Top E Planes (non-perky)

[Zimme83]

Spit 14 isnt that bad at turning compare to other LW rides but it has too much engine power so it doesnt bleed off speed fast enough to stay with other planes that slow down faster when turning. Sometimes you simply have to reduce or even cut the throttle. Too bad we don't have the 150 octane fuel, it would have turned the 14 to a monster..

[shift8]

It is indeed too bad. It would make a # of other planes into monsters as well.

[Slade]

Thanks for all the comments.  I'd like to remind those saying "what about the LA7" that my request for was for: Top E Planes (non-perky)

As pointed out a P-40 will not have the same E retention as a Spit16 - no matter the pilot. 

This post is really asking how to get the most out of average planes and you guys have been giving great examples.  I only fly perky planes when crazily outnumbered and getting desperate calls to save a base.  You have to near force me.

I've seen guys optimize E retention in the C202s to P-51's.  A lot IS up to the pilot.  All things\pilots being equal though is the baseline of the post.

[shift8]

Thanks for all the comments.  I'd like to remind those saying "what about the LA7" that my request for was for: Top E Planes (non-perky)

As pointed out a P-40 will not have the same E retention as a Spit16 - no matter the pilot. 

This post is really asking how to get the most out of average planes and you guys have been giving great examples.  I only fly perky planes when crazily outnumbered and getting desperate calls to save a base.  You have to near force me.

I've seen guys optimize E retention in the C202s to P-51's.  A lot IS up to the pilot.  All things\pilots being equal though is the baseline of the post.

The La-7 isn't a perk plane though..........

That being said, its not the most amazing E fighter either. Don't misunderstand, It's superb below 15k, especially below 10, but its lack of high altitude ability makes it a sub-par fighter in the grand scheme of things. Like all Russian planes, it amounts to basically being a super-hot P-40 or P-39. It's inability to fight up high renders it impotent because it is always at the mercy of planes that can come in higher and work their way down.

That isnt to say it doesnt have a few niche roles, like last ditch base defense or something.

[Krusty]

People make that generic claim that the La-7 isn't good "up high" but don't really consider the stats. It may do "better" down low, but when the benchmark is so high you will find it is still a bully up at altitude as well. Its' "up high" is still better than many planes' "down low."





It does 410 mph at 20k. That's nothing to sneeze at.

It did take a hit to handling after its 3D model was updated and the airflow over the airframe was tweaked. Before then it was an utter UFO and flew more like an unstalling Spit than anything else. Now it's much more realistic (IMO) and still a good ride. Though the non-UFO nature of it now has make many pilots flock to easier-mode rides.

[Zimme83]

Spit 8 is also a low level fighter so its not surprising that it also lose performance at higher altitudes.
Compare with Spit 14:


Or the dora:


And you see that the LA is losing it's speed advantage rather quickly, above 8k both of them are faster with wep and above 15k both are faster non wep.

But have in mind that high altitudes usually means above 20-25k IRL but in AH anything above 10 is considered high altitude.

[shift8]

People make that generic claim that the La-7 isn't good "up high" but don't really consider the stats. It may do "better" down low, but when the benchmark is so high you will find it is still a bully up at altitude as well. Its' "up high" is still better than many planes' "down low."

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

It does 410 mph at 20k. That's nothing to sneeze at.

It did take a hit to handling after its 3D model was updated and the airflow over the airframe was tweaked. Before then it was an utter UFO and flew more like an unstalling Spit than anything else. Now it's much more realistic (IMO) and still a good ride. Though the non-UFO nature of it now has make many pilots flock to easier-mode rides.

Your comparing it to a really old spit dude. The La-7 is a September 44 plane. Also its speed at altitude isn't really indicative of its performance there. It starts to really gasp over 15k. I will grant you that there are some planes it does better than up there, but not versus its contemporaries.

[Lusche]

I thought we were talking about the MA? All planes are "contemporaries" there 

[nrshida]

Just about this maximum radial G business, if the accelerometer reads 1 in level flight, are you pulling 3 or 2 radial G in a flat turn when the guage reads 3? Does it depend on the lean angle of the aircraft? Is it something like the cosine of the bank angle? What about if the turn isn't flat, can you still measure the radius of an Immelmann or a Chandelle, accepting it will vary through the manoeuvre as the G varies?

[FLS]

Radial g is created by lift. The accelerometer reads the load factor for the wing. Gravity is added or subtracted depending on your attitude so vertical turns get complicated. Bank angle in a flat turn correlates to radial g. A flat 60 degree turn is a 2g turn.

Take a look at the energy egg.in this article.

http://trainers.hitechcreations.com/89-tactics/advanced-flight-concepts/1076-turning

[save]

The La-7 everyone flies is a 1945 plane ( with 3 guns)

Your comparing it to a really old spit dude. The La-7 is a September 44 plane. Also its speed at altitude isn't really indicative of its performance there. It starts to really gasp over 15k. I will grant you that there are some planes it does better than up there, but not versus its contemporaries.

[DmonSlyr]

LA7 and Spit8 are two non perk planes that can turn better than most and can hold and retain E better than most. They are a couple of the best non perk planes in the game.

The 109K holds E very well, but you have to be skilled to aim it properly, so it does take some skill to fly and set up shots.

[Zimme83]

Although it's better to compare the LA-7 with the Spit 16. The spit has a slight edge on almost Everything except speed. As long as it has WEP.

[bozon]

LA7 and Spit8 are two non perk planes that can turn better than most and can hold and retain E better than most. They are a couple of the best non perk planes in the game.

The 109K holds E very well, but you have to be skilled to aim it properly, so it does take some skill to fly and set up shots.

A tour or two ago I took the 109k for a spin after many many tours (probably years) not flying it. Man, it felt completely invincible. After years of flying almost nothing other than mosquitoes, P47D11/25, or F6Fs, the 109k4  felt like I could get away with any thing. Could not hit a thing with the spud gun, but bagged 3 kills with the mg's while out numbered. Pipz laughed out laud on Teamspeak when he called my 6 about spits closing on me in the furball and I relplyed with a giggle "they cant touch me! I'm in a K4!".

Yes, the tater takes some skill, but otherwise it is at the top of the "easiest planes to be successful in". Energy management in the K4 means "dont build too much of it".

[Slade]

A tour or two ago I took the 109k for a spin after many many tours (probably years) not flying it. Man, it felt completely invincible.

EXACTLY ... EXACTLY!

If you cant avg. 3+ kills in an LA7, Spit16, 109k4 etc. you are doing something wrong (assuming you are flying when there are planes to shoot down).  That is not fun to me.  These are Tie fighters, i.e. planes that excel exponentially over the opponents planes.

Thus this message topic is functionally:  getting the most out of non-perky rides.  Non-perky in this context means basically average planes.

Granted if you are polarized on score you might need to fly perky planes.  I'm just polarized on shooting down red things and helping my team.  If I can do it in average planes it is more fun to me.

To each his own.  Rock on!