Anyone mastered the P51B?

[Ripsnort]

Tips for an P51B newbie? (Whats best altitude performance, also, noted that after rockets are expended, its a PIG for turning!)

[funked]

LOL you not catchin this fishy!  That's one of the easiest planes I have ever flown in any sim.  

[Ripsnort]

No troll, do I fly it like the P51D? Can it turn better than P51D?  Its got the same Merlin as D?  

[Toad]

I find it has markedly different control response below @ 200 than the D. Seems a lot mushier, more prone to dropping a wing under G load and a bit harder to recover if you do that.

But, I haven't flown it much either.

[Lephturn]

I agree Toad.  The B seems to be more like the vicious Kitty at low speed.  I find it much more prone to a naaaaaasty snap stall than the D.  Maybe that's just me though.. I haven't flown the D model in a while, and my Jug is so gentle and controlable at low speed in comparison.

But Rip, by all means fly it like the D.  It is very similar in most respects.  It isn't quite as fast down low, but it is faster up high.  If you are doing a high alt escort, the B is a great choice.

Just be careful how you handle her at low speed.  51B can get the job done, but she takes a gentle hand on the stick.  Slap her around too much and she'll bite you.  Stroke her gently and she'll repay you with kills.  

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Sean "Lephturn" Conrad - Aces High Chief Trainer

A proud member of the mighty Flying Pigs
http://www.flyingpigs.com

Check out Lephturn's Aerodrome for AH articles and training info!

[Ripsnort]

Rgr, thks, I was under the assumption that this plane performed poorly above 20k, but alas, am I thinking of the A model with the Allision?

[214thCavalier]

I only have one problem with the 51B and thats the piss poor hitting power of 4 .50's when you fly in a cannon dominated environment.
I get position, open up then find you cant hold the enemy in the bullets long enough to really hurt him without him laughing it off  
Mebbe i need to work on my guns convergence, sure looks like i got some serious practice to do in the next couple of weeks.
I could be wrong but i thought the B will turn better than the D lower and was a couple mph faster at high alts.


[This message has been edited by 214thCavalier (edited 03-30-2001).]

[Toad]

Set the convergence around 250-300 and get in there before you shoot.

They work fine then.

Of course, this is easier said than done, given the overall capabilities of the "bad guys" around here!

That Yak with the 37mm is the same way. Get in close and fire 2-3 rounds. Things just fall apart. Very hard to score from a distance though.

Makes it interesting, doesn't it? So many different capabilities to master!

[Sturm]

Yes, any questions?

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Sturm6 StaffelKapitän
JV44 Platzschutzstaffel
Airfield Defense Squadron

[J_A_B]

In my experience the P-51B has noticably better low-speed handling than the "D" does.

J_A_B

[Maverick]

I have flown the B almost exclusively since it came out. I find the B slightly better in a turning situation than the D. The speed is noticeably less than the D at low to medium altitudes based on my pursuits of a D in a B.

The best use of the B is in concert with the D or another more ably armed aircraft. The B can hang onto and divert attention from the other "killer" plane during the fight.

The guns are a major problem with the B. Given the marginal performance differences between the two if them, the B is severely hampered by the guns. I find that even at convergence a one second burst on an unsuspecting fighter target isn't enough to cause significant (if any) damage.

Buff hunting in it is simply suicidally stupid in this game. As long as the 50's remain neutered in damage effects compared to the cannon planes there isn't much reason to have it. It's nice to have a change in planes but this was a definite step backwards. Put the 20mm's on it and it will be a worthwhile and dangerous opponent. The malcom hood would be nice too.

Mav

[Jigster]

I have nothing bad to say about the 51B other then then 6 view. In all areas other than that I prefer it over the D.

[-ammo-]

I find the B model to be incredibly easy to fly, and a joy. Get close and in the rear quarter and those 50's will reward you.

ammo

[214thCavalier]

Just to qualify my earlier statement about the guns, I have still not decided on the best range for the guns and currently trying from 400 down to 275, but hitting the target is not my problem as my hit rate seems to be approx double that of most posters in here, its the time it takes them 4 .50's to actually do any damage that bugs me, unfortunately most cons tend to evade once they feel them 4  .50's tickling em  
Checked my 51B stats and they are negative value unlike the 51D and for plane thats just as fast and similar in perf that has to say something about the lack of hitting power i am experiencing.
So I guess you could say No i have not mastered the 51B  

[SFRT - Frenchy]

Took the P51B two times:

First time I got vulched on take off.

Second time, I killed 4 D9s and a C47. I was so impressed that I parked it nack in the hangar, waxed it and will never fly it again this TOD. I came every day kiss his spiner. It was nice to be able to chase D9s ... finally  

Some find it slugish, but I'm so used to the P47 that flying the P51 feels like lifting a 4 year old.

 

[This message has been edited by SFRT - Frenchy (edited 03-31-2001).]