P-51d Lite

[mechanic]

If I intend to do anything but BnZ I always prefer to be in the 4 gun version. Maybe it's a placebo, but that's fine, it makes me fly just that little bit better.

[Lusche]

Anyone else fly the 51d with just 4x50s lite?

If I want to do that, I hop into the P-51B - earns me four times the perks for every kill

[seano]

The B will smoke any plane above 30k. 

[Slade]

If I intend to do anything but BnZ I always prefer to be in the 4 gun version. Maybe it's a placebo, but that's fine, it makes me fly just that little bit better.

Yeah that kinda forces you to not BnZ.  Snapshots much harder. So you need to learn to fly the 51 to all its other attributes.  Tons of ammo with the 51d 4x50s so you have more opportunities and options in that way using your guns over the 51b.

For lower altitude engagements (10k and down) crazy fun to engage the Spits\LAs in their domain and surprise them! 

[glzsqd]

The B will smoke any plane above 30k.

Not the 152, 4hog 47m 47n.

[PR3D4TOR]

And Spit14.

[Slade]

Guys I'm tell'n ya that 51d lite is a very effective plane!

[bustr]

You have found a combination of factors that works with your skillset. All of the contributors to your post have found similar combinations with their own favorite rides that they will swear like you are now, makes that ride incredible.

Ask YUCCA about D40's, 6 gun package with 25% and a drop tank on the deck with spits back in 06. But, again, now days it's the M with that load out. You sound exactly like one of my squad mates when he discovered the 6 gun package and low fuel in the M.

So what took you so long to figure it out??

[Slade]

So what took you so long to figure it out??

Ignorance on my part.  I was only flying and seeing the P-51d in one dimension.  The way 90% fly it.  Boom-n-Zoom.

I did some stats on it (see me stats page) and I thought, wow that bird sure is lighter in that config.  I wonder...

[glzsqd]

You have found a combination of factors that works with your skillset. All of the contributors to your post have found similar combinations with their own favorite rides that they will swear like you are now, makes that ride incredible.

Ask YUCCA about D40's, 6 gun package with 25% and a drop tank on the deck with spits back in 06. But, again, now days it's the M with that load out. You sound exactly like one of my squad mates when he discovered the 6 gun package and low fuel in the M.

So what took you so long to figure it out??

P47's Are best with 6 50cals 

[Hap]

Anyone else fly the 51d with just 4x50s lite?

When I haul ord.  Impressed with your tests regarding weight.  I've done the same with the P47.  Lastly, get 1 good bite with  four 50 cals, someone else will down the con while the kill goes to you.

[mthrockmor]

Way back before I discovered my love affair with the 190, I flew the PonyD almost exclusively. I won't claim to be an expert, though more familiar than any noob.

I was of the opinion that the PonyD, 6-guns and down to 25% fuel - flown in the vertical - was good enough to fight anything. I had plenty of kills down on the deck stall fighting. As Dave notes, most other sticks expect the Pony to flash by and run. Hard aggressive turns cause most of them to make bad decisions. Actually, since they expect you to run-Stang they keep their "E" as high as possible and your aggressive turn (bleeding "E") gets them to overshoot most of the time. Then....close in for the kill and don't miss your shots.

boo

[Rich46yo]

If I want to do that, I hop into the P-51B - earns me four times the perks for every kill

The more I read about P-51s the more I learn just how popular the P-51b was with its pilots. Yes many of them graduated to it from P-40s but also from P-47s. Ive read of some who preferred it over the P-51D, considering it the best of the Mustangs. That and the A-36 was considered the best dive bomber of the war by those who flew many different types. It may have carried less but Ive read accounts from many experienced pilots who thought it the most accurate of the dive bombers and a very fine low level scrapper too.

[Zacherof]

You have found a combination of factors that works with your skillset. All of the contributors to your post have found similar combinations with their own favorite rides that they will swear like you are now, makes that ride incredible.

Ask YUCCA about D40's, 6 gun package with 25% and a drop tank on the deck with spits back in 06. But, again, now days it's the M with that load out. You sound exactly like one of my squad mates when he discovered the 6 gun package and low fuel in the M.

So what took you so long to figure it out??

A p47 that light flown right and aggressivly is a shocker for lots of folks.

[save]

IRL many pilots did not like the P51d coming from P51b, because d-model was unstable at high dive speeds.