Almost 200 kills with a P-40E

[Mini D]

I might be able to get my 200th kill in a P-40E by the end of the week.  I fly it because I've always liked it and I don't really care about its overall performance.  I know it was something of a pig in WWII.

The dogfights in this plane have been incredible.  I've lost quite a few, but I've also one suprisingly more than I thought I would in this plane. (and I'm not that good of a pilot)

I wonder why more people don't follow their heart when selecting aircraft and chose instead to go with the highest performing planes.

Flying the P-40E since it came out has almost generated a respect for the LW types.  Having some sort of passion for the planes you fly seems to make a real difference.

MiniD

[Toad]

Originally posted by Mini D
I wonder why more people don't follow their heart when selecting aircraft and chose instead to go with the highest performing planes... Having some sort of passion for the planes you fly seems to make a real difference.

MiniD

Is it OK to have a passion for a high performing aircraft? Or would that be "verboten"?



BTW, I like the P-40 as well.. think I like the Wildcat better though.

[JoeDirt]

i fly ths plane with tha sheety guns, the spit mk i.  get lotsa perks with it

[Kuben]

Wow, nicely done Mini D.    

-Kuben

[Puke]

Toad:  "Is it OK to have a passion for a high performing aircraft? Or would that be "verboten"?"

Sure it is.  But I'm certain most people flying LA7s and N1Ks a majority of their time hardly knew the existence of said aircraft until Aces High.  IMO, they aren't flying their passion but just using the proper tool to get what they want out of an MA furball.  So in essence, I think your comeback misses the mark of this thread.

Mini D, congrats on enjoying the P-40 in the MA.  You have my respect for sticking with her.

[Tumor]

Toad would argue with someone trying to force a million dollars on him.

[Toad]

Nah.. that's a lot of kills in a P-40. I don't have near that many, about 10% in fact.

I salute Mini D for his achievement. I've flown the P-40 enough to know that its a tough plane to achieve in. It gives the word "committed" when engaging a serious underline. You're pretty much engaged till they're all dead.. or you are.

Again, well done.

But I guess I just wonder why folks always seem to include a polarizing sentence in such posts.

To wit:

"why more people don't follow their heart "

Isn't that a major assumption? That only folks that don't fly the higher performance aircraft are following their heart? Can there be any passionate FW-190D9 flyers out there?

"chose instead to go with the highest performing planes"

Instead of what? Maybe their HEART lies with a Spit IX, one of the better all round planes with decent performance. Could it be they ARE following their heart in the Spit IX? Or the P-51? Both planes that have about the same mythological historical aura as the P-40.

"Having some sort of passion for the planes you fly seems to make a real difference. "

Yes it does. But it DOES NOT mean that one has to have a passion for the aircraft OTHER PEOPLE are passionate about, does it? Is a FW-190D9 guy somehow less because he's very passionate about a late-war high performance aircraft?

That's all I'm saying. Congrats on the kills. Don't overlook the fact that people are passionate about aircraft from both ends of the performance spectrum.

It's my view. Is that arguing? If so, sorry.

[Rebel]

Congrats man!

So, do tell.......how do you survive in the late-war dominated arena we have here?

[sax]

Heya Toad, don' t apologize to these guys, anyone argues with you is a dweeb looking for attention.

[Mini D]

Toad, you've read too deeply into what I've said.

It was not intended to be about flying an underdog aircraft.  It was intended to be about using more than the performance tables to select what plane you like to fly.  And if the plane you want to fly is not high in performance you may want to give it a try anyways.  You'll probably be suprised.

Nobody is any better or worse because of the plane they select.  But in my oppinion, the game itself is better or worse depending on why you select the aircraft you chose to fly.  (winning the fight is not all that matters)

I'm not flying the P-40 to prove a point.  I'm not flying it to show how cool someone can be in a lesser plane.  I'm flying it because it is my favorite WW2 aircraft of all time.  The fact that it can survive in the MA is a pleasant suprise.

MiniD

[Toad]

Originally posted by Mini D
It was intended to be about using more than the performance tables to select what plane you like to fly.

All I'm saying is that many folks use "more than performance" in their selection process, just like you.. but they happen to choose an FW-190D9 or a P-51D or a Spit IX.  Personally, I love the mystique and aura of a P-40. I love the mystique and aura of the P-51 too. I've flown them both here.

Originally posted by Mini D
I'm flying it because it is my favorite WW2 aircraft of all time.
MiniD

While I've flown the C205 a bunch. I'm half Italian after all and I like that aspect of it. Overall, I love it a true killer and a sleeper that most ignore...

I like the Zeke quite a bit... great fun, what a furball machine.... but no real emotional attachment. Certainly not a "performance" choice.

I'm currently flying the FM2 extensively... impressed with what a stone cold killer it is, perhaps more fun than the 205 or the Zeke...... although it's "book" performance is unimpressive. No real emotional attachment.. after all, it's a squid ride.

 the P-40 some... love the mystique; always loved the aura around it, simply don't have the patience to chase folks all night and don't have the skill to furball in it like I can the 205, Zeke and FM2...........

... but overall my favorite aircraft of all time is the P-51D. I've always lusted after a real one, which has become an impossible dream now, I'm afraid.

So that's why I fly it quite a bit. Even though it is rather high performance. Like having your cake and eating it too, eh?



Again, I salute your achievements in the P-40.

I found I just couldn't stick with it, even though I like it... not enough patience I think. And as I said, my favorite is the P-51. I even furball in it, although I probably shouldn't.

And that's all I was saying.

[senna]

Well my .02 cents here. The P-40 should actually be superior to the F4-f and Fm-2 since it can handle a zero (not necessarily a kill but survivable combat+-kill) if proper tactics are used. So in that regard, since a zero was considered superior to an F4-f then the P-40 should also be superior to the F4-f. Funny thing is I feel safest in an F4-f. Its only real draw back (for myself at least) is fuel consumption and get away speed.

[Mini D]

Originally posted by Toad
All I'm saying is that many folks use "more than performance" in their selection process, just like you.. but they happen to choose an FW-190D9 or a P-51D or a Spit IX. Personally, I love the mystique and aura of a P-40. I love the mystique and aura of the P-51 too. I've flown them both here.

Yes... many do.  But I doubt that "many" translates to a "majority".  If you have a fondness for the P-51 and really love the plane then great.  This post did not apply to you in any way shape or form.  But if you like the P-51 simply because its the fastest plane in the arena then... you get the point.

Let me put it another way that may help.  When you see these planes mentioned... who do you think of?:

Spitfire
Fw 190
Bf 109
P-51
P-38
P-47
F6F
N1K2

Look at the names you associate with them then ask if they chose those planes as their favorite because they were uber rides.  These are not all considered "uber" rides, but I personally can associate specific individuals with each of them.  I don't picture them as people that picked their planes based on performance.  I know there is no clear cut "this person did pick based on performance" and "this person didn't"... I'm just asking people to avoid one extreme end of the spectrum.

MiniD

[Zaphod]

Originally posted by Toad
Nah.. that's a lot of kills in a P-40. I don't have near that many, about 10% in fact.

I salute Mini D for his achievement. I've flown the P-40 enough to know that its a tough plane to achieve in. It gives the word "committed" when engaging a serious underline. You're pretty much engaged till they're all dead.. or you are.

Again, well done.

But I guess I just wonder why folks always seem to include a polarizing sentence in such posts.

To wit:

"why more people don't follow their heart "

Isn't that a major assumption? That only folks that don't fly the higher performance aircraft are following their heart? Can there be any passionate FW-190D9 flyers out there?

"chose instead to go with the highest performing planes"

Instead of what? Maybe their HEART lies with a Spit IX, one of the better all round planes with decent performance. Could it be they ARE following their heart in the Spit IX? Or the P-51? Both planes that have about the same mythological historical aura as the P-40.

"Having some sort of passion for the planes you fly seems to make a real difference. "

Yes it does. But it DOES NOT mean that one has to have a passion for the aircraft OTHER PEOPLE are passionate about, does it? Is a FW-190D9 guy somehow less because he's very passionate about a late-war high performance aircraft?

That's all I'm saying. Congrats on the kills. Don't overlook the fact that people are passionate about aircraft from both ends of the performance spectrum.

It's my view. Is that arguing? If so, sorry.

Gotta agree with ya here Toad.  Although I love the B model P51 vs the D.  The D is for gettin stuff done, the B is just pure fun (i.e. I don't care how many bombers etc they have inbound, I'm STILL flying my B!!!!).

P.S. Add the F4U-1 to that list also.

Zaphod

[Blue Mako]

on the P40 kills!

I tried the P40 out for a week or so but found I didn't have the patience to climb to 20k everytime I want a kill lol.  I reverted back to my pony pretty quickly but I'll still take the P40 out of the hangar when I feel like a challenge.  I did manage to land one 5 kill sortie which made me feel very good even though in the P51 that wouldn't be anything out of the ordinary.  So I can definitely say that racking up a tour of 200 kills is a real achievement.  WTG!