need a new plane, any advice?

[Fenrik]

Ok, I started playing a week ago, been flying a spit9 about 70% of the time. I love the manuverability of this plane but its too damn slow. So, sometimes I fly a 51, but it turns for crap (w/ me flying atleast) and I seem to stall out and crash alot.

I've tried a few other planes but didnt really like them much (38, f4u), any suggestions? I'm looking for something with decent speed and manuverability.

Also, I've tried so far to fly Allied, but I might be willing to fly a jap or german plane if it fits me.

Fenrik

[Citabria]

as much as I hate saying this (I hate fighting them   )

try the n1k2
its fast as all getup on deck and turns on a dime and climbs and dives too.

plus its got 4 cannons.

i hate it

(only cuz i fly the p38   )

[leonid]

Fenrik,

If you don't mind flying from 16k or lower, give the La-5FN a try.  In fact, from 10k, down, it is really something.

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leonid, Komandir
5 GIAP VVS RKKA

"Our cause is just.  The enemy will be crushed.  Victory will be ours."

[gatt]

Fenrik,
you usually cannot have speed and maneuverability at low speeds.
Aircraft engineers are not wizards.
You have to choose, you have to decide which style of dogfight you prefer.

IMHO, if you find slow the MkIX you'll find slow the N1K2 as well. Normally, the Spitfire MkIX is considered the best arena dogfighter, a real 360° fighter, with speed, acceleration, excellent climb rate, good maneuverability (at high, medium and low speeds and altitudes), E retention, firepower (what am I saying? Fd-ski will pay me a beer  ).
I hate Spitfires, but I have to admit that the AH MkIX is, IMHO, slow.
Usually, you begin learning with the MkV and then you change to the MkIX. You have to use the latter as a real E fighter (and why not, even the MkV) to be really deadly.

IMHO the AH arena is still unbalanced to be able to learn with the right curve. You cant begin with a Spit MkV or Bf109F (the best to begin with, IMHO) without being gangbanged by P51-Ds and F4U1-Cs. AH's arena is tough, still an old hands arena.

When you'll become a men (jokin',    ) you'll try Daimler-Benz engined a/c or radials, as Vermillion says ....    . I say that if you learn to fight in a Bf109 you'll be the best Spitfire driver in the arena.

Regards and good hunting,
GATT
4°Stormo CT
"F.Baracca"
     


[This message has been edited by gatt (edited 04-13-2000).]

[Citabria]

in short... try the japanese plane (only one   )

and try the russian plane (only one   )


cheers  

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"There are no born fighter pilots. Some are a little better than others, thats about it. But I would say time, training, training, training and more training are the key... to any success."  -Francis Gabreski

Citabria
=357th Pony Express=

[gatt]

Leonid,
I think that we are two of the happiest AH 1.02 players now that dogfights are getting lower and lower ...  
Now the C.205V and the La5-FN can play their right role.

[leonid]

That's really true, gatt.  It's nice to find fights at the lower altitudes now  


------------------
leonid, Komandir
5 GIAP VVS RKKA

"Our cause is just.  The enemy will be crushed.  Victory will be ours."

[MANDOBLE]

Fenrik, go for 190A8.
1 - It is very well armed (4x20 + 2x13).
2 - It turns equal or better than any other plane at high speeds (outturns easily any Spit at 350 mph) and keeps energy very well if you keep on corner s.
3 - Its roll rate is just the best.
5 - It is one of the fastest planes at low alt.
6 - It is really small, hard to hit.
7 - It is very durable, you can make home after lossing half a wing and even rudder.
8 - It is one of the bests zoom climbers in AH and have a lot of rudder authority for inversions.
9 - You'll need little trimming.
10 - You can effectively destroy buffs.
11 - The most important one. If you master this plane, any other plane in AH will seem as a silly children toy.

[funked]

Su-27

[gatt]

Mandoble  ,
if he has troubles driving a Pony, can you imagine with the 190A-8? I dont mean only flying, I mean surviving.

[Hans]

I tend to group aircraft into three categories:

1.  Speed fighters.  You can go really fast, but at slow speeds the thing is a dump truck.

• P-51
• Corsair
• Fw-190
• Me109-G10

2.  Maneuver fighters.  Mix of speed and manueverability, but are not the best ones at either.

• Spitfire IX
• La-5FN
• P-38
• N1K1
• Macchi 205

3.  Turn fighters.  They turn great, but canot go very fast.

• Spitfire V
• Me109F
• Macchi 202

Notice that I don't list the mid range Me-109s and the Typhoon.  I haven't figured out the Typhoon yet, but the mid range 109s aren't that much better than the F model.  They have slightly more firepower, but maneuver worse.  Speed is about the same.

You seem to be a manuever fighter guy, so I recommend something from list #2, specifically the Macchi 205.

Hanz.

[This message has been edited by Hans (edited 04-13-2000).]

[MANDOBLE]

1 - Surviving in 190A8 is easy, just keep fast and roll.

2 - It seems he is really looking for a stall turner, you could be right Gatt. But the problem resides in the way we use the planes. Stall turners are just crap, no value in combat. My advice is to give a try to planes that turn much better but at faster speeds, and to use the vertical plane much much more than the horizontal one. Who wants to turn on a dime when the enemy is outrunning/outdiving/outaccelerating/outclimbing (zoomclimb) us? When that kind of combat is ON, surviving with 190A8 is surprisingly easy. The past tour I was flying a lot the P51D, and I had three big problems with it: poor level acceleration, average rollrate and weak weapons. None of these problems are present with the 190A8.

[Dinger]

You will like the La5.

[Rude]

To be honest, it's really this simple....

If you prefer to turnfight, you will die....someone in a real plane (P-51D) will come from the south while your lookin north and bounce ya  

If you like to get kills and live to tell of them, fly the 51....it will outturn any plane in the arena at 275mph and above....lo G turns are absolutely necessary....any hard turning and you will fall from the sky like a rock  

Not many will agree with what I just said, but it is the truth  

Cyas Up!

Rude Out!

PS...Dont expect to be proficient in any plane you choose for at least 6 months  

[This message has been edited by Rude (edited 04-13-2000).]

[Vermillion]

 

I hate Spitfires, but I have to admit that the AH MkIX is, IMHO, slow

Actually Gatt, the AH Mk IX (unless it changed this version) is about 10-15 mph too fast  

My opinon is that if Fenrik finds the Spit IX slow, he will also find the N1K2 slow as well, except for very low altitudes.

Same with the Typhoon, its great down low, but get it above 10k and its a true dog.

I would probably suggest either the La-5fn or the P-38, with the preference towards the 38.

It climbs well, handles well, has average guns, large clip, great at jabo and is somewhere in the middle of the pack speedwise. A very versatile aircraft. Its biggest drawback is its large size (ie its a great target).

With the 38 you E fight the turners, and you turn fight the burners.



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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
Carpe Jugulum
"Real Men fly Radials, Nancy Boys fly Spitfires"