Originally posted by Gremlin
Guys why all this BS about x being faster than y. We all know that a combination of factors make this type of comparison meaningless. Who cares if one plane is 5mph faster than another unless your talkin zero vs g10 then its totally irrelevent. The initial E states will decide who is the fastest not the plane. Like I said if ther gap is wide enough spits, zeros nikis etc vs the faster set then yeah it matters. The only thing that matters in a dogfite is the pilot, and how he manages the fight. Even then with equally skilled pilots various circumstances can often sway the outcome. I'm forever hearing 'hey grem how'd your 51D outturn my la7' etc. The longer I been in AH the more I realise, its not what you fly its how.
I say stop looking at the plane and start lookin at your tactics.
I generally agree with you. I frequently fly the Hogs or 190A-5/F-8. In these these types, I have 58 kills. Let me break it down.
FW 190A-5: 27 kills, 14 deaths one death air to air, two by Buffs.
FW 190F-8: 4 kills, 0 deaths.
F4U-1: 3 kills, 0 deaths.
F4U-1C: 23 kills, 5 deaths, one death air to air, one by Buff.
F4U-1D: 1 kill, 1 death (flak)
Of the 190 deaths, all were flak or field acks, except the three listed.
Of the Corsair deaths, all were flak or field acks, except the two listed.
Of the 58 kills, 6 were GVs or PTs.
So, flying these types, I've managed 52 kills vs 5 deaths air to air, but remember that most ack kills get proxied to the nearest con. Therefore, it is hard to determine cause simply by observing the stats. Personally, I actually keep notes on my losses to aid me in perfecting my field attack tactics.**
With a K/D of nearly 10/1 air to air, this reflects tactics more than anything else. Staying fast, working the vertical, and effective deflection shooting are the keys to being successful in aircraft not known for remarkable turning ability, or especially good speed down low. Many of those kills were against faster or more maneuverable aircraft, who had wasted their E or had become fixated on a single enemy, leaving themselves at risk for a bounce. Granted, much of this is low risk cherry picking. But, that's how most of the high scorers get their numbers, cherry picking around furballs. The best part is ambushing the cherry pickers.
However, just when you think you're higher than anyone else, someone shows up even higher.
Usually one of those Mustang "Tourists".
**Last evening, I took up a Spit Mk.V with one 500lb bomb, for three sorties. I destroyed numerous buildings and one gun emplacement. In exchange, I received minor damage from a field ack and lost a Spitfire to a Mustang (Iron1 getting even for my earlier bounce of him in my 190F-8), against 5 kills, three assists air to air. Yeah, I actually write this stuff down!
My regards,
Widewing
