Originally posted by HeLLcAt
F4F & FM2 suck. F6F beats them all. I can b and zoom F4F & FM2 all day in my Hellcat. I am not saying F4F & FM2 suck totally...they are very good for base defense. I think F6F is an all around better plane. Can stick with the faster planes in a dive...can outturn a niki if executed correctly and can b n z a niki or spit. All! I am sure Mathman would agree w/ me on this one!
~BlueiceJ~
I like the Hellcat, and I fly it frequently. However, I do not worry about them one whit when flying an FM-2. Why? Because, the F6F has a singular advantage over the Wildcat, as opposed to several significant disadvantages. Speed is important, but is easily negated by your opponent having an altitude advantage. Moreover, the speed advantage of the Hellcat is not substantial. Indeed, the gap between the P-51D and Hellcat is greater. If we wish to talk about strict BnZ tactics, the Mustang can abuse the F6F with relative ease. Wildcats have a much more difficult time with P-51s than they do with Hellcats. But, put an inexperienced or simply inept pilot in the faster aircraft and my money is on the slow, more maneuverable bird every time. I have no data to support this, but it seems to me that the FM-2 accelerates faster from low speeds than the Hellcat too.
It should be noted that the FM-2 climbs just as well as the F6F, and does so at a greater angle. Whether you realize it or not, that is significant. While the F6F climbs at the same rate, it still cannot follow the FM-2 without stalling (assuming both start the climb Co-E). Turn rate: There’s no comparison, Wildcats turn circles around Hellcats. Roll rate is similar, but the FM-2 has much greater rudder authority, and rudder input dramatically improves roll rate at some sacrifice to airspeed.
As forgiving as the Hellcat’s stall characteristics are, the Wildcats are better. Upon entering an accelerated stall, the Wildcats simply mush, whereas the Hellcat tends towards a rapid drop of the wing, almost a snap roll. One other factor that I feel is significant is size. Hellcats are big targets, Wildcats are diminutive in comparison, and harder to hit. Both are built like a brick chithouse, able to survive hits that would bring a Buff down.
My experience flying Wildcats causes me to prefer them over the F6F. So far this tour, I have shot down 6 Hellcats, 3 each in the FM-2 and F4F-4, for no losses. And in nearly every case, the Hellcats had an altitude and speed advantage at the outset of the engagement. What does that indicate? If you waste your E while fighting Wildcats, you will very likely die.
You see, most pilots lack the patience and discipline to use BnZ tactics correctly. After several ineffective passes, the majority of pilots start pulling harder turns to get the shot in. Before long, they’ve surrendered their E advantage, and consequently find themselves in deep bandini. When you have the level of success I have had with the Wildcat, it’s hard to find a reason to fault the little monster.
My regards,
Widewing
