Question for Hog Pilots

[Muzzy]

Why is it that I appear to have a much better kill ration in the F4U 1A than in the 1D?  Granted, I've been trying to use the D-hog for jabo missions, but even when it's light I still have difficulty in a dog fight.

I've noticed the D-hog just feels less responsive and somewhat slower than the 1A, a fact that is borne out by some of the stat info.

I'd like to know if anyone has any advice on how to fly the D-hog in air-to-air combat.  Is it really significantly different than the 1A? If so, how do you get the best performance out of the D?

[Saxman]

The 1A is indeed faster by about 5-10mph (the two main ordinance pylons on the 1D are permanently fixed, so are there regardless of whether you carry bombs or drop tanks).

There IS a VERY slight difference in maneuverability between the two, with the 1A being slightly more agile. In addition, because the 1A still has the wing-mounted fuel tanks she can be somewhat more easily stabilized against torque by controlling how you burn the tanks.

That said, there's not very much of a difference between the two aircraft, so it's really a matter of perception. Both aircraft are flown the same way air to air.

[Vapor]

Also, are you changing convergence settings for ground targets versus your usual settings? After your ground run have you scrubbed off energy due to hard pulling up...maybe dive angle setup. I like to dive in fast to regain alt to setup for incoming aircraft. Stay fast.

[Patches1]

Saxman has described the differences to you between the F4U-1A and the F4U-1D and the nuances between the two.

What I suggest you do is to fly the F4U-1 as a pure fighter for a month, and then fly the F4U-1D for a month as a pure fighter, and contrast the differences between the two.

After you have done this, return to the F4U-1A and fly it for a month and I think you will see what Saxman is saying.

Then! Fly the F4U-1C for a month as a pure fighter and contrast it's flight characteristics against the -1, -1A, and -1D...and I did say FLIGHT, not guns, and I think you will find why the -1A is so popular.

Now, after having followed the above suggestions...DON'T EVER FLY AN F4U-4!

Good luck, Muzzy!

[shiv]

The rocket tubes on the 1D also add drag (even after you dump your rockets.)  It's a very noticeable difference in speed as I learned in the last scenario by taking off with the wrong loadout.

And it's a pretty common mistake to assume the 1D is the better fighter because it's a later model.  

The F4U-1 is quite capable also.  It's a little slower than the 1A but a touch more agile.  

[Wiley]

If you're flying smart and sticking to BnZ, there is very little difference between the two.  Saxman's got the right of it.

One thing I haven't seen touched on is the difference in power between the -1A and the -1D.  One peculiarity of the -1D that I find comes in handy now and then is, the additional power lets you turnfight a bit better in it than the -1A.  With full flaps deployed and WEP, the -1D can haul itself around riding the edge of stall a lot better than the -1A or the -1.  The -1D benefits more from flaps than any of the other variants.  It has been known to cause carpal tunnel from constant use of the flaps raise and lower switches though.

Mind you, IMO if you're turnfighting in an F4U, you've messed up pretty bad to get into that situation.

If you're keeping the speed up and not into micromanaging the flaps, the -1A is the better choice for air to air.  Shiv's right about the -1 as well, there isn't much between them if you can deal with the birdcage view.

Wiley.

[Big Rat]

You pretty much fly all the hogs the same way (excluding -4, but even that to a point).  The 1A is the best balanced of the bunch in my oppinion.  They all have the same weaknesses and strengths and should be flown accordingly.  Those that think a F4U can't excell in a turn fight haven't been taught by me

 
BigRat

[Saxman]

If you're flying smart and sticking to BnZ, there is very little difference between the two.  Saxman's got the right of it.

One thing I haven't seen touched on is the difference in power between the -1A and the -1D.  One peculiarity of the -1D that I find comes in handy now and then is, the additional power lets you turnfight a bit better in it than the -1A.  With full flaps deployed and WEP, the -1D can haul itself around riding the edge of stall a lot better than the -1A or the -1.  The -1D benefits more from flaps than any of the other variants.  It has been known to cause carpal tunnel from constant use of the flaps raise and lower switches though.

Mind you, IMO if you're turnfighting in an F4U, you've messed up pretty bad to get into that situation.

If you're keeping the speed up and not into micromanaging the flaps, the -1A is the better choice for air to air.  Shiv's right about the -1 as well, there isn't much between them if you can deal with the birdcage view.

Wiley.

Our F4U-1A is a late-block version that uses the exact same engine and paddle prop arrangement as the 1D, so the power of the two is IDENTICAL. The difference is that the 1A has two extra fuel tanks so has more fuel weight at a given % fuel load. However I find this extra weight more a blessing than a curse. The 1A doesn't suffer all that significantly from it, and you also have:

1) A means of balancing the aircraft to help counter torque and her tendency to snap over in a stall (burn LW to 25% and RW to 50%, then go to Main for the duration. This makes the 1A comparatively more stable)
2) A reserve in case your main tank gets hit (which Main Fuel and the Engine seem to always be the first things to go in the Hog)

The rocket tubes on the 1D also add drag (even after you dump your rockets.)

The 1D doesn't have rocket tubes, but zero-point rocket stubs. They do affect top speed, but nowhere near as significantly as actual rocket tubes would.

The one caveat I'll add to what Big Rat says about the Corsair's turn-fighting ability:

Once you commit to a turn fight in the Hog you're there until one of you is spiraling down in flames. She can be very capable in that situation, but once you're in it the Corsair (excluding the -4) doesn't have the level acceleration or sustained climbing ability to get out of it again.

[Muzzy]

Well I flew the D-hog a few times last night and got blown out of the sky each time.  Again, I did considerably better in the 1A.  I think it's because I'm missing the speed and nimbleness of the 1A.  The D-hog is just slow enough to become annoying and flying it feels like a demotion of sorts.  I'm going to keep at it, though. 

The other major problem is that getting the D to altitude and gaining speed is more difficult, and it doesn't hold energy quite as well as the 1A.  It means I have to be much more selective in my fights, and I have to extend earlier in order to build up e.

[mtnman]

Well I flew the D-hog a few times last night and got blown out of the sky each time.  Again, I did considerably better in the 1A.  I think it's because I'm missing the speed and nimbleness of the 1A.  The D-hog is just slow enough to become annoying and flying it feels like a demotion of sorts.  I'm going to keep at it, though.  

The other major problem is that getting the D to altitude and gaining speed is more difficult, and it doesn't hold energy quite as well as the 1A.  It means I have to be much more selective in my fights, and I have to extend earlier in order to build up e.

The difference is very slight in reality.  The D can be a real handful for a pilot with a bit more fuel in an A.  Pick one and fly it for a month or two, and then switch to the other.  In the end, I think the biggest reason to fly the A is the better range, and "flexibility" of the fuel tanks.

The D or A distinction really shouldn't dictate which types of fights you need to select.

I don't fly the D much, because I don't really participate in the ground-object destruction aspects of the game.  When I do though, I certainly don't find that the D limits me in any way other than the fuel load. 

I think that "who" you're fighting, or the decisions that you make while fighting will make a much more noticeable difference than which model you happen to be flying.

[Vapor]

Hang in there. Some of my most rewarding kills are in the -D after I drop on target. Usually my kills in the -D are lower and slower. Absolutely extend early if you can. I vary flying both...depends on ord requirement and fuel load needed. I've just been in AH about a year and like the versatility and ruggedness of the Corsairs...plus I think my few kills mean more to myself. Have fun and fly Navy!  

[Sonicblu]

The reason to fly the 1a is the white skin..

If you compare the 1a to the d the comparison might seam slight. What I have found though the closer you get to a down and dirty knife fight in it. The slight difference strarts to become significant. If your fight boils down to a one sec better turn radius that becomes huge in a tnb stall fight. Or just a little better control in the scissors can mean the win.

[TnDep]

I think of myself as a hog pilot still although I fly about everything.  The hog has been very good to me and I still like it the best out of the planeset.  I don't have no statistics but besides flying both of them for a long time, the A is the better dogfighter hands down and I don't know if it's true I believe the A is lighter then the D by feel and the A holds its E retention better then the D IMO.  I don't even like the C model the 1,A,and -4 models is what I normally fly ~S~