Biggest "crutch" plane of AH

[Skyyr]

No.  It's the equivalent to, "This guy and I were shooting targets at the range.  He was out shooting me at 300 yards with his Winchester Model 94.  That pissed me off, so I went to the truck and brought out my $6000 Accuracy International and showed him what a real shooter can do."

If there were no rules about what could be used beforehand, there's nothing wrong with it. You're just trying to inject some sort of self-value to the guy who loses because he used older equipment. Hmmm... now where have I heard that argument before? lol

[JunkyII]

Honestly, the drama queens of this board are the guys who point out the drama....If there is a pissing match going on why even post anything? You add to the "problem" you all are pointing out.

There are people in game who fly high eny planes and people think they are good because they land some kills in them, but when you meet them in that same plane, you find out they aren't that good.

There are people who fly "crutch" planes and have good scores because the plane has characteristics that make I good in the MA. Example Hoagi has 0....0 talent other then the ability to line up a pick and run away....the LA7's characteristics make him able to do that.

People say some Brewster pilots are good, just because they can turn toward HO on a dime and avoid people for a long time, doesn't mean they are good. It's like when you read those "player to plane" threads...I'm just like, no he only looks good because of the plane.

Which brings me to Guppy is technically right, any plane can be flown in an easy mode way. TA152, you can fly at 20K and nobody going to catch you....or you can try turn fighting in it(it doesn't work, look at my K/D)

[Triton28]

If there were no rules about what could be used beforehand, there's nothing wrong with it. You're just trying to inject some sort of self-value to the guy who loses because he used older equipment. Hmmm... now where have I heard that argument before? lol

lol... rules.  What sound did my point make when it went over your head?   

[Wizz]

Honestly, the drama queens of this board are the guys who point out the drama....If there is a pissing match going on why even post anything? You add to the "problem" you all are pointing out.

There are people in game who fly high eny planes and people think they are good because they land some kills in them, but when you meet them in that same plane, you find out they aren't that good.

There are people who fly "crutch" planes and have good scores because the plane has characteristics that make I good in the MA. Example Hoagi has 0....0 talent other then the ability to line up a pick and run away....the LA7's characteristics make him able to do that.

People say some Brewster pilots are good, just because they can turn toward HO on a dime and avoid people for a long time, doesn't mean they are good. It's like when you read those "player to plane" threads...I'm just like, no he only looks good because of the plane.

Which brings me to Guppy is technically right, any plane can be flown in an easy mode way. TA152, you can fly at 20K and nobody going to catch you....or you can try turn fighting in it(it doesn't work, look at my K/D)

Said like a boss

my crutch plane of choice - LA-7
my crutch base defense plane of choice - B-17's

[Karnak]

The a6m could max altitude climb higher than the P40?

Yes, by a pretty large margin.

I see claims like the one you posted pretty frequently about a range of aircraft.  I suspect it stems from things like how badly Japanese aircraft competed at altitude at the end of the war and how many Spitfires were optimized for low altitude work (I've seen the exact same claim about Spitfires) and people just assuming that those performance issues were global rather than looking at the specific performance of specific aircraft.

I would not want to be in a P-40 at 30k in a fight with an A6M in which I had to control the airspace at any cost, in other words a situation at altitude where I could not dive away for strategic reasons.  Obviously those would be almost non-existent in reality, which means the P-40 could usually escape simply by diving, but that does cede control of the local airspace to the A6M.

[icepac]

P40F service ceiling was 34,400 feet.

[Karnak]

P40F service ceiling was 34,400 feet.

How many P-40Fs were facing off against A6Ms?

Any?

[icepac]

Plenty

[Karnak]

Plenty

(Image removed from quote.)

P-40F is closer, but still doesn't beat the A6Ms:

[Guppy35]

Plenty

(Image removed from quote.)

Some, would be more accurate.  Plenty of Merlin 40s were in the MTO.  Some Merlin P40s were in the PTO. 

[Zimme83]

P-40s could beat A6m:s because they were faster and could turn better at high speed. So then again - Speed is the single most important factor. And as stated, P-40 might not be able to outclimb the A6M but it could outdive it. They had the option to dive away and extend if they were about to loose.

[Patches1]

The only crutch plane is an F4U.

F4Us can escort bombers at 25K, or mix it up at high or mid altitudes with other fighters, or, on the deck from a CV, or, deliver Ords on target in a precision dive bombing attack on ground targets.

The crutch part is...you have to know how to fly it fast, and slow, and a bit in between, at various altitudes, and how to put bombs and rockets on a target, and escape. To do that well you must learn how to fly an F4U under all  kinds of differing conditions and above all else, you must learn that F4Us are insured by Aflack!.

[38ruk]

P-38G .... now that isnt a crutch , its a full on hoveround scooter for the elderly .

[Stang]

P-38 for sure. I mean two engines, who needs two engines? No torque, center mounted guns and you can fly it like a pro with a mouse and keyboard. Giant crutch plane.

[Lusche]

No torque, center mounted guns and you can fly it like a pro with a mouse and keyboard.

An still, some have to cheat by using pedals