US Navy Fighters: F4U or F6F

[Rigger1]

So I have been playing AH for about a year now and seem to be getting the hang of things pretty well.  I started out in the P-38J and had a rough start but eventually got the hang of it.  While its an outstanding aircraft I found that it really doesn't suit my style of fighting.  I'm active duty US Navy and would really like to learn, or even master, a US Navy carrier aircraft.  I've dabbled around with both the corsairs and the hellcat.   There are things I like about both but I feel like I should be able to get more out of each aircraft.  I love the F4U-1A due to its high speed and maunuverability, and lets not forget the flaps!  Oh those flaps let you almost float.  I've been low and full flaps against many spit16's and came out on top.  The F4U-4 is great too if you can keep her fast.  Problem with the corsair though, even though she may be fast, her acceleration and climb rate are poor compared to most LW fighters.  Where as the hellcat seems to have better acceleration and climb (3.3k/m with 75% and a dt if memory serves me right) and seems to hold E a little better, but not as good low speed handling.  The hellcat seems to perform more like a later war jug to me.  Of course both have thier rear visibility issues, but nothing a little rudder wagging doesn't fix.  Armor ment is about the same, though I tend to use the Dhog for jabo purposes almost exclusively. 

So I wanted to get some opinions from the community and see what other people have to say.  I see a lot more corsairs in the MA then hellcats and I was curious if that's just prefrence or if there is areal big detail I happen to be missing.  I know Greebo is one hell of a hellcat pilot, he's shown me my tail feathers on more then one occasion in that thing, but Shawk's and Jayro are good corsair sticks as well, and I've had the honor of duking it out with both of them in my 38.  Can't wait to hear what people have to say!

[Krusty]

Historically, the F6F and F4U were a trade-off, nearly equal in all capabilities. In Aces High the F4U is modeled better in manueverability -- especially if you learn flap usage. It has the greater capacity for mastery, as far as flying virtual planes goes.

[Triton28]

So I wanted to get some opinions from the community and see what other people have to say.  I see a lot more corsairs in the MA then hellcats and I was curious if that's just prefrence or if there is areal big detail I happen to be missing.  I know Greebo is one hell of a hellcat pilot, he's shown me my tail feathers on more then one occasion in that thing, but Shawk's and Jayro are good corsair sticks as well, and I've had the honor of duking it out with both of them in my 38.  Can't wait to hear what people have to say!

Both planes can be flown in a similar fashion successfully.  Start out with speed, and save your ability to turn for later in the fight.  Avoid fighting over your head whenever possible.   

The Corsairs are probably more popular because they're faster.  The Corsair is probably easier to be successful with due to said speed.  The F6F seems more capable of those unnerving E dumping maneuvers, so it can be a real surprise (much like a 109) if you're not very keen to spot an overshoot.  Equal pilots, low and slow on the deck, the F6F probably wins by a nose.   

[shiv]

Of course both have thier rear visibility issues, but nothing a little rudder wagging doesn't fix.

I would say the Corsair has a much, much better 6 view than the Hellcat. At least that's with a hat-switch, I never tried track-IR. Maybe it's better with that.

And if the 6 view in the Hellcat was any use at all I would think you'd see a lot more of them in the arena.

I'd recommend the F4U though. Sure, acceleration and climb are pretty bad (F4U-4 excepted), but those weaknesses are offset by many strengths. It can fight fast, slow, and in-between. It holds E great so you can catch  faster planes in some situations, and has that big rudder so you can dump E fast if you need to get slow. Great flaps, and excellent in a scissors. And it takes a lot of damage, which comes in handy.

[SmokinLoon]

I prefer the F6F.  I think it is far more forgiving in maneuvers, and it not as quirky.  The F4U is faster and has better range, but ultimately once both are learned it is a players choice. They are both highly versatile.

[FLS]

The F6F is a match for the F4u. The F4U is faster and has a better rear view. The F6F handles better at the stall.

[TequilaChaser]

The F6F is a match for the F4u. The F4U is faster and has a better rear view. The F6F handles better at the stall.

I would agree with FLS,  with the exception that the F6f-5 handles better at the stall edge of the flight envelope better than all the F4U variants except the -1 variant...

Although each of us have our differing opinions on this in reference to the Aces High planes....

I agree with Krusty, that in real life back in WWII, chance-vought and Grumman did side by side flight test that showed both to be nearly the same, specifically in the level top speed testing....  They found that the gauges ( and pitot tube location ) to be the difference in what the gauges showed...

Edit: the plane manufacturers performed these test right the end or right after WWII ended


TC

[caldera]

I would say the Corsair has a much, much better 6 view than the Hellcat. At least that's with a hat-switch, I never tried track-IR. Maybe it's better with that.

And if the 6 view in the Hellcat was any use at all I would think you'd see a lot more of them in the arena.

What he said.  The Corsair has near perfect views if you set them up with the keyboard arrows.

IMO, it feels like the hoverflaps enable a Corsair to do compact loops at very low altitudes and speeds, where the Hellcat would just auger in.

 

[bozon]

The F4U is "better". But I suggest to forget about that and fly what you think is cooler for you. I have plenty if irrelevant reasons why I like the F6F better, so when I go blue, this is the only thing I fly.

The historical F4U vs F6F is one of my favorite ones. The F4U was the better plane on paper and in a mock dogfight. The F6F was the better plane for winning the war. By the way, the AH F6F is about 15 mph too slow at its best alt.

[Karnak]

By the way, the AH F6F is about 15 mph too slow at its best alt.

This is true.  I had hoped it would be updated when the 3D model was updated, buy 'twas not to be.

It is the correct speed down low at least, and that is where most of the fighting in AH happens.  Still, should be fixed.

[Oldman731]

The F4U is "better". But I suggest to forget about that and fly what you think is cooler for you. I have plenty if irrelevant reasons why I like the F6F better, so when I go blue, this is the only thing I fly.

The historical F4U vs F6F is one of my favorite ones. The F4U was the better plane on paper and in a mock dogfight. The F6F was the better plane for winning the war.

I agree with all of the above.

- oldman

[Krusty]

To be fair, the F4u is far better at low-speed turn fighting due to the flaps. The F6F can't keep up. That alone makes most folks gravitate towards the F4u in this game.

[Reaper90]

Dauntless PWNS them both! 

[skorpx1]

I preferred the F6F over the F4U almost every time I upped a Navy plane. The F6F is more forgiving in stalls and is nearly the same in turning. Take both out over the DA lake and pick which one suits you best.

[BaldEagl]

I prefer the Grummans over the Corsairs, even the older, slower F4F and FM2.

I picked the F6F years ago as my attack plane of choice due to it's smooth dive charachteristics and ord load combined with it's ability to dogfight and never looked back (no pun intended).   

Besides that you can't beat it's real life service record.  And did I tell you they're rugged?  They didn't call it Grumman Ironworks for nothing.