I'm Bored - Some possibly meaningless N1K2 Stats

[Kratzer]

I've heard some comments that the Spit IX is a N1K2 in another incarnation, but for some reason I don't have the trouble with Spit IXs that I do with N1K2s - and I'm not scared to engage them (I've shot down 10 IXs and have been shot down by 3 of them).  The Spit IX is a good plane (and one, I admit I like to fly sometimes), but I have never been able to do, or seen others do, the same sorts of crazy manuevers the N1K2 is capable of - it acts like an airplane, and as a result I don't have trouble.  

It seems that I see some amazing reversals by N1K2s where they are able to turn 180 degrees in some sort of fish-like 'flop', and suddenly be going in the opposite direction at high speed for the HO.  (Now, I have no problem with being shot at, or shooting from a HO position - it's a fight, and the gloves are off - me or him.)

My question is, what are they doing, and is it actually doing something that the aircraft was capable of, or is it a case of gaming the game?  Can any N1K2 drivers step up and tell me how this manuever works?

While I'm rambling, what usually seems to get me killed vs. the N1K2 is that I will come in with an enormous E advantage in a pass to try and get a N1K2 off of a wingman's six, the N1K2 will then execute a hard horizontal break turn - which is what I want (the N1K2 off of the wingman), but then the N1K2 will somehow be able to pull a complete horizontal loop and blast me from behind after I have passed at 450mph.  I've never seen any other aircraft do this - they might try, but my speed is such that in a shallow climb or level extension, I've gone well past gun range before they can bring their guns to bear.  Frustrating as all hell!

Anyway, since obviously people flying the rides I prefer (205 and the Dora) are knocking N1K2s down - how are you going about it?  And in the situation I described above, what are you doing to save your bacon?

Thanks for the comments thus far, btw!

Oh, and Orel - those are the kills/losses and ratios for those aircraft vs. the N1K2.

[DanielMcIntyre]

It has 2,000 horsepower and it is slow.
Why?


Firstly lets dispell the small plane, large engine, slow plane myth.

The N1K is not a small plane, its big (8818lb).  Its armoured and its 1990hp engine (historically unreliable) gives it a level speed at 18373ft of 369mph (not slow).

Quote: "The Shiden Kai combined the excellent manoeuverablity of the original floatplane with a powerful armament and good performance"

The N1K2-J has special butterfly flaps, these were deployed automatically by the airplane using a mercury stall gauge thingie which would detect near stalls and correct so its manouvourability at low speed is excellent.  

However, given the HP of the engine and the level speed it attains as well as the large radial engine, and its large wing area, slightly more then the spit, it accelerates and keeps its energy extremely well.  The N1K survives and performs maneuvers such as the Insta-Flip HO because of its exaggerated E keeping.  In fact I once was running flat from an N1K and slowly moving away from it, it managed to catch me by climbing slightly and then diving.  This means that it can store more energy in a climb then it loses which i'm pretty sure is physically impossible.

The reason the N1K's kills stats suck so much?  Simply because the people who fly them use the HO attack too often, engage other aircraft in ways they normally would'nt in say a spit or la7 and generally become overconfident.

A good example of this, yesterday I was flying an IL2 at 20k alt.  I see a N1K, who by definition, can outclimb, outturn, outrun but not outshoot my IL2 (23mm High Volocity Cannon) vs N1K 20mm low volocity. What does he do? He fly's straight at me head-on and I kill him, he kills me too.  He's not a newbie either.

Now if he'd been a spit? what would he have done?

[Blue Mako]

Originally posted by Zygote:
In fact I once was running flat from an N1K and slowly moving away from it, it managed to catch me by climbing slightly and then diving.  This means that it can store more energy in a climb then it loses which i'm pretty sure is physically impossible.

Sorry but this is wrong.  This pilot used the tactic of "unloading" to catch you.  A flat running plane can be caught by entering a shallow climb and then pushing over at zero g ("unloading").  This allows the plane to operate more efficiently than flying level.  The losses incurred in the climb are outweighed by the benefits of unloading in the dive.

 

Now if he'd been a spit? what would he have done?

He still would have HO'd you.  

[Karnak]

The N1K2-J's cannon are not low velocity.  They just aren't high velocity either.

The muzzle velocity on the Type 99 Model 2s is 750 meters per second.  That is slower than the Il-2's cannon or Hispanos, but compares well with the MG 151/20.

The Type 99 Model 1s or the MG-FF cannon might be considered "low velocity" at their 550-600 meters per second muzzle velocity.

The guy was still an idiot.  I'd have avoided the head on and then used my superior aircraft to get in position and kill you.

[DanielMcIntyre]

 

Sorry but this is wrong. This pilot used the tactic of "unloading" to catch you. A flat running plane can be caught by entering a shallow climb and then pushing over at zero g ("unloading"). This allows the plane to operate more efficiently than flying level. The losses incurred in the climb are outweighed by the benefits of unloading in the dive.

What you describe may have worked if he'd been co E or gaining on me, but losing speed, but he was flat and losing speed, and it was'nt a shallow climb, was a series of 1 - 2 K zoom climbs followed by diving.

Only time I've ever seen it done in AH too btw.

 

 

He still would have HO'd you.  

I think he would've obtained a nice easy firing solution on my 5 or 7 oclock and flown away with the kill.

[Blue Mako]

Originally posted by Zygote:
What you describe may have worked if he'd been co E or gaining on me, but losing speed, but he was flat and losing speed, and it was'nt a shallow climb, was a series of 1 - 2 K zoom climbs followed by diving.

Only time I've ever seen it done in AH too btw.

You're right.  Does seem odd.