P-51d Drop Tank Mounting Point vs. Maneuverability

[Slade]

Hello,

I have seen where a mounting point can take 5 mph +\- off ones top speed.  Is the drop tank mounting point modeled to take anything away from a P-51d's maneuverability?

I am asking as I have been experimenting flying a P-51d more like a turn fighter.  Coming in at say 7k, 25% fuel and 4x50 cals.

Thanks,

Slade  

[Brakechk]

I'm not sure on the mustang however I test this offline in planes I am curious about.  For example if I take the 109k with dt, I drop it on the runway before firing the engines up, then take off, get to 200 ish alt and hit x flying out over the water.  Once the speed is leveled out I look at the fuel loadout remaining (fuel computer on clipboard).  I then mimic the setup without loading a dt and up and fly the same flight path.  Once the computer shown fuel remaining is equal to that of the previous flight's topspeed I then have a comparison. 

I know this isn't maneuverability exactly but that little bit of difference shown can sometimes be the difference when you might need that little bit of extra E (say to get the nose up for a shot...or being able to manuever effectively vs wallowing around).  So in the 109k the topend is around 6 mph less if you load the dt and then drop it vs being clean to begin with.  So in the 19K I generally just up 100% internal and no dt.  In the Ki-84 I saw no difference so I frequently up 50 internal with dts.

I've always considered a turnfight to be just as much of an E fight as a any other style of encounter.  I have (maybe wrongly) associated top speed comparisons of the same fighter in different configurations as being relative to the ability to gain or retain E in those different configurations, so that's what the point of those tests are for me.

My 2 cents.....
I suspect that it's not really that important given all the different variables you would be encountering in a fight that are far more likely to effect the fight.  For example, encountering an nme soon after upping with 100% fuel load against a plane that has flown a full sector to get to your position....or the most common variable...encountering an unlike plane.  I think what would be more important given those circumstances is recognizing your weakness and your strengths relative to your opponent and trying exploit the good stuff and avoid the bad stuff and using solid acm.  While turning with everything you see in a mustang may be looked at as violating the last sentence in terms of comparitive weakness's and strengths with many commonly flown planes, I think it's fantastic training for learning and using acm.  I do it all the time while trying to learn the 109K and Ki-84, but I die alot too 

[Slade]

Let me share this finding:

1. P-51d 25% fuel 4x50 = 8826 pounds
2. P-51d 25% fuel 6x50 = 8981 pounds difference from 1 = 155 pounds
3. P-51d 50% fuel 6x50 = 9367 pounds difference from 1 = 541 pounds

[Karnak]

The P-51D's mounting points are always there in AH, even if you don't take bombs/rockets/droptanks.  It is kinda nice from the standpoint of not worrying about performance penalties in air-to-air combat if you take underwing stores.

On the Mossie I will only ever take the internal bombs because I want to keep my airframe clean.

[Badboy]

I am asking as I have been experimenting flying a P-51d more like a turn fighter.  Coming in at say 7k, 25% fuel and 4x50 cals.

I prefer to go with the 6x50cals, nothing worse than getting a shot and not having the firepower to complete the job.

Also, the P-51D is an outstanding energy fighter that can be flown very aggressively as such. Fighting the P-51D as an angles fighter requires you to recognise when you can do that and for how long before you need need to switch back to being the energy fighter again.

Check out this link for more information on how to decide when you are the energy or angles fighter.

http://simhq.com/_air/air_011a.html

Hope that helps...

Badboy

 

[Chalenge]

Let me share this finding:

1. P-51d 25% fuel 4x50 = 8826 pounds
2. P-51d 25% fuel 6x50 = 8981 pounds difference from 1 = 155 pounds
3. P-51d 50% fuel 6x50 = 9367 pounds difference from 1 = 541 pounds

It is quite popular for people to smack talk down the fuel advantage. If that ever happens to you just ask them to strap on a 500 lb bomb under their aircraft and have another go at it. Don't let them talk you into giving up your planes primary advantage just to prove your worth, or later on they'll have you flying completely different aircraft altogether. The vaunted champion of furballing ponies I have killed as many as three times in a single sortie at varying altitudes, so outside of furballing he isn't all that. Besides, anyone no matter how good, or 'skilled' can be killed by the freshest noob on any given day. Especially if they believe the moonbat theory on furballing.

Fly your own program and don't let the moonbats get in your head. If you like P-51s, then fly P-51s and not a P-51 that thinks it's a Spit.

[Noir]

that said there is a world between 50% and 75% fuel. at 75% the 51 will snap roll out of it's trajectory for a manoeuvre that will work perfectly at 50%.

Weight is only part of the story, I usually take 75% and make sure nobody will bother me on climbout. And if forced to defend myself I will stay loose on the controls and fly very defensive until I get lighter

I you see me online don't hesitate to pm me

EDIT: take the 6x50cal, you'll need them. Loosing a multi plane engagement often starts by falling to kill a single or multiple opponents quickly enough.

[Puma44]

Hello,

I have seen where a mounting point can take 5 mph +\- off ones top speed.  Is the drop tank mounting point modeled to take anything away from a P-51d's maneuverability?

I am asking as I have been experimenting flying a P-51d more like a turn fighter.  Coming in at say 7k, 25% fuel and 4x50 cals.

Thanks,

Slade 

If the 5mph and the minimal drag of the hardpoints is a major factor in employing the Mustang, then there are some shortcomings in BFM/ACM skills to be addressed and improved upon.   Given a choice, six vs four fifties is a better choice of firepower.  More bang for the buck is always a good thing.

[Butcher]

It is quite popular for people to smack talk down the fuel advantage. If that ever happens to you just ask them to strap on a 500 lb bomb under their aircraft and have another go at it. Don't let them talk you into giving up your planes primary advantage just to prove your worth, or later on they'll have you flying completely different aircraft altogether. The vaunted champion of furballing ponies I have killed as many as three times in a single sortie at varying altitudes, so outside of furballing he isn't all that. Besides, anyone no matter how good, or 'skilled' can be killed by the freshest noob on any given day. Especially if they believe the moonbat theory on furballing.

Fly your own program and don't let the moonbats get in your head. If you like P-51s, then fly P-51s and not a P-51 that thinks it's a Spit.

Says your DA record, stick to flying at 40k and picking.