Author Topic: Why is the Fm2 loved by so many?  (Read 729 times)

Offline Viper17

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Why is the Fm2 loved by so many?
« Reply #15 on: September 16, 2002, 03:22:18 PM »
1) Because its so darn cute:p
2) It is the BEST american turner IMHO.
3) .50cals are the best guns in the game.

Offline SlapShot

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Why is the Fm2 loved by so many?
« Reply #16 on: September 16, 2002, 03:31:42 PM »
"only plane that has out turned me in my FM2 is the white zeke. ive turned n killed the green zeke and spitv and IXs"

WAY TOO MUCH INFO HERE whels ... :D
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Offline whels

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Why is the Fm2 loved by so many?
« Reply #17 on: September 16, 2002, 03:41:45 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by SlapShot
"only plane that has out turned me in my FM2 is the white zeke. ive turned n killed the green zeke and spitv and IXs"

WAY TOO MUCH INFO HERE whels ... :D


ok, Fm2 sucks, dont fly it :)


whels

Offline john9001

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Why is the Fm2 loved by so many?
« Reply #18 on: September 16, 2002, 03:48:52 PM »
every time i see a icon for a "F4" i think it's whels  and i run away

Offline AAvenger

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Why is the Fm2 loved by so many?
« Reply #19 on: September 16, 2002, 03:51:42 PM »
Some people actually fly a plane they like in RL.

Offline Widewing

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Why is the Fm2 loved by so many?
« Reply #20 on: September 16, 2002, 04:21:16 PM »
The FM-1/FM-2 remained in production primarily in order to have a fighter that wasn't too large for the growing fleet of escort carriers. Available deck length made operating the F6F, and especially the F4U, problematic.

There is no question that the Navy preferred the F6F for several key reasons. Range, greater speed and payload are at the top of the list.

Nonetheless, the test results of 1944's Joint Fighter Conference concluded that the FM-2 was the best fighter in the American inventory for combat below 10,000 ft. In terms of turn rate, the F4U-1D had a 212% larger turn radius than the FM-2, with the F6F-5 coming in at 137%.

With regard to climb rate, only the F4U-4 climbed better than the FM-2, getting to 20,000 ft just 35 seconds faster than the FM-2 and 45 seconds faster than the F4F-3 (of 1940 vintage).

Other factors contributed to the FM-2's good low level performance, such as having the best (meaning lowest) power loading of any U.S. fighter at sea level at 5.94 pounds/hp. The mighty P-51D came in at 6.83 pounds/hp at sea level. I have seen some estimations of FM-2 acceleration, and below 10,000 ft it would accelerate faster than the F4U-4 up until about 300 mph, where drag began to severely limit speed and acceleration.

Dive acceleration was very good as well. During operations in North Africa, some Luftwaffe pilots flying early Bf 109Gs were horrified to discover that FAA Martlet MkII and USN F4F-4s could dive with their Gustavs!

Ultimately, the single greatest drawbacks of the FM-2 are its lack of speed and weak engine performance above 15,000 feet.

As to ruggedness. Marine pilots loved their Corsairs, but lamented the loss of the Wildcat's superior resistance to battle damage. Can anyone imagine a P-51 surviving a 12+ G pullout? Wildcats could not only survive such punishment, but do so without serious damage. Add to this very basic and simple systems and you have just about the toughest fighter ever to take wing.

Additionally, you have to factor in that the Wildcat is a very small fighter, and consequently, a very small target.

It will turn with the A6M5, especially if only carrying 50% fuel. It will generally out-turn the Spitfire Mk.V too.

Indeed, there is no better fighter to CAP a CV. And yes Shane, when you’re alone and being swarmed by a dozen red icons, one may dive into the ack. Unless, like you, they prefer simply to get ganged. As it is, when alone there’s no more reliable wingman than ship ack. Moreover, it’s not macho to get ganged, just stupid if you can prevent it.

My regards,

Widewing
My regards,

Widewing

YGBSM. Retired Member of Aces High Trainer Corps, Past President of the DFC, retired from flying as Tredlite.

Offline TracerX

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Why is the Fm2 loved by so many?
« Reply #21 on: September 16, 2002, 04:42:16 PM »
When I was around 12 years old, I went to an air show with my father.  It was featuring WWII airplanes, and I enjoyed walking around and even climbing into the cockpits of some of these airplanes.  At the time, the Black Sheep Squadron was about the coolest thing on TV, so I loved to see the F4U's, but during one of the exhibitions, a little stubby airplane made some diving passes over the runway at eye popping speeds, zooming up almost out of sight then turning around and doing it again.  It easily appeared to be the fastest thing in the air, like a little missile.  I waited for the exhibit to be over, and I sought out the little airplane.  The best I could determine was that it was a Wildcat, mid wing fighter with the wheels retracting into the fuselage, done up in the yellow and gray paint scheme.  I'm not sure if it was a F4F or an FM2, but to me it seemed like the best plane in the show.  During the main event, which was an inaccurate attempt to recreate the Pearl Harbor battle, I watched carefully to pick out the little Wildcat as it did its high speed passes over the field in-between passes of other Zeros, P-40's, Mustangs and Corsairs.  It was easily the fastest plane over the runway.  I am sure that pilots of the other planes were being conservative in their flying, and that the Wildcat is not the fastest airplane out there, but It sure did shine that day, proving to me that it had some considerable high speed diving capabilities, and making a lifetime fan out of me.

Offline gripen

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Why is the Fm2 loved by so many?
« Reply #22 on: September 16, 2002, 05:47:03 PM »
Hm... TAIC comparison  between the FM-2 and Zero 52 states that the Zero was slightly superior to the FM-2 in initial dive acceleration, after which the dives were about the same.

gripen

Offline Karnak

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Why is the Fm2 loved by so many?
« Reply #23 on: September 16, 2002, 07:28:08 PM »
Because it is, along with the F4F-4, grossly overmodeled.

I've looked at the wingloading and powerloading and there is no way they should out turn the Spitfire Mk V, let alone the A6M5b.  Yet they do both easily.  Its complete BS.
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Offline hogenbor

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Why is the Fm2 loved by so many?
« Reply #24 on: September 17, 2002, 12:48:34 AM »
I stated it many times before, I love the FM-2. All the reasons for that are given in this thread. In other planes I just suck.

Yesterday I was killed three times in a P51-B, without hitting anything, but I needed the speed to get something done over a nearby field that was gangbanged. Blew my E fighting a Spit, it was 5 against 1 (yeah, yeah, I suck), but that guy kept on avoiding everyone and shooting me down. One of the other deaths was when I chased a F6F which was teamed up with another. Stupid, and I even I should have known better, but sometimes you just gotta.

I have to much of a job and too much of a life to plat AH often, so I'll take my dweebish FM-2 tonight. And don't whine, just remember there are newbies out there who also want (and sometimes even get) a kill or two.

Offline Dead Man Flying

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Why is the Fm2 loved by so many?
« Reply #25 on: September 17, 2002, 01:50:01 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Karnak
I've looked at the wingloading and powerloading and there is no way they should out turn the Spitfire Mk V, let alone the A6M5b.  Yet they do both easily.  Its complete BS.


The F4F and the FM2 don't outturn the Spit V in AH.

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Offline Urchin

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Why is the Fm2 loved by so many?
« Reply #26 on: September 17, 2002, 02:00:05 AM »
I don't know if they will out turn the Spit V and/or A6M5 in a SUSTAINED turn.  At low speed at that.  Above 250 knots (how many MPH is that?) the FM2 was BETTER at turning than the Zeke.  Even at low speeds, the zero could only gain one circle in 10 (i think, maybe 9).  

However, I think people think "That bastard just out-TURNED me" when they come in a nose to nose turn doing 300 and the FM2 is doing 250- of course he is going to 'turn inside you'.. you are just flying out in front of him.

A lot of it also has to do with pilot skill.  A 109G-10 can't out turn another 109G-10 (all things being equal, like no gondies and same fuel) unless one of the pilots is simply better.  A turning contest between a N1K2 and Spit IX seems to be similar.  Perhaps just the fact that the FM2 and F4F turn ALMOST as well as the Spit V and A6M5 lets some really good pilots in the FM2 exploit that pilot advantage to the fullest (i.e. XXX can turn his FM-2 harder than YYY can turn his A6M5).  

Based strictly on wing-loading, the FM-2 wouldnt have a chance against either of those planes.. but how do flaps come into play?  How much extra lift does the FM-2 get from having flaps that actually do something in combat?

Offline LLv34_Camouflage

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Why is the Fm2 loved by so many?
« Reply #27 on: September 19, 2002, 08:27:15 AM »
"Why is the Fm2 loved by so many?"

I like to pretend its a Brewster.  :)

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Brewster's in AH!
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Offline Puke

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Why is the Fm2 loved by so many?
« Reply #28 on: September 19, 2002, 10:34:26 AM »
I've never flown the FM-2, but had a good score going in the F4F-4 the first two weeks it was introduced.  Why I love the Wildcat, because of its history.  It bore the brunt of the war for the USN and USMC during the dark days of the Pacific.  I'm guessing many enjoy flying the FM-2 because it's an underdog in the MA, but in actuality is much more capable than people give it credit.  It's still no LA7 or Spit9 and you have to work for your victories.

Offline Turbot

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Why is the Fm2 loved by so many?
« Reply #29 on: September 19, 2002, 11:44:44 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Shane
3. proximity to fleet acks.

:D


Haha, we have a winner! :)