Best Heavy Fighter

[Tank-Ace]

Wait until the 190F gets more of its options.

8 50kg bombs
4 50kg bombs + 12 rockets
3 250kg bombs
2 250kg bombs + 1 500kg bomb
1 1000kg GP bomb
1 1000kg AP bomb
210mm a2g rockets
R4M roclets

Hell, depending on how HTC would treat it, it might even get the 1800kg bomb one of these days.

[-ammo-]

Wait until the 190F gets more of its options.

8 50kg bombs
4 50kg bombs + 12 rockets
3 250kg bombs
2 250kg bombs + 1 500kg bomb
1 1000kg GP bomb
1 1000kg AP bomb
210mm a2g rockets
R4M roclets

Hell, depending on how HTC would treat it, it might even get the 1800kg bomb one of these days.

P47Ds eat 190-Fs in dogfights

[earl1937]

One type of aircraft we all fly almost everyday is the fighter with ords! Everybody has their favorite "ride", but begs the question, "Which is the best air to ground fighter in the Game"!
I have always found the 51D to be a stable gun platform, but not a lot of ords for GV killing, just enough to kill one hangar, 2 1,000lbers and 6 rockets. The D40 and "Nancy" jug carries a fair amount of ords and can stand its on in the right hands in a air to air fight.
The F4U series of aircraft also carry a fair amount of ords and can hold its own in a fight, but doesn't accelerate very good, about like the "jugs".
The 190's are good in fight, but doesn't carry much ords and is a little slow on the top end, all though the "Dora" does pretty good on the top end of the speed range of the fighters in this game.
I personally think that the fighter which can deliver a fair amount of ords and still be capable of winning a one on one fight with any fighter in the game should be the gauge which we use to arrive at the answer to the question, "The best air to ground attack fighter is_____________________"!

Great replies guys, have already learned serveral things about the different aircraft mentioned that I did not know! I am taking notes! LOL

[Ack-Ack]

Yep. And so is the:
P-38L
+ ideal for initial bomber escort and then attack a secondary shorter range target
+ dual engines for reliability
+ decent turner
+ lots of rocket and bomb options.
+ good acceleration
- poor ground/underneath visibility
- fuel pig
- big target

CHOG
+ mean mo-fo with those Hispanos
+ decent turning machine
+ decent top speed and dive bombing capabilities
+ good weapons loadout
+ excellent strike fighter from a CV and then sticks around after dropping bombs
- fuel pig
- bigger target

P-51D
+ ideal for high altitude bomber escort for the entire trip or long range airfield strikes
+ excellent top end speed
+ excellent B&Z + turn fighter (except against other turn fighters)
+ good weapons options
+ fuel economy is top notch
+ excellent visibility
+ excellent dive bombing
+ small target
+ accelerates like a SOB in a dive and holds E well in a climb
- accelerates like a slug horizontal

F6F
+ excellent B&Z + turn fighter
+ good weapons options
+ excellent dive bombing
+ very durable
- big target
- rear visibility is poor
- fuel pig
- aerodynamics of a shoebox

Mossie
+ good long range bomber/attack platform
+ excellent against strike and run targets
+ fast in/out platform
+ good weapon options
+ decent fuel economy for it's size
+ best for the fast in - fast out strikes
- wood construction for some components
- really big target

You forgot to add a big minus for the P-51D, it's belly which was a major Achilles for the Mustang on ground attack sorties and wasn't as rugged as the Thunderbolt or Lightning in that role.

ack-ack

[Triton28]

P-38L.  All other talk is for second place.

Enough ords to take out a hangar/GV's with leftovers for deack/more mud moving
Twin engine/rudder redundancy
Rock solid gun platform
Center mounted guns with cannon for excellent long range strafing
Able to maintain +/- 2,000 fpm climb fully loaded without WEP
Excellent high speed roll rate to aid in wirb/manned ack sissy avoidance
Top notch, versatile fighter once ords are away
Looks mean and sexy.  Sometimes targets just evaporate from fear/envy.  

To those too ignorant to understand her, she's called a buff.  To those of us who know and love her, she's the queen of swing!  


 
 

[Karnak]

I am going with Ammo on this one.  You can't beat the load out of the P47D40.  The D40 is solid fighter too boot.  

A very, very close second is the P38L.  Either bird suits me.  The 47D gets the slight edge with its extra 500 bomb and it is a bit more durable to ground fire albeit the 38 does have the spare engine.

P-47s don't carry their ordnance well compared to any twin engined fighter, or even the P-51D.

[-ammo-]

P-47s don't carry their ordnance well compared to any twin engined fighter, or even the P-51D.

What do you mean?  They climb, albeit slow, and then drop their 2500 lbs+rockets and and they are a fighter again.

[SirNuke]

For Aces High I'd say P38L...fastest fighter carrying enough ord to nuke a hangar plus some more. And it holds a hispano, which helps a LOT for deacking.

It's a shame aces high emphasises (?) so much on the ability for a fighter to drop a hangar on his own.

My personal favourite is the 110G2

[Triton28]

What do you mean?  They climb, albeit slow, and then drop their 2500 lbs+rockets and and they are a fighter again.

They climb like a fat girl going upstairs to eat a salad. *

*© Hlbly 2013

[Volron]

They climb like a fat girl going upstairs to eat a salad. *

*© Hlbly 2013

 

[-ammo-]

They climb like a fat girl going upstairs to eat a salad. *

*© Hlbly 2013

You underestimate the old girl

[Triton28]

You underestimate the old girl

No.  That's one weakness of a fully loaded Jug.  She has to burn WEP to maintain a respectable climb rate. 

I like ye ol' Jug.  A fine bird.  She's just overweight and only has one screw.   

[Karnak]

What do you mean?  They climb, albeit slow, and then drop their 2500 lbs+rockets and and they are a fighter again.

They both climb very slowly with ordnance and fly very slowly with ordnance.  P-47s take a larger hit to performance than do the other fighter-bombers, but they also carry a bit more.

They are back to their normal P-47ish ways once they drop it though.

[GScholz]

P47Ds eat 190-Fs in dogfights

Actually, below 5k (where ground support fights are fought) the 190F outperforms the P-47-D40. Especially if you consider the 190 has twice the WEP duration.

[-ammo-]

Actually, below 5k (where ground support fights are fought) the 190F outperforms the P-47-D40. Especially if you consider the 190 has twice the WEP duration.

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

I would like to test that theory with you.