Fw190

[sethipus]

You guys are arguing about this as if every time you upped a plane in this game you're only going to run into the very best pilots, who know everything, and can do everything, in even-altitude 1 on 1 duels.  Yeah, I'll grant that in that case the FW 190s probably aren't the best all-around choice.

But that's not the case.  The vast majority of pilots in this game, myself included, don't know everything, can't do everything, and are encountered in situations where one or the other will have some kind of advantage, and attempt to make the most of it.  These situations aren't always, or even usually just 1 on 1 either.

And with these facts as they are, the FW 190s can be very competitive indeed.  I've flown the FW 190 models from time to time, but as a result of reading this thread, I got really excited about these planes again, and so the last couple of days I flew quite a few sorties in the FW 190-A5, and really raked in a lot of scalps (53 kills in the A5 so far this tour, for 17 deaths in that plane).  Doesn't matter to me that if I'd met up with one of the truly best-skilled aces in this game, 1 on 1, in some technically better plane, I would probably have died.  It just doesn't matter.  It doesn't matter because that's not what usually happens if I up one of these planes, and with my upper-intermediate skill level, the FW 190-A5 allows me to get a lot of kills in the usual MA environment, such as it is.

I have to agree that the A5 is a fun little plane.  In the past I've flown all of the 190s quite a few times each, and the A5 seems to me the best dogfighter, though I admit it's really nice to have all that D9 power.  And I'll use the F8 with 12 rockets and de-ack huge amounts of guns from a base, or from time to time I've killed a GV or two with the rockets.  I like the 4x20mm package with the A8 rather than the 30mms - it's like having a fast Hurricane that can't turn as well, and carries a lot more rocks.  But the A5 is the funnest dogfighter in my opinion.  It simply feels nimbler than the A8 or D9.

[Rising41]

I'm enjoying the A8 personally. 20mm packages. I don't fly that often but I'm getting better lol. I find I survive more in the A8. I don't mind slowing it down and using rolling maneuvers + flaps. Hardest thing for me is forcing an overshoot. I can't seem to slow down fast enough. My favorite fights are against Jugs and P-38's. I'm considering looking for a squad that flys 190's/109's primarily so I can really dig into it w/people who have mastered them.

The A5 is a great plane that I simply can not score kills in. I love the way she flys but my gunnery is very bad. I get assists all day long but so far have not scored an air victory in one yet this session. (3 pt boats is all I've killed. all the same guy.)

Riceball. 

[Charge]

A8 is my favourite but then again I'm not too bright...

Here's one of my few films. This one doesn't end well either but it still has lots of dodging and very very bad shooting. 

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=1c731439108fe5d07432d3c9683f450ae04e75f6e8ebb871

-C+

[humble]

An interesting debate overall, personally the more I fly the 152 the more I feel its a dominant bird vs anything once you learn its quirks. Now that being said moot and I were in the midst of a fine fight when a tardlet whacked him. In fairness I was so focused on Moot that I never saw him and he did apologize on range afterward....but didn't ask before he engaged.

So the real benefit of the 152/D9 is survivability and power band...but all to often you get lost in the moment. The better the fight the more complete your focus and the less value that edge has. To me the A5 is more twitchy then the 152 (I don't fly the D9 much). To me the A5 has almost all the attributes of the yak with a better gun package...

[MjTalon]

Well i would like to add a statement on Moots response to the A5s limited thrust compared to the D9/152 series. The A5 in my opinion is just about there with both in all other categories except involving engine performance. I find that Good overall SA in the combat zone will net you a longer survival % even with the A5s lesser engine power. Mixed with it's maneuverability it's a contender.

[moot]

Yeah Humble I got carried away.. Really sucks when you let your guard down (i.e. no SA outside the 1:1) and pay for it for no good reason other than some guy who couldn't help but break up a 1:1 literally in the middle of nowhere.  I'd apologize for how I said what I said but what's done is done.

It's just my opinion, but I have no doubt that all things considered, the A5's largest handicap by far is the lack of thrust.  It just can't get back to speed like it needs to, and I don't mean 400mph.. I mean it doesn't claw forward like the D9 and 152 (to a much lesser degree for the latter) on their way out of tight maneuvers.  It takes just a little too long.  Has just a bit too little power in nose-high low-speed acm.
When we get the perk loadout system, I reckon it would be a good idea to make a case for an overboosted A5 engine and removed cowl guns.

[BaldEagl]

I still say the A8 with the 30mm package is the best.  As long as the angles aren't too far out of whack all it takes is a quick roll to orient yourself and the 30's do the rest of the work.  If you're close anywhere near someone's 3/9 line there's no escaping those 30mm's but the merge/approach and anticipation of where the opponent's going to go is hugely important.  Hopefully it's a one shot kill.  If not you blow through, reset and try again.

BTW, I agree that the 190's are actually great in a furball.  Highly effective if you keep the speed up.

[moot]

No.. If you blow through, you get run down (or up) and taken apart, if the odds (e-state, numbers, etc) are anything close to even.  You're loading the comparison.

[BaldEagl]

You're loading the comparison.

Well, yes I am depending on the match-up.  I'd like to say I'm not foolhardy enough to go into a co-alt/co-E fight against a Spit XVI or something similar but I actually am and I usually die doing that.  If, on the other hand, I fly  smart, properly guaging E states, my approach and my exit strategy then the A8 works just fine.

On the other hand, given the state of compentence in the MA's I've beaten a lot of "superior" aircraft with the A8 in situations that you'd never fly it in against an equal opponent.

As Forrest Gump almost said; Life is like the MA's.  You never know what you're going to get.

[moot]

I do know that the A8 is nowhere near competitive with the rest of the planeset, outside of huge handicaps like in your comparison, and certainly isn't competitive with any other 190 but the F8.
Anyone can say they will do well thanks to any plane's better qualities if they use them smart.  That's true for any plane, not just the A8.  If it's true for any plane, it means the A8 is back on even ground and remains the 50 ton barge that it is.

[bongaroo]

I only use the A8 for heavy bomber intercept.  It's just way to heavy for any real competitive dogfighting.

The A5 was my favorite for a long while but the D9 and especially the TA152 are now very interesting to me.  Love the 152's weapon loadout.

[Anaxogoras]

The 190A-6 would be like an A-5 but with 4 MG-151.

[1BULL]

Roll Roll, my 190 is the D.  she rolls over like Lindsey lohan after a couple of beers.  Fire power is good, speed is great.  If ever in doubt run.

[BaldEagl]

Roll Roll, my 190 is the D.  she rolls over like Lindsey lohan after a couple of beers. 

Not as fast as octo-mom then?

[SmokinLoon]

The 109G2 can "hang" with a Spit16.

A 109F4 will eat the 16's lunch, time after time.

I need a lesson from you.  I'm not exactly sure what either the F-4 or G- 2 can do to out-perform the almightly Spit16.  I do my best to keep the fight verticle, but it seems the Spitfires can do it all better save for a wee bit of climb.

Regarding the Fw190x, I'd have to say the A-5 is fast becoming my favorite.  The D-9 is a close second.  I only take up up the A-/F-8 when I'm hunting buffs or hitting an enemy airfield.  They are too much of a pig to handle in any other situation, IMO.  I will barely take the A-5/D-9 into a 1v1 situation, and wont do so unless I have E, at minimum co -alt, and a clear way to extend away if I get in a bad position.