P-47 Light

[Slade]

Hello,

I have a question for you P-47 experts.  I was just wondering what the impact is on performance of a P-47 (say a N model) when it is light:

• 50% Fuel or less.
• No bomb or fuel tanks (or hard points for carrying them).
• Just the 6 x .50 cals with minimum ammo (yeah I know just).

Would this make a noticeable difference in turning and climbing ability?

Thanks,

Slade

[fudgums]

Yes

[Enker]

Taking light fuel, no bombs and rockets, and not having the extra fuel tanks do make a difference. It is similar to a F4U with 75% Fuel in terms of how it feels, though minus the amazingflaps. However, according to Soda's Aircraft Comparison page, taking the 6 .50 cals with minimum ammo does not have a very noticeable difference in performance.

[bj229r]

Taking 6 guns negates what the Jug is all about.....ton of lead. Plane has hard points whether ya hang stuff from them or not. (MAYBE not D-11...not sure there) I fly N, always up with 75% gas (42 minutes at max throttle, ya have 17 min left in wings and aux after the obligatory 'main fuel' hit) Carrying eggs REALLY kills climb rate...with no eggs, sucks far less. Zoom ability makes up for it somewhat (oh yah, I'm definitely NO expert )

[moot]

BJ doesn't the 47 benefit from empty AUX the same way the 51 does?

[Anodizer]

Learned this from a old friend ( Buster!!!)

Firstly, burn your main tank first..  Reason for this: your aux tank is deeper within the aircraft and less likely to get hit (cause you to bleed fuel)..
Second, if you want to go light, take a D11 with 25% and a drop tank..  You'll be surprised..  Not quite what a 38G is on the deck, but floats kind of like
an F4U..  Fire at anything that is remotely in your flight path..  Always take max ammo load..  The weight difference is negligible if you run a light 6 gun load and you
will be nowhere near as effective.. 

[BnZs]

Keep in mind a couple of points:
The P-47N has the same range on 50% fuel that the D models have on 50%. It also has basically the same climb performance as the D-40 when weighted in this way for a fair comparison.

You'll save more weight by taking light ammo than deleting two of your guns. Having 8 .50s is kind of the whole point of the Jug. IMO the heavy ammo load should be taken as well, if you find it too heavy ya know how to get rid of it.

Oh, btw, if you don't take the 365mph N and if you are so interested in maneuverability, then you might as well go with an F4U-1A. Rugged American engine-radial fighter that rolls well, dives well, zooms well, plus is faster down low on MIL than any D is on WEP, mostly climbs better, and turns substantially better. 6 .50s with lots of ammo will get the job done.

Hello,

I have a question for you P-47 experts.  I was just wondering what the impact is on performance of a P-47 (say a N model) when it is light:

• 50% Fuel or less.
• No bomb or fuel tanks (or hard points for carrying them).
• Just the 6 x .50 cals with minimum ammo (yeah I know just).

Would this make a noticeable difference in turning and climbing ability?

Thanks,

Slade

[bj229r]

BJ doesn't the 47 benefit from empty AUX the same way the 51 does?

Never heard such...although it may be true, the @#%@#%@# prolific # of 'main fuel hits' is what makes me keep aux till last anyhow---under auto, aux>>wings>main about the time ya hit 'main' is when some ho'ing spitard lands a golden bb 20mm into afore-mentioned main


(also--"N" with 50% gas weighs 1200 pounds more than D40 with 50%--think N has 90-100 more gallons tho)

[moot]

Quite a dilemna there.. Unless I'm recalling wrong (very vague memory), the AUX in the 47 is furthest aft, just like in the 51 and 190s.  So the tradeoff would be between agility (dodge more bullets thanks to it) and potential sortie-ending damage (maybe only because you didn't have the extra agility).  Assuming AUX really is further back.

[bozon]

The biggest factor in P47 performance is fuel load. The N model has the fuel load of about 5 109G/K. The N has more fuel load than the D, so 75% in D is the same as 50% in N. If you want to save weight, managing your fuel efficiently is the best way. Take less internal fuel, use the DT and cruise on lower RPM/throttle to extend your range.

The aux tank does seem to have some effect on performance. Not very significant though. I burn aux first but leave 25% in the aux as reserves.

I don't see the point in taking less ammo - take full load and just shoot it at the bad guys to get light. Spray till your heart content and when the counters reach 1000, then you have the small ammo load and start aiming better. You will normally start the fight on the offensive so this is not a problem.

[Anaxogoras]

Second, if you want to go light, take a D11 with 25% and a drop tank..  You'll be surprised..

The 47N owns the D-11.  I've dueled one vs the other from both sides (with comparable pilots), and either way the 47N came out on top.

[BnZs]

The 47N owns the D-11.  I've dueled one vs the other from both sides (with comparable pilots), and either way the 47N came out on top.

More to the point, the P47N does *not* have to hang around and get owned by a Spixteen if if doesn't want to.

[Anaxogoras]

More to the point, the P47N does *not* have to hang around and get owned by a Spixteen if if doesn't want to.

Yup, that's an even better reason to fly the N.

My loadout for the 47N is 75% fuel, convergence at 400 yards, and the BIG gun package.  I don't worry about gunnery %, and to get rid of the extra weight, I often start firing from 800 yards out.  The funny thing about the N-Jug is that its maneuverability is far superior to its reputation.  Your success % won't be so hot 1vs1 against Spitfires and other turney planes, but you can surprise them from time to time.

[Enker]

The P-47 D-11 is surprisingly turney and manuverable, as I recently was fought to a near standstill in my F4U-1 last night. And I'm not talking about fighting in the vertical, but in the horizontal, as if we were turney-birds. Don't underestimate the powers of a light D-11.

[bj229r]

Quite a dilemna there.. Unless I'm recalling wrong (very vague memory), the AUX in the 47 is furthest aft, just like in the 51 and 190s.  So the tradeoff would be between agility (dodge more bullets thanks to it) and potential sortie-ending damage (maybe only because you didn't have the extra agility).  Assuming AUX really is further back.

Found naught on internet regarding tank placement....but from observation, aux tank in N goes about 12 minutes, at 1 gallon every 6 seconds--thats 120 gallons...~ 6 pounds per gallon....720 pounds. That sure could have an effect, depending on placement