How about a late war P-40?

[MachFly]

So did the Spit I and you see how much that gets used.

Well I believe that's how often P-40N will be used as it's not much better than the other P-40s that are not used.

[ink]

P-40 is my favorite plane, if they added the N I would check it out, if it was somewhat capable in MA i would fly it xclusivly love the thing think its the best looking prop of all....just wish it performed like a KI-84 or along those lines......I highly doubt the N is up there....:-(

[caldera]

Late War Tour 130:

Spit I  kills in - 180 ( and I had the most at 35  )

P-40B  kills in -59 

P-40E  kills in - 988

As you can see, the P-40E gets used a fair amount despite being a "lesser" ride.  The B model is the most challenging plane in the set (IMO) and only masochists fly it.  I flew the Spit I last tour and found it to be the only Spit model that offers any challenge, even for a hack like me.
It is still a very dangerous plane to anyone who slows down to fight it, yet it gets used almost as little as the P-40B does. 

After a month or two, the He-111 will get used less than the Boston.  The P-40N will get used as much or more as the E model.  Especially since it would likely mean an update of the P-40 graphics.

[TwinBoom]

4 gun variant could hit 380mph

[DEECONX]

Seems the Royal Australian Airforce made good use of them, or so Wiki says...

[MachFly]

Especially since it would likely mean an update of the P-40 graphics.

I bet all P-40s will be used more if HTC updates the graphics.

[Karnak]

I bet all P-40s will be used more if HTC updates the graphics.

Not much.  The Mosquito Mk VI got an update that not only brought its graphics up to AH2 standards, but also added 19mph on the deck to its speed.  It carries four Hispano Mk II 20mm cannon in the nose, probably the best air-to-air gun package in the game, and can do 357mph on the deck.

Its usage scarcely moved.

[EagleDNY]

+1 - maybe it would get used more if we had a variant that was more competitive in the MA

[MachFly]

Not much.  The Mosquito Mk VI got an update that not only brought its graphics up to AH2 standards, but also added 19mph on the deck to its speed.  It carries four Hispano Mk II 20mm cannon in the nose, probably the best air-to-air gun package in the game, and can do 357mph on the deck.

Its usage scarcely moved.

I have to disagree. Before the update I used to see one a month, now I usually see one per day and I fly it myself quite often.

[Karnak]

I have to disagree. Before the update I used to see one a month, now I usually see one per day and I fly it myself quite often.

Last two complete tours before the Mosquito was updated:

Tour 123, 4103 Kills, 4664 Deaths

Tour 122, 3898 Kills, 4485 Deaths

The most recent two complete tours:

Tour 130, 3047 Kills, 3136 Deaths

Tour 129, 2990 Kills, 3159 Deaths

[Krusty]

4 gun variant could hit 380mph

Not... quite...

Only about 400 of the 4-gun versions were made. They also reduced the fuel onboard to gain this performance. Only problem is they didn't consult the folks FLYING them. The pilots actually wanted those guns and gallons back, so they were put back. In the end with all the bomb racks and extra weight, the most common export versions (to the Kiwis and the Soviets) had the extra guns, gas, and bomb racks, taking them from being 10mph faster than the P-40L to being 18mph slower than the L. The latest version with the most ground pounding capabilities was a whopping 25mph slower than the L. These were by far the most numerous.

Almost all but a small handful of the US P-40Ns were state-side trainers. That small handful may not have even seen the enemy (CAP over Burma)

I'd say AH could use a P-40N but mostly as a ground-attack bird. That would mean the heavier, slower, but more capable version.

To quote myself from an earlier thread:

Turns out the performance gap was smaller than I thought. I was expecting less than 10mph, not "2" mph in most cases.

[snip]

P-40B top speed was 352mph (with 1040hp Allison)
P-40E top speed was 362mph (with 1150hp Allison)
P-40F top speed was 364mph (with 1300hp Merlin 28)
P-40K top speed was 362mph (with 1325hp Allison)
P-40L top speed was 368mph (with 1300hp Merlin 28) *
P-40M was a P-40K but went back to Allison engines (Merlins scarce)
P-40N-1 top speed was 378mph (with 1200hp Allison) **
P-40N-5 top speed was 350mph (with 1200hp Allison) ***
P-40N-15 top speed was 343mph (with 1200hp Allison)

Note the Merlins FTH alt was 19k or so, and the Allison alt was 16k or so. The curves wouldn't be too different, just shifted up. Going from 1100 to 1300hp seems to have almost no effect on this airframe. It was draggy IMO, and couldn't get much faster no matter what engine you put into it.

* = The L was a stripped down version. They removed 250lbs of fuel, ammo, and guns, but all this only netted "a mere 4 mph faster" than the previous version. Other wise identical to P-40F-5 Merlin model.

** = The P-40N-1 had a lightened structure, 31 gallons less fuel, only 4 guns, and only 200 rounds per gun. 400 were built like this. It was only about 10mph faster, yet was the fastest production model P-40.

*** = The P-40N-5 put the guns and ammo back, as pilots complained it couldn't get the job done. It added bomb racks and could carry underwing bombs as well as drop tanks. The extra weight not only dropped the speed back down, but it actually was slower than previous models! This model was exported heavily (1000 to the VVS, and a number to RAAF/RNZAF/etc units). It was used for ground attack and bomber escort missions, but in US service it was only used as a trainer according to a couple of things I've read.

[AWwrgwy]

+1 - maybe it would get used more if we had a variant that was more competitive in the MA

But, more than likely, it would not perform any better in the MA.  The 380mph P-40N was a 4 gun, lightweight model.  No bombs.  Perhaps even less armor.  I haven't found that info yet.

why do we need the HE-111????? the ju88 out performs it
its a wish list just an example

I thought the reason we added planes was to add variety and spice to the game?

I wouldn't mind it, would probably enjoy flying it once in a while.

The He111 and Ju88 are different aircraft with different capacities and different performance.  What would a P-40N add that a P-40E cannot fulfill?

Remodel of the current P-40s that we have is indeed needed, soon. But there are a lot of other planes that I believe should come before the addition of P-40N.

What Mach said.



wrongway

[Guppy35]

Why do we need it?

I can think of two major reasons why we would need an aircraft, it can do something no other aircraft can or it did something historical. P-40N did not do anything.
If the only reasons are that it's better than the E model and we have 5 P-47s then I give it a -1.

This could be about the dumbest response yet.  Think of Spitfire models and their differences  The P40N is a different P40, just as the Merlin P40s would be.  Anyone paying any attention to the history would note the differences, who used them, where they were used etc. 

I don't mind the argument that other birds should be added first, but that it didn't do anything historical is just silly.  I suggest checking out the 5th Air Force use, the RAAF, the USAAF in China Burma India etc.

You'd be better off arguing that the E is pointless and the N is more important as there were 5215 P40N delivered vs 2320 P40E.  The N saw a lot more combat and were around a lot longer.

If you really want to do it right, the AH P40 lineup would include the B/C Tomahawks, the Kittyhawks E and N, and the Merlin engined Warhawks F and L.

The skinners would be busy for years doing all the different skins available for that line up.

Consider it the same as having the Spit I, V, VIII, IX, XIV and XVI.

[Rolex]

I wish we filled holes in Axis plane set before adding yet another Allied plane.

[oboe]

I wish we filled holes in Axis plane set before adding yet another Allied plane.

Rolex! How are you man?   Good to hear from you. 

I love the P-40 series and look forward to an N someday, but +1 on filling Axis planeset holes first (especially the Japanese).