the 1D. 1C has Hispanos. 1A to 1D have generally good all-around visibility except straight back. No one plane has the Corsair beat in EVERY aspect of air-combat, name a plane and the F4U has a tool to use to beat it.

[iTunes]

High speed maneuverability is second to none and one of the best in the mid-speed range. Exceptional zoom and E retention. High rate of roll. Control responsiveness is excellent at all speed ranges. Excellent gun package. Good dive acceleration. Sturdy airframe so she's unlikely to loose important bits in dives (though birdcage is somewhat more prone to shedding landing gear in extended dives). Tough to bring down without concentrated fire. Good ordinance load on the 1D. 1C has Hispanos. 1A to 1D have generally good all-around visibility except straight back. No one plane has the Corsair beat in EVERY aspect of air-combat, name a plane and the F4U has a tool to use to beat it.

Hey Saxman <S>
Do you have a standard alt that you like to come in at? what about a hard deck? I take it you try and avoid being slow and low at all costs? I ask you as I know you fly it a lot and not the noobs you see suiciding into the VH etc, how does it do against a decent pony/Jug stick? I think the Hog and the 38 series are the two types I treat with the utmost respect when flying a 109, When you meet one away from the horde, chances are the guy knows what he's doing and not a noob on a suicide pork run.

[Saxman]

I prefer a 15,000ft approach to ensure at least equal altitude with anything I run into. Some maps I'll go up to 20k because base distances push the altitude higher. I don't really have a hard deck, but like to keep a little air underneath me if I can, especially in large furballs. If I feel I'm getting too low I'll egress to the periphery and grab some altitude.

Equal pilots the F4U should handle the P-51 and P-47. She's more agile than both, sustained climb is about equal to the Jug and she'll zoom on the P-51. She doesn't suffer the sort of control stiffness the Jug does at high speed, and arguably her high-speed maneuverability is even better than the Pony's. Even if I'm at an altitude disadvantage against most Pony drivers I can hold him off or reverse him after a few passes.

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

Lots of good write ups in the BBS on the F4U series.  Look for MtnMan and TequilaChaser as spokespilots.

I fly the hog because I like the feeling of "Your plane is faster, or turns better, or climbs better, or has cannons.  My plane is big, blue and has gullwings. Fight me."

HONK!
Gooss

"Fly"? So that's what you call that.   

[Anaxogoras]

So you haven't encountered the magic hoverflaps?

Yeah, iTunes, you gotta fly the F4U a little to see what it can really do.  The F4U is the transformer of AH.  Once you drop a notch or two of flaps, you change from a fast, BnZ type aircraft into a tiny-turn-radius, stand-on-your-tail-and-shoot furballer.  In terms of all-around air-combat ability, the F4U is probably the best American fighter of the war.

[whiteman]

As long as I have 5k under me I'm not bothered. I'm not worried if someone will out run me, I (personally) sucker people into a slow turn fight. I will give my six up to 800 then start a rolling scissor, 85% of the time I get the other plane to play my game and reverse them and they're dead. Only planes I do not try that with are the A6M, Hurri and FM2/F4F, all others are fair game.

On the other hand I can play the B&Z game. Not my favorite cause I'm not patient, but I can rope you or get you in a high speed roll which I'll win almost every time.

My perfect fight is to have you on my six then start a rolling scissor that you won’t back out of because you feel you have perfect position. I get low slow and on you’re six with the magic flaps and big rudder.

If you fly the K4 stay vertical, do not play the roll game. You will have the HOG on your six quick. Problem is most HOG pilots will recognize your game quick and sucker you into their game or drag the fight long enough for friendless to show up.

I say with no shame If I recognize a vertical that I can’t play I’ll let someone know that will jump in. I don’t give up free kills or easy kills when I recognize a situation. At the same time I will call off friends when in a slow turn fight even if I think I will lose.

Watch out for the floating F4U, you haven’t seen it yet from what I have read. It is one of my favorite tricks. It’s nothing magical but something a good HOG stick knows how to pull off when needed.

[Gooss]

"Fly"? So that's what you call that.   

Well, that was shorter than "I choose the hog in the hangar, get on the runway, try not to ground loop during takeoff, advance to the nearest enemy field, engage a spit that has alt advantage, evade the HO merge, and get picked by his 27 wingmen, which saves me from ground looping on landing since I don't return to base, that is if I haven't augered yet."


HONK!
Gooss

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

Well, that was shorter than "I choose the hog in the hangar, get on the runway, try not to ground loop during takeoff, advance to the nearest enemy field, engage a spit that has alt advantage, evade the HO merge, and get picked by his 27 wingmen, which saves me from ground looping on landing since I don't return to base, that is if I haven't augered yet."

HONK!
Gooss

 

CYA up sometime.

[Thing]

Hogs make me smile   



  Itunes

Thing

[1pLUs44]

Flaps baby... It's very very rare that if I get in a turning fight with a plane (unless it's a Hurri or an A6M... etc) and it goes to me using flaps, where I won't kill him, or the fight won't last 5+ minutes till someone gets a lucky shot.

[BnZs]

What's this about Jug control stiffness? That must set in sometime after the folks on the ground hear the sonic boom.... 

All three planes zoom ~the same. Maybe the Jug is a little worse than the other two. Still, agreed that Co-E duel at typical alts, the Corsair tends to hold the advantage.

I prefer a 15,000ft approach to ensure at least equal altitude with anything I run into. Some maps I'll go up to 20k because base distances push the altitude higher. I don't really have a hard deck, but like to keep a little air underneath me if I can, especially in large furballs. If I feel I'm getting too low I'll egress to the periphery and grab some altitude.

Equal pilots the F4U should handle the P-51 and P-47. She's more agile than both, sustained climb is about equal to the Jug and she'll zoom on the P-51. She doesn't suffer the sort of control stiffness the Jug does at high speed, and arguably her high-speed maneuverability is even better than the Pony's. Even if I'm at an altitude disadvantage against most Pony drivers I can hold him off or reverse him after a few passes.