F4u Question

[Slade]

Which turns better below 10k :  F4u-1a or F4u-1d?

Thanks.

[FLS]

They both turn better under 10k.   

Turn performance is close enough that I take the 1a for it's speed unless I want to fly attack with the D.

[Zacherof]

Real men fly the Dash 1.  Although the D feels more stable than the -1 and -1A

[Arlo]

Real men fly the Dash 1.  Although the D feels more stable than the -1 and -1A

Burn your left wing fuel first.

[Zacherof]

Burn your left wing fuel first.

Try to keep her E up as well. As she isn't a great sustained turner but she will turn with when fast

[Arlo]

 

[Saxman]

The 1A has marginally superior maneuverability than the 1D and 1C, and is also slightly faster, at all altitudes. That said the difference is VERY slim, and you'll probably only ever notice it in a direct head-to-head match-up between Hogs. MAYBE.

Keep in mind that the 1A does carry a larger fuel load with its two wing tanks so will be a bit heavier at a given fuel load % than the 1D, which can affect perceptions of her maneuverability. As Arlo said: Burn the left wing down first. For long flights and climbs to altitude, or if I want a lot of loiter time, I usually roll at 100% fuel, burn the left and right tanks to 25%/50%, respectively, (alternate: Left to 50, Right to 75, Left to 25, etc) then switch to main, using my wing tanks as reserve. For shorter-ranged sorties I take 75%, empty the left wing and take the right to about 25%. The key is if you have fuel in the wings, keep the right wing about 25% or so higher than the left. This helps balance the plane against the engine torque.

[Slade]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

empty the left wing

A few of you said that.  Would that not create a weight imbalance as fuel (I think) would still be in the right tank?

Educate me please on this.


Thanks again,

Slade  

[Arlo]

Would that not create a weight imbalance as fuel (I think) would still be in the right tank?

Educate me please on this.


Thanks again,

Slade  

Perhaps with your engine off. With your engine running it helps counter the torque ... or perhaps the torque helps counter the weight imbalance, in this case.  

[Wiley]

Perhaps with your engine off. With your engine running it helps counter the torque ... or perhaps the torque helps counter the weight imbalance, in this case.  

^^This.  It can really smooth out the stall characteristics if you're TnBing in it.  Saxman's approach works very well.  When I'm knocking around the mains in it, I always do the 75% fuel thing, and burn off the left wing to 25%.  Then I go to Main fuel, and when that's empty if I'm still alive, I rtb with what's in the wingtanks.  Works well in the -1 and the -1A.

Wiley.

[Zacherof]

That's the main reason I don't fly the C or 4. They only have the main tank. If you take a
fuel hit your done. Especially since there both guzzlers

[Saxman]

1C is the same engine and fuel capacity as the 1D. The -4 is definitely a guzzler, though (smaller fuel tank and its engine is a lot thirstier).

[Zacherof]

I
always felt the c was thirstier. Guess it was all in my head

[Saxman]

Yup.

It IS slightly heavier, but like the difference between the 1A and 1D, it's so minute that you may only see it if you're engaged with another Hog, and even then it's hardly enough to REALLY make a difference. I remember an epic duel I engaged in with MTNMAN in the Mains once several years ago, his 1C vs. my 1A, and even though I was quite light on fuel it still took a LOT of work and several reversals to finally get around on him for the kill shot. Damn, I wish I had film/screens of that fight.