Author Topic: Plane Evaluations from an Advanced Noob  (Read 1342 times)

Offline Muzzy

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Plane Evaluations from an Advanced Noob
« on: August 10, 2010, 11:27:29 PM »
I’d like to post some observations on the fighter aircraft I’ve flown so far, with the aim of getting advice on how to improve my performance in each aircraft.  This is far from a scientific evaluation.  It’s simply what I’ve discovered in the process of learning the game. I'm posting this in the training section so I can get feedback from more experienced pilots who know how to fly these birds, plus I think what I have observed might help other newbies looking for a good plane. This article covers fighters, but I might do another one about bombers if there's positive interest here.

Brewster: This plane is wonderful for base defense and I have had a lot of success with it in that role. It’s very stable at low altitudes, turns like a dream, and can follow several aircraft over the top in some situations.  It’s surprisingly durable and there have been several times where I’ve denied kills to opponents simply by surviving long enough to land the plane.  Landing is also easy since you can bleed off speed very quickly if need be and just plunk down on the tarmac.  My only complaint is hitting power, which is reasonable against more fragile aircraft but difficult against more rugged birds.  I can drop Zekes and Spits pretty easily, but F4U’s and P47’s are problematic. Plus, I can't catch anything with it.

FM-2:  Like the Brewster, this version of the Wildcat is small, very maneuverable, durable, and generally very forgiving for the novice pilot.  Guns are pretty much the same except you have more convergence issues to deal with.  I like to use this aircraft for CV ops when I’m going to be dogfighting rather than bombing or strafing, since its payload is considerably less than that of other carrier aircraft.  Basically, it’s a tougher version of the Brewster that can land on a carrier.

P40E: I’m finding this ride to be a mixed bag. It has the durability and the 6x 50’s, but I’m finding there’s a very specific speed range where it can be flown effectively.  You have to get up to a certain speed, but the plane seems to bleed it off rather quickly, leaving you low, slow, and stupid.  The speed range in question is quite narrow…I’m not sure what it is, but I can easily tell when I’m outside the zone.  The plane itself is better than what I expected, and it was also the first one I felt reasonably confident with, but it’s been replaced in my repertoire by the Brewster.

LA-5N: I don’t have much experience in this plane, but I’m impressed by it’s speed and handling characteristics.  It seems to turn a bit better at high speed maneuvering than the P-51D or the FW, and I can also choose to mix it up in a turn fight for short periods of time if necessary.  The cannons are great provided you can get close enough.  Again, it’s also very forgiving and not likely to stall or spin at a bad moment. The only problem I’ve had is running out of fuel, which seems to happen pretty quickly.

F6F-5: I use this plane for bombing missions from carriers.  It’s rugged, forgiving in the air and has that 6x50 cal gun set.  The interesting thing about the Hellcat is that it’s reasonable in almost every category while not being outstanding at any one thing.  I think the reason why I don’t fly this bird more often is because I’ve yet to master good energy management.  You really need to keep the ‘cat pretty fast to be effective, and it’s all too easy to find yourself wallowing in “LOSS” mode (LOw, Slow, and Stupid).  I’d like to learn how to get more out of this aircraft so I can fly it more effectively.

Spitfire IX: I chose this plane early on as a ‘noob’ ride, but I’m finding it very hard to use it effectively.  It’s nimble and reasonably fast, but I’m finding I tend to stall out and crash more often while using it on the deck.  After re-reading the plane evaluations, it occurs to me that I’m probably using it wrong. I’ve been using it in base defense where you really don’t have the time to gain much alt, and I don’t think I’ve learned how to squeeze out more performance from the plane, especially low-speed turning.

Spitfire XVI: The Spitsteen has a lot of qualities I like.  It’s fast and has a good roll rate and its weapons package is a bit better than the IX.  But I find I’m having more stall and spin issues, even more than with other Spits.  At some speeds even the slightest turn will turn the stall warning on.  Sometimes I’ll have to try a snap turn to avoid an attack and find myself spiraling into the ground almost immediately.

One thing about all the Spits:  I’m having trouble getting optimal use of the gun packages.  The cannons are great but I’m finding that convergence is giving me a problem.  It’s very hard to get them on target properly.  I’m also scratching my head regarding the machine guns.  Some people are saying use them only to help finish off a con, others say use them at range to make him turn.  The former requires close convergence, the latter a longer one.  I’m thinking gunnery management (using cannons, using machine guns, or using both) is kind of hard to do for a novice.  It’s just one more variable to think about in an already complex environment.

P-51D Mustang:  Love the speed, love the guns, but I can’t yet get the best performance usage out of the plane, probably because I don’t BnZ or slash-attack much.  It doesn’t have the handling characteristics of the LaLa at lower speeds.  I’m sure I can get better at flying a pony but it’s going to require changing my fighting style.

Corsair (all types): Man, I really want to learn how to fly this bird, but it’s way too much to handle for my skill level.  I’m just at a loss as to how to get the most out of this ride, and it is very unforgiving if you get slow, which happens to me a lot.

P-38L-J: Man, I really really want to learn how to fly this bird, but…see Corsair above only more so.  It’s going to take a lot to figure out how to get the appropriate performance out of the Lighting, but the gun package is amazing. Plus, it looks so cool.

In the course of writing this it’s occurred to me that the planes that are often mentioned as ‘noob’ aircraft, the Spit and the Pony, are not really the ones that I actually like flying. I seem to be gravitating to planes that are relatively stable, have few gun platform issues, and are maneuverable. As I’ve mentioned before, I found most of my early success in the turn and burn style of combat, and I’m just now learning how to use energy and boom and zoom tactics.  In addition, stalls and spins are more of a problem, mostly because I haven’t developed the necessary skills yet.

It seems to me that stability is more of an issue for us noobs who have yet to master flying a plane on the edge of its performance envelope.  The FM and Brew, and to a certain extent the F6F, are very stable aircraft and are the closest to the ‘yank-and-bank’ style of fighting you get in other flight simulator games.  Starting with one of these aircraft might be better than trying the more complex planes that require flap, convergence, rudder, energy management, or other skills in order to fly them properly.

Just sayin’

-Muzzy


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Offline Yenny

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Re: Plane Evaluations from an Advanced Noob
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2010, 11:32:18 PM »
Zomg what about the luftwaffle birds!
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Offline Muzzy

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Re: Plane Evaluations from an Advanced Noob
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2010, 11:58:24 PM »
Zomg what about the luftwaffle birds!

Truth be told, I haven't tried any of those yet, but I'd love to hear opinions as to which ones I might want to fly.

-Muzzy


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Offline BaldEagl

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Re: Plane Evaluations from an Advanced Noob
« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2010, 12:21:41 AM »
A few quickies on a few of these I fly regularily:

The F6F benifits greatly from extensive flap management in a fight.  It's capable of turning with all but the very best turners in the game but is slower and has less climbing ability than it's mid-tier, jack of all trades peers.  Without flap management it's average at best; it won't out-turn the Spits/La's, etc. nor will it match speeds or climb rates unless you have an E advantage to begin with.  If you do it can once again be deadly but time is short to get the kill and regain E or slow it down into a flaps out turn fight.

The Brewster is also a heavy flap use ride, particularily against the best turners in the game.

You can haul most of the Spits, including the XVI to well under 100 mph as long as you don't pull past the entry to the stall buffet.  Beyond that point you'll drop a wing and snap roll it.  The XVI is the least stable of the group but in the DA one night I was almost able to out-turn an FM2.  Again, flaps help in a slow fight and acceleration, once they are back up, is excellent.  As to convergence I set all but the XVI to 400 yards and fire all guns at once.  I set the XVI to 650, even though I like to be inside 400, although I like longer convergences than most people.
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Offline Lusche

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Re: Plane Evaluations from an Advanced Noob
« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2010, 12:22:50 AM »
Truth be told, I haven't tried any of those yet, but I'd love to hear opinions as to which ones I might want to fly.

Simple: All of them ;)

But as you said you do not really like to  BnZ  or slash-attack much I would start with 109's. Maybe try the G14 or the G-2
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Offline Muzzy

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Re: Plane Evaluations from an Advanced Noob
« Reply #5 on: August 11, 2010, 12:33:46 AM »
Well I did take the FW up for a check ride in the TA but I found I had trouble turning it at all speeds.  I'm not adverse to BnZ, in fact I'm trying to learn it in order to become more well-rounded.  I just kind of suck at it right now. :)

-Muzzy


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Offline Muzzy

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Re: Plane Evaluations from an Advanced Noob
« Reply #6 on: August 11, 2010, 12:43:01 AM »



The Brewster is also a heavy flap use ride, particularily against the best turners in the game.



When do you usually go to flaps with the Brew? I don't have much of a problem with it in turn fights, but it might be handy against a Zeke.


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Offline BaldEagl

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Re: Plane Evaluations from an Advanced Noob
« Reply #7 on: August 11, 2010, 11:42:20 PM »
When do you usually go to flaps with the Brew? I don't have much of a problem with it in turn fights, but it might be handy against a Zeke.

Handle the flaps just as you would in any flaps down fight.  Use only as much flap as you need when it's needed; generally getting over the top, near the top of oblique turns, or in a flat turn fight at very low speeds.  Retract or reduce them the moment they are no longer needed.  The Brewster really benefits from proper flaps management.
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Offline bozon

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Re: Plane Evaluations from an Advanced Noob
« Reply #8 on: August 12, 2010, 04:30:05 AM »
Just a few remarks:

Spit IX/XVI:
Commonly treated as the noob TnB ride. That is perhaps the reputation but in practice the later spits are among the best energy fighters in the game. Note that I said energy fighters and not BnZ which is just one very limited form of E fight. They build E fast and hold it well. This makes them very versatile and suited to many different styles of fighting. The Spit 14 takes it to the extreme and is more 109 than a 109.

F6F:
"Jack of all trades" is a highly prized quality in real life and what made the kitten so successful. But in a game where all possible planes are available always, to any given task there is a better plane out there. It is a hard plane to master because you do not master the plane at all - you master all the opponent planes and change your style according to THEIR weakness instead of your unique advantage, so there is no one winning strategy. One of the most fun planes for the advanced player.

F4U:
One of the most overrated planes of all times, closely matched by the P51. That does not mean that it is not extremely good. It has this one weird trick that when the flaps come our, the wings also grow by 50% and red circles appear on the wings indicating it is in zeke mode. OK I am kidding, but some people believe that the flaps are that effective. They are a big help at low speeds, but don't count on them to win the fights for you. The hog is one of the best planes at high speeds, holds E and has very good control authority - fly it to its strengths.

P-38:
This is a bag of tricks with two engines. It tends to have a small dedicated crowed of veterans that fly it and are very proficient with it. But you need to know all the tricks and the many fine points in the book to make it really shine and this is why there are only few that do. The rest treat it as the B-38 - a single seat medium bomber.
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Offline Muzzy

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Re: Plane Evaluations from an Advanced Noob
« Reply #9 on: August 12, 2010, 09:04:20 AM »
Thanks for the feedback, guys.  Never thought of using flaps over the top...that would have been useful! :)



Here's another evaluation:

Yak 9U: I remember the old days of Air Warrior when the Yak was one of those birds you flew as a joke.  If they shot you down, you could say "Yeah, I was in a Yak! Of course you shot me down." but if you shot them down they were like "You got me with a what?  A what???"  The 9U has almost everything you could want in a low altitude bird. It handles well, picks up speed incredibly fast, has a decent turning radius, and good sight lines.  The only thing it lacks is ammo load, so it's best to brush up on your gunnery skills in order to make every shot count.  I flew it yesterday and got a record high 4 kills landed.  Quite a surprise.


And yes, I will try out the German planes today.  I promise.:)

-Muzzy



 


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Offline Lusche

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Re: Plane Evaluations from an Advanced Noob
« Reply #10 on: August 12, 2010, 09:18:03 AM »
Well I did take the FW up for a check ride in the TA but I found I had trouble turning it at all speeds.  

Well, FW's are not being turners at heart in the first place. ;)

Though the A5 can sometimes give less experienced adversaries some surprise, and the TA 152 can do some magic - if you are really used to it, else you may find yourself sliding down with the tail first
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Offline Saxman

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Re: Plane Evaluations from an Advanced Noob
« Reply #11 on: August 12, 2010, 05:49:00 PM »

F4U:
One of the most overrated planes of all times, closely matched by the P51.

Considering that almost EVERY discussion on the capability of the F4U centers on the flaps as the be-all end-all of success, I would actually say quite the opposite is true. I see it all the time in the "experten's" tactics on how to beat the Hog: "Wait for your opponent to slow down to where he get his flaps out." Everyone assumes the first thing a Hog pilot is going to do is try to chop his speed so he can get his flaps out and turn, neglecting the F4U's engagement flexibility.

The F4U is actually much more similar to the F6F due to the large number of options she has in a fight.
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Offline Muzzy

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Re: Plane Evaluations from an Advanced Noob
« Reply #12 on: August 13, 2010, 09:53:04 PM »
Okay, about the German planes:

Bf109 G6: Liking this bird a lot.  It has a lot of qualities that feel similar to the Yak in some ways.  It not as nimble, though, and you have to get some speed up in order to get better performance. The gun loadout is pretty good, with a generous supply of ammo.  I'm not a fan of the sight lines though....the big metal bars make it hard to see and track targets at times.  Flying this one seemed like I was giving up some of the Yak's performance in return for better guns. It's not a bad trade off and I will certainly fly this plane more often.

FW190 D: I can see why you'd want to use this one for BnZ. Love the speed, love the roll rate, good guns, but the style of piloting you need to make it work is very different from what I'm used to. I'll definitely use this ride again, but it's going to take time to get used to it.

-Muzzy


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Offline Big Rat

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Re: Plane Evaluations from an Advanced Noob
« Reply #13 on: August 14, 2010, 05:44:45 AM »
Muzzy,

As the G6 goes, if you want something with a bit more agility and power to weight wise, the G2 is a better performing bird.  You lose those two heavy cowl Mg's for it though and go back to the 7.9mm cowl guns.  So you lose hitting power for basically a lighter G6 as far as performance.  I used to fly the G2 a lot and really enjoyed that bird. 

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Offline hyster

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Re: Plane Evaluations from an Advanced Noob
« Reply #14 on: August 14, 2010, 06:45:31 PM »
mossie.
must be 1 of the most underated planes in the game.
difficult to learn but if u put the time in and learn it its a great plane.
its fast, keeps e well and zoom climbs well.
good stall fighter.
arguably the best gun package in the game. 4 nose mounted 20mm hispano's can get kills at 1k.
u have to learn throttle, rudder and flap control. get the timing right and it will out turn a p-51 easily.
i fly it mainly as a fighter and its 1 of the few planes were i dont mind an alt disadvantage. many a time a conn dived on me, i barral roll and follow them up and get a kill.