Which fighter has the longest range for high-alt escort?

[Spikes]

It's probably been discussed before, but the 82nd went on a run with the 91st 30K HQ raid running escort...the 91st flew 13 sectors up, 11 sectors back and landed (great job guys!). We upped D40s with full fuel and full DT's after much debate over which plane had the best fuel for maneuverability ratio.

We figured the D40 was more maneuverable than the N because it weighs less. Either way, way up there there isn't much turn fighting going, mainly pushing cons lower. However, for future reference, I'd like to know if the pony D with full fuel has more range than the N or M, or even 38J/L. Hopefully Pyro will add in the centerline DT for the M.

[Karnak]

The M will never be in contention for this.

I believe the N has the longest legs for your purposes, but I could be mistaken.

[Strip]

N has more range than the P-51 D, P-47M and P-38J/L....

[Spikes]

Rgr that, but in taking it you sacrifice maneuverability because of the heavy weight of the N, correct?

[Motherland]

I think that the P47N is more maneuverable than the P51D; either way they're pretty close. All of the Jugs are monsters at high altitude.

[Anaxogoras]

Rgr that, but in taking it you sacrifice maneuverability because of the heavy weight of the N, correct?

Spikes, the N-Jug has always been able to outmaneuver the P-51D, and it's a heck of a lot faster at altitude.

[Masherbrum]

Ki-61 at 100% with DT's might get the most range of any fighter.   

[MjTalon]

Ki-61 at 100% with DT's might get the most range of any fighter.   

N jug on max cruise out ranges any fighter currently in the game.

[Stoney]

Ki-61 at 100% with DT's might get the most range of any fighter.   

Not at 30,000 feet...

[Krusty]

The 47N is "less manuverable" when overloaded with fuel... Otherwise it's comparable to other P-47s. Its empty weight isn't too much more IMO. But at 30K in long-flight escort, you'll still be in good shape vs. anything that comes up to bother you.

The N has more wing area than the D, and that superb WEP really helps (especially at an alt where most planes have no WEP left)

[Chalenge]

N jug on max cruise out ranges any fighter currently in the game.

If that is true the game isnt modeling the P-51 properly. The N should have max range at 2200 miles and the D pony at 2300... which isnt much difference but it is a difference.

[bozon]

At 30,000 feet nothing with a prop can out-perform with the N jug. Some planes can match it in some aspects, but overall it is the best.
Assuming you don't get to the fight with 550 gallons internal fuel that is.

[Widewing]

If that is true the game isnt modeling the P-51 properly. The N should have max range at 2200 miles and the D pony at 2300... which isnt much difference but it is a difference.

A quick look at Dean shows the P-47N with a maximum non-combat range of 2,800 miles. Allowing for warm-up, climb-out, 15 minutes of MIL power and 5 minutes of combat power, the P-47N is rating by the AAF as having a combat radius of 1,000 miles. Under the same criteria, the P-51D is rated with a 700 mile combat radius.

This USAAF table is found on page 600 of America's Hundred Thousand.

And there is this..
"The testing program included determining the maximum range of the fighter. This was done with various combinations of fuel loads and external drop tanks. Ultimately, a test flight was made from Farmingdale to Eglin Field in Florida. The XP-47N took off with two 315 gallon drop tanks hanging from the under-wing hardpoints. Usable fuel in these tanks totaled 600 gallons. Added to the internal fuel load, the N eased off the runway with 1,170 gallons of fuel (usable). At a gross weight of 20,166 lbs., the Thunderbolt headed south in company with a P-47D chase plane. Arriving off the coast, east of Elgin in 3 hours, 44 minutes, the external tanks were dropped. Another P-47D, already waiting at Elgin, took on the N in a mock dogfight that lasted for twenty minutes. The throttle was advanced to military power for 15 minutes of this time, with an additional five minutes in the War Emergency Power (WEP) detent. After these fun and games were concluded the N was turned around and flown back towards Farmingdale. Heavy weather over Long Island caused the plane to divert to Woodbine, New Jersey. Having flown 1,980 miles, total fuel usage was measured at 1,057.5 gallons. There was still more than 112 gallons of usable fuel remaining in the main fuselage tank, enough for another 330 miles @ 1,700 rpm in auto-lean."

Note also that the P-47N sometimes flew with the 165 gallon P-38 drop tanks, as is seen below with a 507th FG P-47N flying out of le Shima in 1945.



My regards,

Widewing

[thndregg]

All around on that raid, both our group of B17's and the escorts were pushing the limits of the x2 burn rate. Off the original subject a bit, but toward the last bit of our return to base, we had to go to Normal power settings on the B17's. We originally took off with 75%.

[Ghosth]

Ok, so why did P47's not escort bombers all the way to the target?

From most if not all of what I've seen, heard, that didn't happen until the P51's got on the scene.

P47N released that much after the P51's?