Why is the Ki 61 a 35eny bird

[mbailey]

I know it's not a speed demon, but it retains E really well

It isn't an ord monster but 2x250 isn't bad

It doesn't have a huge cannon in the nose but the one it does have is a killer. Excellent ROF

It doesn't turn like a spit, but I'll fight them all day long and come out on top most of the time

IMHO it's one of the best fighters in the game and I never feel out matched against any nmy bird I come across

I've never made a post regarding ENY and a specific bird before but 35 for this monster seems a bit high.  (Not that I'm complaining love getting 20+ perks most sorties ). Just curious what the thinking behind the ENY is 

[Debrody]

very poor flaps
poor clim rate
very slow
enough reasons?

[XxDaSTaRxx]

I think while we're here we should bring up the 109F 

[SPKmes]

I know it's not a speed demon, but it retains E really well

It isn't an ord monster but 2x250 isn't bad

It doesn't have a huge cannon in the nose but the one it does have is a killer. Excellent ROF

It doesn't turn like a spit, but I'll fight them all day long and come out on top most of the time

IMHO it's one of the best fighters in the game and I never feel out matched against any nmy bird I come across

I've never made a post regarding ENY and a specific bird before but 35 for this monster seems a bit high.  (Not that I'm complaining love getting 20+ perks most sorties ). Just curious what the thinking behind the ENY is  

[mbailey]

(Image removed from quote.)

Point taken.  

very poor flaps
poor clim rate
very slow
enough reasons?

Flaps are just fine.  With a little E ill Zoom up like a sparrow with a bottle rocket in its backside

Slow.  Yep.  But I'll T&B with spits all day long with a notch or two.  And with that little bit of stored E she's just fine in the speed dept. (For fighting that is.  Not a good choice for a runner.  But running isn't an option

[mbailey]

.

[Debrody]

Flaps are just fine.  With a little E ill Zoom up like a sparrow with a bottle rocket in its backside

Slow.  Yep.  But I'll T&B with spits all day long with a notch or two.  And with that little bit of stored E she's just fine in the speed dept. (For fighting that is.  Not a good choice for a runner.  But running isn't an option

I have to disagree with this. The turn rate is actually getting worse with the flaps being opened (sustained), also the turn radius still stays huge (scissors).
The fact is that you can fly this bird well, actually more of a sign of your skill and practice. I have tested them multiple times offline, the difference is that large, there is no other way of beating a spit. The 109F is much better in every aspect except guns and dive, still, with equal pilots, the spit9 should have no problems against the 109.

[ink]

the only reason you can "TnB with spits all day" is because most spit drivers you meet are very unfamiliar with ACM and are most often straight up noobs....

any real fighter worth his salt in any of the later spits will send you to the tower 10 out of 10 times....very quickly.

[Widewing]

Point taken.  

Flaps are just fine.  With a little E ill Zoom up like a sparrow with a bottle rocket in its backside

Slow.  Yep.  But I'll T&B with spits all day long with a notch or two.  And with that little bit of stored E she's just fine in the speed dept. (For fighting that is.  Not a good choice for a runner.  But running isn't an option

I have to differ. The flaps are horrendous. All drag, little lift. Turn radius doesn't tighten very much and turn rate takes a big hit. It wallows with full flaps out.

Compared to the F6F in terms of turn radius, it has a very tiny advantage clean. However, it is utterly outclassed by the Hellcat when both drop full flaps.

The only reason you are beating Spitfires is because you're a much better pilot than those you've encountered. All the Spit need do is take the fight vertical and you'd be toast.

All of that said, the Ki-61 is a lot of fun, as long as you note its limitations and fly it accordingly.

[mbailey]

I don't know.  Maybe I just don't see it.

[Butcher]

I always had a soft spot for the Ki-61, I enjoy flying it low on the deck while airfields are being horded, at such a high ENY picking off any decent aircraft is rewarding, many would easily ignore it as a threat. Our Ki-61 is a late war variant, its 20mm's are Ho-5 and pretty good, few dings and an aircraft goes down.
However, everytime I get stuck in an FSO event or Snapshot with the Ki-61, I usually hate myself. Given its usual opponents a P-47, P-38, Corsair, Hellcat - I usually get toasted. Spitfire V's as well, the only decent opponent I could easily combat were P-40s or P-39s.

Then again I am not kermit, he could swing that Ki around like it was a brewster and still shoot you down.

If I were to rejoin Aces, I'd fly a Ki-61 for the Perks. If you boom and zoom with it, it can be a nasty little surprise, just don't get caught slow.

[steely07]

Tongs told me the first rule of Ki 61 club is not to talk about Ki 61 club...

[mbailey]

Tongs told me the first rule of Ki 61 club is not to talk about Ki 61 club...

I expect a brutal tongue lashing from Tongs. I forgot the KI Club rules 

[SPKmes]

I actually think you are a little bias here mbailey

If you put yourself in the other plane there are many short comings to the 61

Pretty much anything higher than you can catch you...
The only defense you have in this situation is to dive away...great for planes that shed parts as they will not pursue for too long but everything else will catch you...and if one that sheds parts is patient they too will catch you...I think the a6m2, Ki43, TBM,  goon and brew are all it can get away from
once involved in a fight you are there till the end...there are no options once you start turning
They do turn great but many can out turn it, and many others can with flaps. If they can't out turn it they can just climb/run away from it.
The guns are pretty good but as far as 20's go not that flash.
The flaps are ok at best...but they can't stay out...it just can't really do much with them out...and once you are that slow....you have a lot of work to gain speed
It does have an easy stall characteristic which helps maintain a steady platform during stall fighting...but it can let go and dip a wing and although it is recoverable you will have lost significant speed and alt...which is hard to get back if being pressed.

In saying all this it is a very capable plane in the right hands but things have to be finished fast...

[SmokinLoon]

Horrible graphics.  That is why it is a 35 ENY plane.   

It is not a bad plane at all, really.  Much in line with the C205.  It is just too smurfy for me to fly.  Not when the A6M3 is available.